Director of Development, Theatre & Education Industry

 
 
Position Overview
The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles
(SCLA) is seeking an experienced fundraiser to serve as Director of
Development, reporting to the Managing Director. This position is
critical to SCLA’s stability and growth, overseeing the creation
and implementation of a comprehensive development program that
includes annual giving composed of foundations, corporations,
government grants, broad-based individuals and major donors, as
well as the successful conclusion of a multi-year capital campaign
that establishes a diverse income base to ensure the Shakespeare
Center’s long-term vitality and sustainability. Working closely
with the Managing Director and Founder/Artistic Director, the
Director of Development will have primary responsibility for
funding relationships and funder communication initiatives. S/he
will be responsible for execution and evaluation of strategic fund
development planning; donor research, cultivation, solicitation,
and relations generally; grantsmanship; and special events. The
ideal candidate has an entrepreneurial spirit and the enthusiasm to
help build the capacity of SCLA.
Essential
Functions
Fund Development Planning,
Strategy, and Implementation

• Planning and Strategy: Work closely with the
  Managing Director to establish and execute a multi-year fund
  development plan in alignment with the organizational strategic
  plan (to be developed in mid-2024) to support general operations,
  programs, and the capital campaign. The diversified fundraising
  plan will include goals and strategies for major gifts, annual
  giving, planned giving, local and regional foundations,
  corporations, and government grants.
• Campaign Directorship: Continue the
  implementation of, and continually track the progress of, the
  multi-year capital campaign, in collaboration with the Managing
  Director. Manage the day-to-day activities of the campaign.
  Collaborate with the Managing Director, Artistic Director, and the
  Board to identify, cultivate, and solicit major campaign gifts from
  individuals, foundations, corporations, and government
  entities.
• Innovative and Effective Solicitation Methods:
  Including but not limited to annual fund, direct mail campaigns,
  corporate sponsorship programs, in-kind and matching gifts, capital
  campaigns, naming opportunities, and other revenue opportunities.
  Develop and manage diverse and innovative ways of giving to
  encourage high-level gifts, including planned giving strategies,
  e-philanthropy and social networking methods, joint ventures and
  other public recognition methods. Develop and manage strategies to
  garner sales of individual and corporate memberships, individual
  and corporate play sponsorships, and ticket subscriptions.
• Donor Relations and Stewardship: Conduct
  prospect research and implement cultivation strategies for all
  funding sources. Establish and build relationships with individual
  donors, institutional funders, and potential community partners.
  Manage donor acknowledgments and deepen donor relationships over
  time.
• Grants Management: Supervise a contract Grant
  Writer / Partnerships Strategist in the solicitation and research
  of foundation grants and government funding applications, prepare
  and submit required funding reports. Produce financial reports and
  assessments. Assist Managing Director and the Board in developing
  new funding initiatives. Remain abreast of the Shakespeare Center
  programming direction, assessments, and administrative developments
  to ensure fulfillment of all funder conditions and
  requirements.
• Events: Design and implement cultivation and
  fundraising events.
• Spokesperson: In partnership with the Managing
  Director and Artistic Director, serve as a public representative
  and spokesperson for SCLA with current and prospective donors and
  funders, as well as with community partners and other
  stakeholders.

Board of Directors and
Volunteer Leadership

• Coordination and Support: Work in close
  partnership with Board leadership and support their ongoing
  fundraising cultivation and solicitation efforts. Collaborate with
  the Managing Director to develop and communicate with the Board,
  including a contemplated Development Committee.
• Accountability: Provide regular and
  comprehensive reports to Board on overall fundraising progress,
  challenges, and opportunities.
• Board Training: In close cooperation with the
  Managing Director, guide further development of SCLA’s active and
  engaged Board of Directors by planning fundraising and nonprofit
  education sessions, mission-related activities, and an annual
  SCLA
• Board Development: Identify and assist in
  cultivating new Board members and orienting them to their
  fundraising and volunteer leadership roles.

Management

• Budgeting: Project and manage fund development
  budget.

• Policy Development: Develop fund development
  gift acceptance policies and procedures.
• Donor Information: Develop and manage the
  donor database (currently DonorView) and ensure it is current,
  accurate, and comprehensive. Supervise a part-time Admin &
  Development Assistant in gift entry, acknowledgements, and
  administrative support for donor packets and proposals.
• Professional Development: Stay abreast of
  trends and best practices in the fields of fundraising and
  nonprofit administration.
• Supervise staff and contractors: oversee,
  provide direction to, and evaluate a part-time Admin &
  Development Coordinator and contracted Grant Writer / Partnerships
  Strategist, as well as other contractors or staff that may be
  necessary from time-to-time. 

Qualifications & Requirements
The ideal candidate will be a
personable and dynamic self-starter with the following
qualifications:

• Five to seven years of non-profit fundraising experience,
  preferably at an organization dedicated to the arts.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including
  professional experience writing letters, campaign copy, and donor
  communications, as well as the ability to communicate with a wide
  variety of audiences.
• Ability to work collaboratively, to motivate, and to interact
  effectively with Board members, volunteers, Shakespeare Center
  staff, and a wide variety of donors.
• Strong leadership skills – must be able to conceive, plan, and
  lead the execution of the development strategy.
• Thorough knowledge of theories and effective practices in donor
  acquisition and stewardship, including personal solicitation, major
  donor programs, direct mail, social networking, online giving,
  planned giving, event management, and grantsmanship.
• Ability to develop and manage budgets, and analyze and
  summarize financial documents.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Superior computer skills and proficiency in donor management
  systems.
• Entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to adapt to change
  quickly.
• Sensitivity to cultural diversity, enthusiasm for the arts, and
  sincere belief in the life-changing opportunities of theater
  participation.
• Preferred: Capital campaign planning/prospecting/execution or
  significant major gifts experience.
• Preferred: Knowledge of Southern California fundraising
  landscape.
• Preferred: Experience fundraising for Los Angeles theater or
  entertainment industries.

Special Requirements

• Must be able to work occasional evenings and weekends.
• Must have a reliable automobile for use on the job (non-commute
  mileage to be reimbursed), valid California Driver License, and
  State required insurance coverage.

Overview of The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles

The mission of the Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles (SCLA) is
to inspire understanding, support professional development, and
contribute to positive changes in our community with excellent
theatrical productions and model arts programs that are accessible
to all. SCLA places special emphasis on engaging and communities of
need, such as incarcerated adults, chronically unemployed veterans,
poverty threshold youth, and schools bereft of robust arts
education.

We bring a history of offering exemplary year-round programming
including critically acclaimed populist interpretations of
Shakespeare’s plays with leading actors, directors, and theater
arts professionals. In January of 2003, Actors’ Equity Association
recognized SCLA as a “trailblazer” at its First Annual
Multicultural/Diversity in Casting Celebration. In April of 2011,
Actors’ Equity Association presented SCLA with the prestigious
Rosetta LeNoire Award, recognizing “outstanding artistic
contributions to the universality of the human experience in
American Theater.” Whether reaching out to inner-city youth,
theatergoers, artists, or the public at large, all of our
programming is grounded in the belief that live theater is a
birthright and that it harnesses life-changing potential. We create
great art that does great things. We see ourselves as building and
strengthening communities, play by play.  

SCLA resides in its own 22,000 square foot space in downtown Los
Angeles,
which                
 includes a 7,000 square foot clear span black box. Capital
improvements are planned for the facility beginning in 2024, which
will transform it into a 299-seat theater that converts into a
rental sound stage. 

Job Details

• Title: Director of Development
• Classification: Full-Time, Exempt
• Compensation: $100,000 – $115,000 annually
  DOE, plus employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance, paid
  vacation, holidays, and sick time, and option to contribute to a
  retirement account. Free parking.
• Reports to: Managing Director
• Supervises: Administration & Development
  Assistant, Grant Writer & Partnerships Strategist
  (Contract)
• Work Format: Hybrid – In person at SCLA’s
  offices in downtown Los Angeles with some flexibility for remote
  work. 

To Apply
Send a cover letter and resume to
[email protected]
with “Director of Development application” in the subject line.
Applications will be reviewed as they are received.