Head of Institutional Partnerships

Ars Nova seeks a skilled relationship builder, an astute communicator, and a fundraising leader to join us as Head of Institutional Partnerships. The Head of Institutional Partnerships serves as a key member of the theater’s philanthropy team, driving our grant writing, reporting, and fundraising from government, foundation, and corporate partners.

ABOUT ARS NOVA

Ars Nova exists to discover, develop and launch singular theater, comedy and music artists who are in the early stages of their careers. We are the stomping ground and launching pad for visionary and adventurous artists to create new work. We strive to build the next generation of audiences for live entertainment by prioritizing a zeitgeist-forward aesthetic and marrying it with accessible ticket prices. We are committed to creating a collaborative and innovative environment that champions diverse voices and groundbreaking new work.

Some of our recent highly recognized work includes: the NY Times’, NYMag, and New Yorker “Best of 2022” Oratorio for Living Things; the Lortel Award-winning “Outstanding Musicals” (pray), Rags Parkland Sings the Songs of the Future and KPOP, which transferred to Broadway in 2022; and the Tony Award-winning smash-hit Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812.

Ars Nova recognizes both that it is a predominantly white institution and that our institutional

practices have historically led to the exclusion of people of the Global Majority from our team.

We are actively working to become a more diverse, anti-racist, inclusive organization. We hope candidates of the Global Majority will accept our invitation to apply.

KEY PURPOSE OF POSITION AND GOALS

The Head of Institutional Partnerships leads Ars Nova’s institutional fundraising: shepherding and growing our portfolio of grants and sponsorships (currently appx. $650,000) for our annual operating budget, and additional goals for capital and special campaign projects. The Head of Institutional Partnerships will develop and execute a compelling articulation of Ars Nova’s mission, programs and values, working closely across the organization to ensure grants are aligned with Ars Nova’s programming and priorities, and ensuring reports and budgets are factual and detailed. The Head of Institutional Partnerships will be entrusted with a great degree of autonomy and responsibility to be a frontline fundraiser, and relationship-builder for the organization.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES AND COMPETENCIES

The responsibilities, competencies and expectations outlined below are representative and may shift as needed to best align with organizational priorities.

• Leading all fundraising from our portfolio of institutional donors, including:
  • Writing and submitting all grant proposals and reports for general operating, project-based, and capital funding.
  • Manage a robust grants calendar to ensure language development, reviews and approvals, and submissions all happen on or ahead of schedule.
  • Project managing all supplemental materials needed for grants including artistic work samples, budgets, and marketing collateral.
  • Identifying, cultivating and pursuing new grant opportunities, growing our base of institutional funding year-over-year.
  • Developing strong relationships with the staff and boards of our institutional partners, including leading meetings, greeting folks at the theater, and offering consistent invitations to engage with our work.
  • Navigating the unique compliance and reporting policies and procedures for each funder.
• Collaborating across the organization to be a bridge between our work and our institutional partners, including:
  • Strategizing the best match for each project-based grant opportunity in partnership with the Philanthropy Team, and executive and artistic leadership.
  • Partnering with Ars Nova’s artists and artistic staff to help illuminate and connect their work to funding partners throughout the development process.
  • Partnering with teams across the organization to understand different areas of the company’s work and create compelling grant proposals/reports.
  • Lending your skills in communications, writing and proofreading to projects across the organization, including being an extra eye on marketing materials and any public messaging.
• Managing the accuracy and maintenance of institutional donor profiles in our CRM, and ensure timely gift entry and acknowledgment of all grants
• Facilitate and steward strategic partnerships with other organizations that offer benefits to Ars Nova beyond philanthropy. This could include: community groups in our Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood; a targeted organization we’re offering free or discounted tickets to; an accessibility-focused group that can help us serve more audiences or artists; or peer networks across the theater/arts industry.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

ABOUT YOU:

• You have 3+ years of experience working in nonprofit fundraising, with an emphasis in grant writing and/or sponsorships, or can demonstrate an equivalent;
• You believe fiercely in Ars Nova’s mission and values, and are comfortable serving as an advocate, cheerleader, and representative for our artists and programs;
• You are a skillful storyteller and artistic translator who can find order in chaos. You can find the throughline in the messy work of making boundary-defying theater, and articulate the institutional narrative in a fast-moving, ever-changing organization.
• You have razor-sharp attention-to-detail and are the kind of person that people automatically go-to when they need a proofread or second eye.
• You are an adept project manager and organizer, who can balance a variety of projects and goals while keeping an eye on the big picture;
• You share our commitment to anti-racism and creating and maintaining an inclusive environment, are excited about joining our efforts to make Ars Nova a more just and equitable place to work and make work, and have the ability to interact effectively with people of different cultures and socio-economic backgrounds;

BONUS IF:

• You have experience fundraising specifically for an arts, creative, or forward-thinking organization;
• You have relationships and/or experience with New York City’s arts and culture funders;
• You have a strong background in writing and editing;
• You have experience with Asana, or a similar project management software;
• You are relentlessly curious, and love to dig into the what, why, and how of what you’re working on;
• You thrive in all-out, go-big-or-go-home environments and can move quickly to adjust to changing needs and priorities;
• You love to collaborate and work well with colleagues to discover new ideas, paths, and strategies.

We know there are candidates who may not have all of the qualifications listed above but possess intuitive knowledge or other transferable skills. If that’s you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself.

AN EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITY:

This is an exempt, full-time position with a starting annual salary range between $65,000 and $75,000 commensurate with experience. Ars Nova aims to compensate fairly and competitively within the not-for-profit entertainment industry, and on a transparent level salary system within the organization. Benefits include health, dental and group term life insurance; an open paid time off policy; an opt-in 401(k) retirement savings plan after one year with an employer match up to 3.5%; FSA; vision insurance; long-term disability insurance; additional coverage options including pet insurance; TransitChek plans; and more.

Ars Nova is based in NYC, and this position is designed to require regular onsite, in-person activity (including some evenings, weekends and holidays), and is flexible to have a hybrid schedule with a mix of in-office and work-from-home days that best serve the role’s mix of both collaborative and concentrated work. We are open to considering candidates who would primarily work remotely, given that they could occasionally travel in for programming and meetings, though we have a preference for candidates in the greater NYC area.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Please submit a resume, a personal statement, and a writing sample. For the personal statement, ditch the “cover letter” and speak from the heart about what excites you about this job opportunity. While we ask that resumes be submitted in written form, we invite applicants to submit their personal statement via a written piece, audio or video recording – whatever form best supports your self-expression.

APPLY HERE:

https://form.asana.com/?k=eMlJT-F3mv-2PQYX56myEw&d=75190075101323

HIRING PROCESS:

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis through May 4, 2026. Selected candidates will have a first round video interview with Ars Nova’s Managing Director and Philanthropy Director. Second Round Interviews will be in-person at Ars Nova’s office. Finalists will meet with a staff panel, and will be asked to complete a project and present their work. References will then be checked and an offer is expected to be made in late May, with a start date soon thereafter.