Development Officer

About the Great Lakes Center for the Arts

The Great Lakes Center for the Arts (GLCFA) is a state-of-the-art, 525-seat theater on the shores of Lake Michigan in Bay Harbor. The Center serves as a cultural and social hub throughout Northern Michigan, presenting exceptional experiences across music, dance, comedy, theater, film, and intellectual dialogue, while offering impactful educational opportunities for the region.

GLCFA's mission is to inspire, entertain, educate, and serve all in Northern Michigan year-round by presenting exceptional experiences across the full spectrum of the performing arts and offering meaningful educational opportunities.

About the Opportunity

This is a newly created position supporting an expanding Development team. As GLCFA continues to grow, we are investing in additional fundraising capacity to deepen relationships with donors, expand corporate partnerships, and increase philanthropic support for the Center's mission.

Development is at the heart of GLCFA's ability to do its work. Philanthropic support generated by the Development team funds approximately 55–60% of the Center's annual expenses, making this department essential to the organization's success and sustainability. The Development team does more than raise money—it builds the relationships and community support that make exceptional performances, educational programs, and experiences possible throughout Northern Michigan.

The Development Officer will join a collaborative, entrepreneurial team at an exciting point in the Center's growth, with the opportunity to make a meaningful and measurable impact.

Position Summary

The Development Officer is a relationship-driven fundraiser responsible for growing philanthropic support from individuals and businesses across Northern Michigan. Reporting to and working closely with the Director of Development, this position manages and executes GLCFA's major gift and Corporate Circle programs.

The Development Officer will manage a portfolio of approximately 125+ individual and household donors and prospects, with a particular focus on relationships in the $1,000–$25,000+ annual giving range. The position will cultivate, solicit, and steward donors; identify and qualify new prospects; develop corporate partnerships; and collaborate with colleagues, board members, volunteers, and organizational leadership to grow contributed revenue.

The successful candidate will be an authentic relationship-builder, passionate advocate for the performing arts, and effective storyteller who can help current and prospective donors understand the impact of their philanthropy on GLCFA and the communities it serves.

This is a hands-on fundraising position for someone who enjoys building relationships, having meaningful conversations about philanthropy, making asks, and turning those relationships into long-term support.

Work Environment

This position is designed as a hybrid work arrangement, in part due to the Center's limited on-site office space currently available for its growing team.

The employee's primary remote work location will be a home office in Emmet or Charlevoix County. Because in-person relationship-building is central to successful fundraising, the Development Officer will regularly travel to the Center and other locations throughout Northern Michigan for donor meetings, corporate partner visits, performances, Development events, staff meetings, and other business activities as directed by the Director of Development.

The hybrid work arrangement may be modified as organizational needs or available onsite office space change.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Major Gifts (70%)

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 125+ individual and household donors and prospects through identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Develop and execute individualized strategies to retain, renew, and increase philanthropic support.
• Conduct regular donor visits, meetings, calls, and other meaningful personal contacts to deepen relationships and advance philanthropic engagement.
• Solicit and secure annual, multi-year, endowment, and capital campaigns, and other major gifts, working in partnership with the Director of Development and organizational leadership on identified priorities.
• Identify and qualify new major-gift prospects through research, networking, referrals, community engagement, and existing donor relationships.
• Develop compelling proposals, gift agreements, presentations, stewardship reports, and other materials tailored to donor interests.
• Collaborate with the Director of Development to establish portfolio goals, fundraising priorities, and long-term cultivation and stewardship strategies.
• Prepare board members, organizational leaders, and volunteers for donor meetings, cultivation activities, and solicitations.
• Maintain accurate donor records, contact reports, proposals, next steps, and stewardship plans in the organization's donor database.
• Assist with planning and executing donor cultivation and stewardship events.
• Ensure donors receive appropriate recognition and benefits associated with their giving level, including participation in Donor Lounge and Box Holder experiences on performance days.
• Identify and cultivate planned-giving opportunities in collaboration with the Director of Development and appropriate professional advisors.

Corporate Circle (20%)

• Develop and implement strategies to grow GLCFA's Corporate Circle program and increase philanthropic support from local, regional, and national businesses.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward corporate partners whose philanthropic and business objectives align with GLCFA's mission and programming.
• Manage a portfolio of corporate prospects and existing partners, building relationships that result in annual support, renewals, and increased investment.
• Develop meaningful corporate engagement, recognition, and stewardship opportunities in collaboration with Marketing, Programming, venue operations, and organizational leadership.
• Collaborate with Marketing to develop Corporate Circle communications, content, and collateral.
• Ensure timely fulfillment of Corporate Circle benefits and maintain strong stewardship practices that support partner satisfaction and retention.
• Maintain accurate corporate donor and prospect records, contact reports, proposals, next steps, and stewardship plans in the donor database.
• Represent GLCFA at business and community events to cultivate relationships and increase visibility among corporate stakeholders.

Other Development and Organizational Responsibilities (10%)

• Participate in GLCFA Board and committee meetings as requested.
• Support organizational fundraising events, donor experiences, and other activities that strengthen donor relationships.
• Ensure adherence to GLCFA's gift acceptance, gift counting, gift processing, and other applicable policies and procedures.
• Fulfill information requests and maintain accurate and timely fundraising reports.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Required Background

• Three to five years of successful development, advancement, sales, business development, or other relationship-based fundraising experience.
• Demonstrated experience cultivating and soliciting philanthropic support from individuals, corporations, or other external partners.
• Experience managing a donor or client portfolio and using moves-management principles, including prospect identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Experience using customer relationship management (CRM) or donor database systems.
• Bachelor's degree preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required for Successful Job Performance

The successful candidate will bring:

• A demonstrated ability to build authentic, long-term relationships with donors, business leaders, and community partners.

• Experience engaging high-net-worth individuals, business leaders, and other philanthropic stakeholders in meaningful conversations about charitable giving.
• A proven ability to identify opportunities, make persuasive fundraising asks, and grow philanthropic relationships.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop clear, compelling proposals, presentations, and donor communications.
• Strong storytelling skills and the ability to connect a donor's interests with GLCFA's mission and impact.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage a portfolio, multiple projects, and competing deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail and a commitment to accurate donor records and follow-through.
• A high degree of self-direction and accountability, with the ability to work independently while collaborating effectively as part of a team.
• Professional maturity, discretion, sound judgment, and a strong ethical approach to fundraising.
• High energy, enthusiasm, and genuine passion for GLCFA's mission and the performing arts.
• Familiarity with Northern Michigan's philanthropic, business, and community landscape preferred.
• Flexibility and willingness to work selected weekdays, evenings, and weekends as required for donor meetings, performances, events, and other organizational activities.
• Ability to work effectively across departments with tact, diplomacy, and a collaborative spirit.
• Ability to identify, analyze, and solve problems thoughtfully and effectively.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Professionalism, curiosity, a sense of humor, and a willingness to learn and grow.
• Valid driver's license, required insurance, and reliable transportation for business travel.

Scope and Decision-Making

The Development Officer is responsible for independently managing an assigned portfolio of donors and prospects and executing approved fundraising strategies. The position exercises discretion in prioritizing donor engagement, developing cultivation and stewardship strategies, identifying prospects, preparing proposals, and coordinating donor interactions.

The Development Officer works closely with the Director of Development and other members of the leadership team on significant solicitations, strategic priorities, and organizational fundraising initiatives. The position is expected to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and represent GLCFA professionally in donor and community relationships.

Physical and Mental Requirements

Physical effort is generally light, with occasional lifting or carrying of materials up to 25 pounds. The position requires extended use of a computer keyboard and monitor, and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment where interruptions may occur.

The position involves deadlines, frequent interaction with donors and colleagues, and the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining a high level of professionalism and attention to detail.

GLCFA will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of the position.

Equal Employment Opportunity

GLCFA is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities and prohibiting discrimination and harassment based on any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We encourage individuals from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to apply.

At-Will Employment

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees in this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, or working conditions associated with the position.

This document does not create an employment contract, express or implied, other than an at-will employment relationship. GLCFA reserves the right to modify duties, responsibilities, and assignments as organizational needs evolve.

How to Apply

Submit a cover letter, resume, and at least 3 professional references to jobs@greatlakescfa.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.