Director of Philanthropy

Company Overview

The 5th Avenue Theatre’s mission is to nurture, advance, and celebrate all aspects of the great art form: the musical. As one of America's premier musical theater companies, The 5th is a major economic driver, playing a key role in the revitalization of downtown Seattle. We produce multiple musicals annually and proudly employ local talent, with 90%+ of our 700 artists living in Washington. Our renowned education programs serve 35,000 K-12 students annually, and our engagement programs facilitate connections between people, organizations, different cultures, and various art forms. The 5th is an invaluable treasure to Seattle, and central to America's theatrical landscape; we have originated 26 new musicals, 11 of which have gone on to Broadway and garnered 15 Tony Awards®, including two for Best Musical.

Job Title: Director of Philanthropy

Department: Philanthropy

Reports to: Managing Director and Executive & Artistic Director

FLSA Classification: Full-time, Salaried, Exempt

Compensation: $120,000-$130,000

Work Location: Downtown Seattle. The 5th Avenue Theatre administrative office located within Skinner Building (1326 5th Avenue, Suite 735).

Position Summary

The 5th Avenue Theatre Association is looking for a strategic and passionate leader for our Philanthropic operations. The Director of Philanthropy is responsible for the management of all fundraising activities and curation of comprehensive plans that support the maintenance and growth of our donor base. This position must have demonstrated experience and success in front line fundraising, major gift cultivation, team management, and have experience with grants and capital or extraordinary fundraising campaigns.

The 5th is undergoing a significant fundraising campaign and changes to the operational structure to stabilize the organization following post-pandemic challenges. This position is intended to support the campaign strategically, working directly with the Managing Director and Executive & Artistic Director on portfolio-building and tracking and advancing key metrics.

This role is pivotal to the success of growing The 5th’s contributed revenue by 30% over the next three years. Some known opportunities for cultivation are the new Strategic Alliance with STG, the 2026 centennial celebration of the venue, and the 50th anniversary celebration of the musical theatre company in 2030. Successful candidates will require an ability to implement change management strategies and have an eagerness to develop new working metrics for these initiatives.

Position Overview

Fundraising Management

• • Design and sustain comprehensive fundraising strategies that align with budget goals and support both ongoing and special campaigns, including the current extraordinary initiative, while cultivating and managing a strong donor pipeline.
  • Support and manage tactical plans that execute the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individual donors, sponsors and grantors.
  • Develop and execute a comprehensive Major Gifts program in collaboration with the Major Gifts Officer.
  • Serve as key driver for philanthropy, making sure that all activities, campaigns, events and other projects are completed with a high level of quality and effectiveness.
  • Lead and support the philanthropy team by directly supervising the Associate Directors of Individual Giving, Philanthropic Operations, and Annual Fund & Grants, fostering their leadership of respective teams and portfolios, and ensuring strong collaboration across donor segments.
  • Maintain a portfolio of major donors and serve as primary strategist for large-scale philanthropic opportunities and events.
  • Execute fundraising campaigns, initiatives, and events. Ensure campaigns are innovative, targeted, and effective in meeting financial goals.
  • Stay informed about industry trends, market conditions, and competitor activities to inform philanthropic strategies and decisions.

Leadership and Management

• • Manage calendar, expense budget, and campaign projects.
  • Ensure all budgets, reports, and other materials are on time and accurate.
  • Work in collaboration with department and other key stakeholders and serve on committees for board, campaign, and gala initiatives.
  • Attend all official donor events and major activities of the theater.
  • Provide leadership and support to the philanthropy and special events teams.
  • Manage the philanthropy expense budget, ensuring all activities are cost-effective and within budget parameters.
  • Utilize data and analytics to measure the effectiveness of philanthropic strategies and campaigns.
  • Work to integrate belonging and equity work into philanthropic operations and campaigns, ensuring fundraising practices reflect the internal priorities.

Strategic Plan & Collaboration

• • Work in collaboration with the Managing Director and Executive & Artistic Director to develop and implement philanthropic strategies that align with the theatre's strategic goals, focusing on increasing revenue, attendance, and guest loyalty.
  • Demonstrate and implement collaboration among all departments to create a unified approach to audience development, events, and donor engagement.
  • Collaborate closely with executive leadership and fellow directors and ensure that plans and activities are integrated, supportive, and aligned with the goals of the strategic plan, and the vision and values of the organization.
  • Promote and integrate Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility values into all philanthropic activities and initiatives.

The 5th Avenue Theatre is a fast-paced, collaborative workplace. Staff may be required to work in shared environments and engage with the public. Remote work arrangements are not guaranteed and may require documented medical accommodation.

Desired Qualifications

The ideal candidate for this position will possess most of these skills and qualifications, or relevant experience and achievements to help them meet needs of the role.

• Bachelor's degree, or equivalent experience, in Philanthropy, Marketing, Business, Nonprofit Management, or a related field
• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in philanthropy or fundraising, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• Proven track record of developing and executing successful fundraising strategies.
• Demonstrated experience in growing major gifts and/or curating six to seven figure gifts year over year.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to analyze data and make data-driven decisions.
• Experience with budget management and financial analysis.
• Familiarity with digital fundraising tools and techniques.
• Passion for the performing arts and a deep understanding of the theatre industry.
• Commitment to EDIA values and demonstrated experience in promoting diversity and inclusion in a professional setting.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Ability to perform administrative tasks using a computer, such as creating and reviewing documents, entering data, and communicating electronically. This may involve sitting at a workstation for extended periods and can be done using a keyboard, mouse, or assistive technology.

Ability to communicate in person with colleagues across a multi-level facility (including offices, theater, and workshop spaces). This may involve moving between spaces with varied lighting and sound, or asking others to come to a central office location as needed.

Ability to travel to and be present at on- and off-site special events in varied spaces, some of which may be potentially non-ADA-compliant.