- Director of Development Indianola
- Des Moines Metro Opera in Indianola, IA, United States
- jobs
- 1 month ago
jobs description
About Des Moines Metro Opera
Des Moines Metro Opera is a major American summer opera festival and is one of the Midwest’s largest performing arts organizations, annually producing over 100 performances in the metro area and around the region. DMMO offers a first-rate artistic experience in an affordable environment. The company’s summer festival season runs from May through July of each year during which three operas are performed in repertory for 15-17 mainstage performances, generally in entirely new productions. The summer festival season takes place in the intimate 467-seat Pote Theater at the Blank Center for the Performing Arts in Indianola, Iowa, a suburb community southeast of Des Moines and about 10 miles from the Des Moines International Airport. The company’s recently completed 2024 season was highly acclaimed and experienced record ticket sales. Audiences and patrons were welcomed from 5 countries and 40 states during the 2024 Season, and approximately 40% of our audiences came from outside the Des Moines Metro area. According to Opera America, DMMO is second in the nation among summer opera festivals in the number of visitors attracted to performances from outside its home state.
The company’s programming encompasses a distinctive mix of styles from five centuries of composition, presented in original productions, utilizing a spectacular array of professional talent and offers high quality productions in one of America’s most unique and intimate theatres. DMMO receives annual reviews from industry publications such as Opera News and Opera Today. The company has also been featured in the pages of the Wall Street Journal, the Kansas City Star, The New York Times and The Chicago Tribune and the Wall Street Journal, which said, “Such high production values and careful casting make Des Moines Metro Opera a find,” (2022) and the New Yorker magazine which said, “One of America’s boldest smaller companies…sending psychic shivers into the hot summer night” (2024).
The Opportunity
Under the leadership of General and Artistic Director Michael Egel, the company is looking to the future as it continues to build upon a strong foundation of work. Coming off a successful 50th Anniversary campaign in 2022 which raised over $20 million for the company’s endowment as well as anniversary initiatives, the Director of Development will be responsible for exploring creative and innovative ways of diversifying and identifying new revenue streams. As the principal fundraising strategist, the Director will create, develop, and execute a development plan which will include grants, foundation giving, philanthropic support, and major gifts.
The Director works in close collaboration with the General and Artistic Director and serves as a key member of Des Moines Metro Opera’s Leadership Team. They will be a collaborative and engaging leader able to partner and build relationships both internally at the company and externally within the greater Des Moines community, the region, and the nation. With a keen focus on engaging with various constituent groups, both at the local and national level, the Director will cultivate and steward relationships with new and existing supporters and donors. In addition, the Director will work to leverage a highly motivated staff, an engaged Board of Directors, and an experienced Senior Leadership Team to explore creative and innovative revenue streams. This role will be pivotal as the company looks to the future of its performing home at the Blank Performing Arts Center on the Simpson College campus.
About Des Moines
The City of Des Moines is a thriving metropolitan hub, the capital, and the most populous city in Iowa.
A hidden gem to many outside the Midwest, Des Moines is home to a dynamic arts and culture scene, a rising creative force, and a convergence of community-oriented heritage and community revitalization that earned it numerous accolades for affordability, corporate engagement, and commitment to attracting families, young professionals, and businesses.
Ranked as one of the best cities for young professionals, Des Moines was also lauded by USA Today for being one of the Top 10 Cities to Live in after the pandemic.
Indianola IA United States