Development Manager

About Oakland Theater Project

Oakland Theater Project (OTP) creates exquisite theatrical experiences that inspire compassion and forge bonds across socio-political and racial barriers. Oakland Theater Project was founded in 2012 by Michael Moran, William Hodgson, and Colin Mandlin. Formerly named Ubuntu Theater Project, we were founded on the value of Ubuntu, which means “I am because we are” and therein “my humanity is tied to yours.” Our work seeks to explore the ways in which theater can act as a vehicle to reveal and invigorate the latent interconnectedness in society. We practice radical inclusivity and find new ways to bring disparate communities together and offer every production with pay-what-you-can pricing. We are the premier professional theater company for Oakland and our work is both a love letter to the city we call home and a marquee destination for exquisite art. OTP has produced over 80 unique productions and have inspired the SF Chronicle to call Oakland Theater Project “the Bay Area’s most daring theater” and “one of the most exciting young companies to emerge in the Bay Area in the past decade."

Over the last five years, we focused on growing the organization and we successfully quadrupled our annual budget to over $1.3M. In 2026, we started our next 5-year plan and secured a marquee new theater venue and launched a capital campaign to make it our permanent home. We have signed a lease for a yet-to-be-announced building with an option to purchase. The building has been a celebrated event venue in Oakland for over 50 years and boasts over 13,000 SF and two distinct theaters spaces to house our mainstage productions and to present a diverse array of performances from local performing arts groups.

Role of Development Manager

Reporting to the Managing Director, the Development Manager is responsible for managing our fundraising work. This role contributes to strategy, creates and manages systems, and coordinates the day-to-day aspects of giving.

This position helps to translate OTP’s artistic ambition into a compelling case for support and leads the behind-the-scenes work that turns emerging relationships into long-term supporters. For development, they will coordinate closely with the Managing Director, Executive Artistic Director, and Patron Services Manager to support all touchpoints of the organization’s donor engagement. Alongside our grant writer, this position will also help to steward relationships and funding from our foundation and corporate partners.

The Development Manager is an experienced professional and a critical contributor to the organization’s success at this time. The right person for this position is a self-starter and able to navigate environments of ambiguity towards tangible outcomes. The successful candidate will be hands-on, solution-oriented, and willing to do what it takes to problem-solve: adopting “the show must go on” attitude. Humility, compassion, and willingness to learn collaboratively are a must.

Oakland Theater Project is past its start-up phase and now pursues growth, stability, and artistic excellence. This position has the opportunity to contribute to the establishment of a durable arts institution in Oakland and to grow and evolve with the organization. The ideal candidate will be adaptable and take on increasingly advanced levels of responsibilities within the company.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Operations

• Contribute data and insights to fundraising strategy and implement aspects of the annual fundraising plan
• Develop or evolve the implementation of fundraising systems and processes including CRM management, gift processing, donor acknowledgments, and funder records; maintain CRM’s accuracy and report out on progress towards fundraising goals at regular intervals
• Manage project budgets for fundraising initiatives
• Lead event planning for fundraising and donor cultivation events
• Maintain up to date knowledge about the capital campaign’s strategy and progress; execute key aspects of the capital campaign strategy including preparation of materials and coordination of meetings with donors

Individual Giving

• Support the cultivation of donors by preparing materials for meetings and contributing to the design of engaging donor experiences
• Conduct regular in-person, virtual, and phone meetings to deepen donor engagement and strengthen long-term philanthropic relationships; frequently attend opening nights, performances, and donor events
• Contribute to the design and lead on the implementation of annual giving and online fundraising campaigns including appeals, memberships, and donor upgrades
• Manage logistics and communications for destination theater trips

Institutional Giving

• Lead the day-to-day of foundation fundraising processes including prospect research, proposal creation, and reporting
• Build relationships with foundation staff
• Manage a part-time Grant Writer, review all grant materials, and ensure proposals have the greatest chance at success
• Establish and grow a corporate revenue program from the ground up, including prospecting aligned corporate partners

Organizational Responsibility

• Attend and contribute at weekly staff meetings to support a positive work culture for all staff
• Represent OTP at select events and meetings; support the development and maintenance of strong community relationships; stay in the know about issues, dynamics, and trends impacting the field and Bay Area theatrical context
• Participate in organization-wide strategy development processes

Skills & Qualifications

• At least five (5) years' experience in development. Performing arts or growth-stage experience preferred
• Strong desire to use theatrical experiences to achieve a social impact and passion for equity and diversity in the arts and education
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Strong written communication and storytelling skills; ability to create finalized external materials including attention to detail
• Ability to manage projects that involve multiple goals
• Ability to collaborate with individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences
• Familiarity with Oakland community; strong relationships to local artists and institutions a plus

Physical Requirements

• Sometimes required to lift up to 20 pounds
• Frequent night and weekend hours to attend OTP performances and events

To Apply

Please create a personal cover letter to submit alongside your resume. We hope to learn from your resume what you can do; we hope to learn from your cover letter who you are and why you want to work with Oakland Theater Project.

Oakland Theater Project offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, & vision package; sick, personal, & vacation time; paid parental leave policy; paid holidays; 401(k) (employee contribution only); hybrid in-person and remote work; and complimentary tickets to shows