Director of Institutional Giving and Relations

Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA), a private college of art and design, seeks a candidate to fill the full-time position of Director of Institutional Giving and Relations. Reporting to the Vice President for Institutional Advancement, the Director is responsible for leading the College's institutional fundraising efforts, securing philanthropic and public funding that advances CIA's mission, strategic priorities, academic programs, student success initiatives, capital projects, and long-term sustainability.

 

The Director serves as the College's primary lead for foundation, corporate, and government relations, developing and implementing comprehensive strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward institutional funders. This position manages a portfolio of foundation, corporate, and public funding prospects while building meaningful relationships that generate significant philanthropic support for the institution. The Director develops compelling proposals, funding requests, and stewardship reports that communicate the impact of CIA's programs and priorities to external partners.

 

The Director is responsible for all aspects of grant development and administration, including identifying funding opportunities, preparing proposals and reports, ensuring compliance with funding requirements, and tracking institutional giving activity. Working collaboratively with faculty, academic leadership, and administrative departments, the Director helps translate institutional priorities into fundable initiatives and aligns funding opportunities with the College's strategic goals. This role also partners closely with the Business Office and project leaders to develop budgets, measure outcomes, and ensure responsible stewardship of grant-funded resources.

 

In addition, the Director serves as a key representative of CIA to foundations, corporations, government agencies, community organizations, and other external stakeholders. The position works collaboratively with legislative and advocacy partners to monitor public funding opportunities and supports efforts to secure government funding aligned with institutional priorities. Through strategic relationship management and effective communication, the Director strengthens CIA's visibility, credibility, and impact among institutional funders and community partners.

 

The successful candidate will be a highly skilled relationship builder, strategic thinker, and persuasive communicator with a demonstrated ability to secure institutional support and manage complex projects. They will bring a collaborative approach, exceptional writing skills, and a passion for advancing the mission of art and design education through philanthropy and partnership.

 

The successful candidate will possess a bachelor's degree in communications, nonprofit management, business, public administration, higher education, or a related field. A master's degree or other advanced degree is preferred.

 

Candidates should have three to five years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, institutional giving, grant development, foundation relations, corporate relations, nonprofit advancement, or a related field. Demonstrated success securing grants or philanthropic support from foundations, corporations, government agencies, or other institutional funders is required.

 

Preference will be given to candidates with experience in higher education or nonprofit organizations, grant administration, donor database systems such as Raiser's Edge, and managing multiple concurrent funding opportunities and stakeholder relationships.

 

The successful candidate will demonstrate exceptional written and verbal communication skills, strong project management abilities, sound judgment, and the ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, staff, administrators, trustees, donors, and community partners. Knowledge of fundraising ethics and best practices is essential.

 

This is a full-time, exempt position. Compensation is commensurate with experience and qualifications. CIA offers a comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, holidays, health and dental insurance, retirement contributions, tuition remission, and more.

 

Review of applicants will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

 

CIA is committed to increasing diversity in our community and actively recruits individuals from all backgrounds. Additionally, CIA complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and provides equal opportunity in all educational programs and activities, admission of students and conditions of employment for all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, gender identity, or national origin.

 

CIA is also a great place to work, and manifesting a positive culture and sense of belonging is a big part of who we are. We work hard and are proud of our employees' collective contribution to our mission, but we also play hard and like to have fun. We challenge and support one another, integrate our institutional values in our work in a meaningful way, celebrate our successes, embrace learning and continuous improvement in all that we do, and are driven by our students' success and the creative environment that inspires us every day.

 

CIA is one of the nation's leading accredited independent colleges of art and design. Since 1882, the college has been an educational and cultural cornerstone in Cleveland, Ohio, producing graduates competitive as studio artists, designers, photographers, contemporary craftspeople, and educators. With approximately 600 students, CIA offers a personal educational experience with the benefits of a larger institution. CIA students can choose from 13 majors in fine and applied art, each leading to a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Students live and work in Cleveland's University Circle, one of the country's most unique cultural centers.

 

The mission of CIA is to cultivate creative leaders who inspire people, strengthen communities, and contribute to a thriving and sustainable economy through an innovative education in art and design. For more information, visit CIA's website.