Director of Development and Communications

Director of Development and Communications

Reports to: Executive Director Supervises: Development and Communications Coordinator; co-supervises Alumni Engagement Specialist in partnership with the Director of Education; contractors, interns, and volunteers as assigned

Collaborates closely with: Director of Finance and part-time grant writer/consultant

About Ryman Arts

Ryman Arts transforms lives by creating access and opportunity for a diverse community of young artists through self-expression, rigorous education in art skills, and mentoring.

Since 1990, Ryman Arts has provided high-quality studio art instruction, college and career support, and creative community to tens of thousands of young people across Southern California. As the organization enters an exciting new phase of growth, including expansion across four campuses, the launch of a digital arts pilot program, and a major brand and website refresh, Ryman Arts seeks a strategic, collaborative, and hands-on Director of Development and Communications to help deepen relationships, strengthen systems, and expand visibility in ways that advance the organization’s mission and momentum.

Position Summary

The Director of Development and Communications is a key member of the organization’s leadership team, working closely with the Executive Director and fellow department leaders to advance Ryman Arts’ strategic goals. The Director serves as the organization’s lead strategic partner and manager for fundraising, donor engagement, grants management, and external communications.

Working in close partnership with the Executive Director, this person will lead and implement an integrated development and communications strategy that increases contributed revenue, deepens relationships with donors and community stakeholders, and strengthens Ryman Arts’ visibility and public profile.

The position operates within a collaborative structure that includes a Development and Communications Coordinator, a part-time grant writer/consultant, the Director of Finance, and colleagues across programs and alumni engagement.

The ideal candidate is a strategic, hands-on leader who combines strong judgment with follow-through, communicates effectively, manages details with care, and builds positive, productive relationships across staff, board, donors, and partners.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Planning

• • Partner with the Executive Director to align fundraising and communications priorities with organizational strategy and growth goals.
  • Develop and implement annual and multi-year plans that strengthen contributed income, donor engagement, and public visibility.
  • Translate organizational priorities into clear, measurable development and communications strategies.
  • Support Board engagement in fundraising by providing donor strategy, portfolio management, talking points, progress updates, and partnership in relationship-building.
  • Prepare and present reports, forecasts, and updates for Board meetings.
  • Help shape the next phase of the development and communications function as the organization continues to grow.

Fundraising Leadership

• • Work in close partnership with the Executive Director and Board to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors and prospects.
  • Lead a diversified contributed revenue program spanning individual giving, foundation support, corporate partnerships, special events, and other strategic fundraising initiatives.
  • Manage and grow a portfolio of major donors and prospects through cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and follow-up.
  • Oversee annual fundraising campaigns, including year-end giving, Giving Tuesday, donor appeals, and other targeted initiatives.
  • Guide the creation of compelling letters of inquiry, grant proposals, reports, donor communications, and stewardship materials.
  • Oversee grants strategy and grants management in partnership with a part-time grant writer/consultant, ensuring strong calendar management, timely submissions, and accurate reporting.
  • Partner with colleagues to strengthen alumni, parent, and community engagement and giving.
  • Explore and launch emerging fundraising opportunities such as matching gifts, legacy giving, and other growth-oriented initiatives.
  • Provide strategic oversight of fundraising events and sponsorship programs, working with staff and partners to ensure strong revenue generation and donor engagement.

Communications, Visibility, and Brand

• • Lead donor and public-facing communications across email, print, web, and social media channels, ensuring consistency, clarity, and strong alignment with organizational goals.
  • Oversee development collateral, campaign messaging, impact communications, and selected institutional materials.
  • Serve as a key partner in the organization’s brand refresh and website redevelopment, helping ensure that digital communications effectively support fundraising, storytelling, and audience growth.
  • Strengthen communications systems and capacity to support fundraising, visibility, and long-term organizational growth.

Team Leadership and Collaboration

• • Supervise and mentor the Development and Communications Coordinator, supporting strong execution, follow-through, and professional growth.
  • Partner with the Alumni Engagement Specialist, in collaboration with the Director of Education, on alumni engagement and related fundraising initiatives.
  • Collaborate with the Director of Finance to support accurate revenue tracking, reconciliation, forecasting, and reporting.
  • Build systems and workflows that support strong accountability, staff ownership, and sustainable development operations.
  • Foster a positive, collaborative, and solutions-oriented team culture.

Data, Systems, and Reporting

• • Lead effective use of the Virtuous CRM platform to strengthen donor tracking, segmentation, stewardship, and reporting.
  • Oversee development operations, including data hygiene, donor acknowledgment processes, and revenue reporting.
  • Develop and maintain dashboards, reports, and planning tools that support fundraising analysis and decision-making.
  • Ensure strong internal systems are in place so that grants, campaigns, donor moves, and communications are well tracked and executed on time.
  • Use data and analysis to inform fundraising strategy, donor segmentation, and campaign planning.

Qualifications

• • 7+ years of progressive nonprofit development experience, with demonstrated success in fundraising leadership and execution.
  • Proven ability to cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors and prospects.
  • Strong track record in one or more of the following areas: annual giving, foundation relations, corporate partnerships, campaigns, events, and donor stewardship.
  • Excellent writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.
  • Experience managing multiple priorities and deadlines in a lean, fast-paced environment.
  • Experience supervising staff and supporting team growth.
  • Ability to think strategically while also executing effectively and consistently.
  • Experience working closely with executive leadership, board members, and external stakeholders.
  • Experience working with CRM systems and fundraising operations required; experience with Virtuous or similar platforms preferred.
  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience preferred.
  • Commitment to arts education, equity, and expanding opportunity for young people.

Desired Qualities

The strongest candidates will bring:

• • Strategic thinking paired with strong execution
  • The ability to balance big-picture thinking with attention to detail
  • Strong relationship-building skills with colleagues, board members, and donors
  • A collaborative, transparent, and solutions-oriented leadership style with a strong sense of initiative and shared ownership
  • Comfort working both independently and as part of a lean, mission-driven team
  • A positive, professional presence and genuine commitment to partnership

Why This Role Matters

This is an exciting opportunity for a development leader who wants to help shape the next phase of growth for a respected arts education organization with strong momentum, a clear mission, and significant opportunity for expanded fundraising, communications, and community engagement.

This is a full-time, exempt position based on a 35-hour work week. Ryman Arts offers a competitive benefits package, including health coverage, eligibility for a matching 403(b), paid time off, and other benefits.

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