Director of Development

Director of Development
Position Profile

About the Opportunity

Atlantic Theater Company seeks their next Director of Development to further the work of this vibrant New York City cultural institution, dedicated to bringing essential stories to life. Working alongside a strong collegial group of artists and administrators, including Co-founder and Atlantic Acting School Executive Director Mary McCann, Artistic Director Neil Pepe, and Managing Director Jeff Lawson, the new Director of Development will join Atlantic at an important moment. Having emerged from the pandemic with a renewed commitment to engaging audiences with the work of artists who have their fingers on the pulse of culture and producing ground-breaking world premieres, Atlantic Theater Company seeks a Director of Development who can oversee an energized fundraising plan, collaborate with fellow Atlantic leaders, and guide a motivated and empowered department.

The new Director of Development will be a collaborative and experienced leader with a deep understanding of New York City cultural philanthropy. Reporting to the Managing Director, this individual will have the opportunity to further engage the Board in their giving and work with them to identify and cultivate new funding sources for the organization, manage a range of institutional funding relationships, enhance and improve individual giving programs, and create new opportunities to activate a community of support around Atlantic. The person will also take a lead role in a new funding initiative to support long-term sustainability. A thorough, open, and skilled communicator, the Director of Development will have the opportunity to strengthen the work of team members in place and hire and develop roles within the department to be filled in the coming months.

This leader will be forward-thinking, flexible, creative, and ready to work across departments. They should enter the role eager to understand both the nuances and opportunities around generating support for Atlantic Acting School and excited to share Atlantic Theater Company’s accomplishments and goals with donors and potential supporters. This is an excellent opportunity for a strong fundraiser to make a deep impact on a celebrated pillar of the New York City theatrical community.

About Atlantic Theater Company

At Atlantic, our aim is singular—to empower simple and honest storytelling that fosters greater understanding of our shared world. We are a family of artists dedicated to exploring essential truths onstage, be it a show at Atlantic Theater Company (https://atlantictheater.org/), or a class at Atlantic Acting School (https://atlanticactingschool.org/). As a producer, presenter, and educator of theater, we are driven by the belief that theater can challenge and transform our ways of thinking and urge us to reflect on our role in society. From our Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning productions to our community-based education programs, we are committed to uncovering and celebrating the stories of our varied human existence.

Founded as an ensemble of impassioned student artists in 1985, Atlantic Theater Company has grown into a powerhouse off-Broadway company. We challenge, inspire, and awaken audiences with truthful storytelling presented across our two venues, the Linda Gross Theater and the intimate Stage Two black-box. As a producer of compelling new works, we are committed to championing stories from a diverse range of artists, both new and established, while amplifying the voices of emerging playwrights through our deeply collaborative programs and initiatives.

Diversity. Equity. Inclusion. Access. These are more than just words. They are guiding principles to lead us into a more just and anti-racist future. Racism, anti-Black practices, systemic ills, and inequity have no space in the culture of Atlantic Theater Company and Atlantic Acting School. These principles anchor our foundation and give way to welcoming, nurturing, uplifting, celebrating, and investing in all. Inclusive excellence is our goal.

We are grateful for the courageous individuals and groups who labored tirelessly to bring about change to long-standing systemic inequities. We honor their work and will commit to continuing our work. We will stand with our colleagues across the city and country to provide equitable support for Black, Indigenous, and all People of Color (BIPOC) within the entire theater community. We will carry our commitment to breaking structures including racism, anti-Blackness, sexism, religious discrimination, ableism, ageism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, and classism.

Job Description

Atlantic’s Director of Development articulates and manages all fundraising efforts for the organization, including developing funding for annual operations, education programs, and special projects. The Director is charged with overseeing ongoing activities aimed at identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors to expand support for the theater and acting school.

Essential Responsibilities

Fundraising
● Provide strategic and creative leadership in raising approximately $3.5-4M in annual contributed revenue through foundation and government grants, individual and board commitments, corporate sponsorship, and special events
● Articulate clear, innovative fundraising plans, and oversee the execution of those plans with a well-managed department inspired to reach or exceed goals
● In collaboration with the Managing Director, set and assess annual goals for each line of contributed income
● Collaborate with the artistic and education departments to conceive of special project funding initiatives
● Oversee all institutional fundraising efforts and deadlines, including setting annual grant strategy, cultivating relationships, building a case for support, and guiding research projects
● Strategically consider and respond to funding opportunities for the theater, the education programs, and special projects
● With the Manager of Institutional Funding, oversee development and production of all institutional fundraising collateral
● Work closely with the General Manager and the Manager of Institutional Giving to develop project specific budgets and detailed budgets requested for grant proposals
● Conceive, create, and accomplish a roster of cultivation events, in which the development department successfully creates an event concept; sets a goal and strategy for an event; involves artists, board and leadership; identifies potential guests; and communicates details efficiently
● With the Managing Director and the development team, oversee the goals and execution of an annual gala, participating in the recruitment of honorees and event leadership and overseeing staff efforts to achieve artistic, public relations, and income goals for the event
● Lead the development and ongoing management of a major gifts program, meeting with donors throughout the year, involving Atlantic leadership as needed, and building a pipeline for an impending capital campaign dedicated to artistic excellence and long-term financial stability for the next ten years
● Direct the development and implementation of an individual giving program, which examines the theater’s current and potential giving base, works to identify new donors, and sets practices aimed at both increasing donors’ gifts to the organization and sustains their involvement
● Examine and improve systems that will aid development operations, including ongoing fundraising communications, prospect research, and gift acknowledgments, and processing
● Build collaborative relationships across the organization to manage both the needs of the development department and the needs of other departments
● Guide the creation of and approve various external company materials, as needed, including membership promotional materials, letters, newsletters, Playbill, etc.
● Oversee the management of all development records including financial reports, gift entry, and donor tracking systems
● Prepare and monitor annual departmental expense budgets

Board Development
● Build ongoing relationships with Board members to further their engagement, solicit their annual gifts, confirm their gala participation, and support them in their development of relationships for the organization
● Facilitate and attend all Board and Committee meetings, distributing materials and providing reports at full Board meetings on fundraising efforts
● In collaboration with the Managing Director and Committee Chairs, strategize about the work of the Committees and plan agendas for meetings
● Through ongoing knowledge of Atlantic’s community and donor base, work with the Managing Director on identifying and recruiting Board prospects

Organizational and Departmental Leadership
● Be a part of Atlantic’s strategic planning and campaign planning processes in order to see the organization into its next chapter of achievement and sustainability
● Understand and uplift Atlantic’s values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and access to keep the organization thriving and moving forward
● Manage the hiring, onboarding, and performance review processes for all development staff members
● Continue to find ways to keep staff feeling motivated to achieve goals and inspired by Atlantic’s mission
● Set department policies and expectations that mirror the culture of the organization
● Ensure staff adheres to company policy

Qualifications

● Proven experience in fund development, preferably some in a cultural non-profit organization, with diversified experience in the following: individual giving, institutional giving, major gifts, annual fund/membership, stewardship, and development operations
● An excitement for Atlantic Theater Company’s work and mission, both through the productions and educational programs
● Knowledge of the arts and culture philanthropic community in New York City and nationally and an awareness of the local theater community
● Enthusiastic relationship builder, eager to interact and collaborate with fellow senior staff members, team members, and other members of the Atlantic community
● Excellent oral and written communications skills, including experience crafting appeal messaging, donor communications, and grant materials
● Knowledge of major gift cultivations and experience building long-term relationships with high-level donors
● Strong organizational and time management skills; with an ability to set plans, work toward deadlines, and communicate with teammates throughout a project’s completion
● Experience with donor management systems and utilizing these systems to their best ability, in this case to advance Atlantic’s use of Spektrix and iWave
● Awareness of current trends in the field as well as legal and tax-related requirements related to charitable giving
● Understanding of the organizational budgeting process in order to participate in organizational and departmental planning
● Experience planning and executing large-scale donor events (galas, etc.) and engaging a Board in the success of those events
● Creative problem-solver, idea generator, and self-starter with the capacity to start a project, ask questions, and build consensus as needed
● Commitment to building a trusting, transparent, and friendly workplace atmosphere
● Collaborative, open, and team-oriented; eager to make an impact

Not sure you meet 100% of our qualifications? Research shows that cis men apply for jobs when they fulfill an average of 60% of the criteria, while others tend only to apply if they meet every requirement. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply.

We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. So, whether you’re returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or taking the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar.

Please use your cover letter to tell us about what you hope to bring to this role.

Compensation

The salary for this position is $145,000-165,000. Atlantic Theater Company provides comprehensive benefits, including providing access to insurance (health, dental, vision, life, long and short-term disability upon eligibility); offers paid time off; the ability to participate in an employee contributed 401(k) plan, and a Flexible Spending Account and Transit Benefits. Insurance benefits are effective the first of the month, after your first full month.

Atlantic Theater Company has a newly renovated office suite located in the Google building in Chelsea, across from the Chelsea Market and close to the theaters. This suite houses the administrative offices for both the school and the theater as well as seven studios for school instruction. Our Stage 2 (99 seats) space is located on 16th Street within the Google building and our mainstage Linda Gross Theater (199 seats is located on 20th Street) in a fully renovated 1890s parish house. Team members work onsite in the office five days of the week, with some flexibility as needed.

Atlantic Theater Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Candidates who identify as BIPOC, queer, trans, non-binary, candidates with disabilities or candidates who are parents or immigrants are encouraged to apply.

Application Instructions

The Director of Development search is being conducted on behalf of Atlantic Theater Company by Tom O’Connor Consulting Group, a New York-based executive search and consulting firm specializing in the arts and culture industries. The search is being led by Search Consultant Brenna Thomas, in consultation with and support from the TOCG search team.

To apply, visit the online application https://tinyurl.com/3wjn8y8e and submit your materials.

Your cover letter should include any training or experience relevant to the job profile that you would like to highlight, why you consider yourself a good fit for this opportunity, and anything else you’d like us to know about your qualifications that may not be present in your resume.

The priority application deadline for this search is August 7, 2024. Applications received by this date will receive priority consideration. While we will still accept and consider applications after this date, we encourage you to apply as early as possible for the best chance at being considered for the position. Please note that meeting the priority deadline does not guarantee an interview.