Director of Development at Lincoln Center Theater

Lincoln Center Theater Director of Development

Overview:

Lincoln Center Theater has produced over 200 plays and musicals at the Vivian Beaumont, Mitzi E. Newhouse, and Claire Tow Theaters at Lincoln Center and other theaters on and off-Broadway, as well as touring productions nationally and around the world. LCT is committed to developing and producing new works and classics with an emphasis on the work of new and emerging playwrights, directors, and designers. LCT’s education program, Open Stages, reaches thousands of public-school students annually with curriculum-related projects, teaching artist support, and tickets to LCT productions.

LCT Values:

LCT is dedicated to fostering a theater representative of all of the populations we serve. We are proactively committed to better serve artists, staff, crews, audiences, and broader community through our organization's values. We welcome applicants who are in alignment with our organization's values of empathy, dignity, and care.

Position Summary:

Reporting directly to the Executive Director of Development and Planning, the Director of Development is responsible for overseeing critical elements of Lincoln Center Theater’s Annual Fund as well as carrying a full major and principal gifts portfolio. This role interfaces regularly with the LCT Board of Directors, acting as liaison to several board committees, and serves as a senior member of the development team of 15. This role is both strategic and tactical, with a sharp focus on generating revenue and establishing fundraising best practices.

This new position is part of a plan to meaningfully increase the annual fund and launch ancillary fundraising initiatives over the next three years in a fast-paced and growing Development Department now raising $14.5 million annually. This position is expected to be in office 4 days a week.

Responsibilities:

Fundraising and Development

• Carry a portfolio of approximately 100 donors and prospects, creating and implementing a plan for annual giving and special campaign giving across the portfolio. Track all donor engagement in Tessitura and assign prospects to other members of the team when appropriate.

• Help strengthen and diversify the fundraising program by expanding LCT’s donor base across all sectors, with a focus on individual giving. Develop and execute data-driven, research-based strategies for acquisition, retention, and upgrading of key prospects.
• Identify and cultivate new prospects as program supporters (production funding, education programs, community programs, new play development, etc.); manage cultivation, solicitation and stewardship activities related to new program underwriting.

• Meet and exceed fundraising goals, as determined annually during organizational budgeting process.

• Monitor industry fundraising trends and help adapt and redirect LCT’s fundraising plans accordingly.
• Build strong relationships with members of the artistic and education teams at LCT, and leverage staff in these teams as well as the Managing Director for fundraising purposes.

Board Engagement

• Build strong relationships with board members to ensure maximum engagement
• Act as solicitor for a selection of board members.
• Prospect for new board members, taking all steps towards nomination, from cultivation through to nomination and on-boarding
• Act as chief staff liaison and worker to the Board Development Committee, convening meetings, creating an agenda, and working with the Executive Director and the committee leadership on materials and presentations.

Leadership and Outreach

• Directly supervise activities of the Patron Program and Angels Program, managing a two-person Individual Giving team, and support all components that make up these two membership programs. Bring a strategic eye to these programs to ensure that they are performing at peak, with both programs showing annual growth in the foreseeable future (baseline is $1.6M).
• With Director of Individual Giving, and in partnership with the Chief Marketing Officer, launch a Friends Program that will grow over five years to provide a meaningful new source of annual income to LCT. Leverage new Tessitura database system and new marketing strategy in this cause.
• Directly supervise the Development Operations group of three, ensuring a robust support system across the development team. Oversee deeper department systems in gift acknowledgement, budget tracking, integration with the marketing team, materials development, communications calendaring and data review.
• Represent the organization externally at a range of events that offer prospecting opportunities. Be on the lookout for cultivation opportunities,
• As Deputy to Executive Director of Development and Planning, lead team as requested and take on a range of projects as assigned.

Skills & Qualifications:

• BA degree with at least 8 years of full-time fundraising solicitation experience at a managerial or senior position in a not-for-profit organization, highly preferred in the performing arts or theater sector.
• Demonstrated success in development/philanthropy leadership, preferably in a cultural non-profit organization, with experience in the following: individual giving, major gifts, annual fund/membership, planned giving, stewardship, and development operations. Clear understanding of donor pipeline development process.
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills; ability to prioritize and multi-task effectively; exceptional attention to detail. Service and team oriented, enthusiastic, and self-motivated.
• Successful history as a supervisor and team leader. Able to promote an environment that fosters inclusive relationships both within the development team and our external donor base.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

• Knowledge of Tessitura, Microsoft Office, Lexis-Nexis, Wealth Engine, highly desirable.
• Ability to work regular evenings and weekends when donor cultivation rand special events require it.

Compensation:

This is a full-time, exempt, salaried position with an annual salary range of $175,000 - $200,000. Lincoln Center Theater provides comprehensive benefits including: Paid Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance, 403(b) and Employer Match, and Paid Time Off.

Application Instructions:

Please apply here: https://lct.bamboohr.com/careers/44

Please note only candidates who submit a resume, cover letter, and a fundraising writing sample (proposal or other appeal) of 1-2 pages will be considered.

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All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, affectional preference, gender identity or expression, sexual and reproductive health decisions, pregnancy, disability, genetic predisposition, age, military or veteran status, marital or familial status, or any other protected characteristic, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.