Development Director Position
Job Description – Development Director
Founded in 1987, the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival is a critically-acclaimed non-profit theater producing three classic works each summer at Boscobel in Garrison, NY. In 2009 32,000 audience members attended the Festival’s productions. It also has year-round education programs extending to more than 50 schools and 22,000 students in the tri-state area. Growing in its scope and impact, the Festival projects a 2010 operating budget to exceed $1.7 million, of which more than 40% must be raised from sources other than ticket sales. To ensure significant growth and development of such income sources, HVSF is seeking dynamic person for the new position of Development Director, reporting to the Executive Director.
The Development Director will provide leadership, strategic direction, management and coordination for all of its fundraising efforts. He or she will work hand-in-hand with the Executive Director and the Festival’s Board of Directors to help create and implement fundraising strategies that increase the organization's support from individuals, corporations, foundations, governmental entities and other sources. The position is part-time (on average 24 hours per week), with flexible hours to the extent practicable. It is anticipated that the position will become full-time within a reasonable time frame. Experience in theater arts is highly desirable.
PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Overall planning and implementation of development activities
a) Work with the Executive Director and the Board to develop an annual fundraising plan that includes goals and strategies for individual, corporate, foundation and government sources.
b) Serve as the key staff support to the Development Committee of the Board, including management of fundraising events.
c) Create reports that help with analysis and strategy, including periodic progress reports and gift histories.
d) Maintain ongoing favorable relations with funders and make personal contact with major funders in conjunction with the Executive Director, the Artistic Director and/or members of the Board.
2. Individual Donors
a) Work with the Executive Director and Board to develop and implement strategies for major individual gift solicitations and capital campaigns.
b) Organize and educate Board and Advisory Board members in solicitation and donor cultivation campaigns.
c) Be responsible for the management and implementation of direct mail, telefundraising, subscription add-on and online giving campaigns, including the development of benchmarking methods for evaluating these campaigns.
d) Track and analyze overall and appeal-specific efforts using fundraising software and make recommendations for increasing results.
e) Develop plans for identification and cultivation of promising prospects at all levels of the donor base.
3. Foundation, Corporate and Government Fundraising
a) Work with Grants Manager on identifying potential funding sources; grant and sponsorship proposals; timely completion of reports to funders and renewals.
b) Make personal contact with funders and maintain ongoing favorable relations in conjunction with the Executive and Artistic Directors and/or members of the Board.
4. Community Relations
a) Represent HVSF as a spokesperson at community and funder-sponsored events, and other speaking opportunities.
b) Develop newsletters to serve as a fundraising tool.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge of and minimum of three to five years practical experience with: major gift solicitation, prospect research, sponsorships, and development systems and operations.
• B.A. or B.S. degree; proficiency in Word and Excel required; PowerPoint desirable. Knowledge of fundraising databases.
• Ability to write in a clear and compelling fashion
• High energy, positive attitude; enjoys challenging work. An eagerness to work collaboratively as part of a dynamic small management team.
Send resume to developmentposition@hvshakespeare.org. No phone calls, please.
