director of major gifts

Full-Time Role

Signature Theatre, one of New York’s leading off-Broadway theatres, is seeking a DIRECTOR OF MAJOR GIFTS for The Pershing Square Signature Center on West 42nd Street.

About Signature

Signature Theatre is an artistic home for storytellers. By producing several plays from each Resident Writer, Signature offers a deep dive into their bodies of work. Founded in 1991 by James Houghton, Signature Theatre is now led by Artistic Director Emily Shooltz and Executive Director Timothy J. McClimon. Signature serves its mission by hosting our distinctive playwright residencies at our permanent home at The Pershing Square Signature Center, a three-theater facility on West 42nd Street designed by Frank Gehry Architects. The Center supports and encourages collaboration among artists, cultural organizations, and local communities by providing free, public access throughout the space. In addition to its three intimate theaters, the Center features a studio theater, a rehearsal studio and a public café and bar. Since its founding, Signature has received over 100 awards and in 2014 became the first New York theater to receive the Regional Tony Award.

EDIA

All employees of Signature Theatre have a responsibility to be active in the institution’s continued commitment to its Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility values and goals. Department heads will be accountable to lead their teams by incorporating principles from our EDIA work into their daily practices and establishing tangible action steps for the organization.

Position Summary

The Director of Major Gifts will be an outgoing, enthusiastic, innovative, and entrepreneurial fundraiser who is ready to strengthen the institution by building substantial support for the organization’s Next Act Campaign, stewarding and growing the pool of Artistic Director’s Circle donors, and developing and executing strategies to build significant individual support for Signature Theatre’s programs. The Director of Major Gifts is a seasoned development leader, and reports to the Director of Development, while working closely with the Executive Director, Artistic Director, and Board of Directors.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage Signature’s Next Act Capital Campaign that is designed to raise $10 million in support of the organization’s financial sustainability, facilities, and artistic fund. 
• Work collaboratively as a member of the Senior Leadership Team to strategically develop individual fundraising plans that are executed annually and in the long term. 
• Build, manage and grow a portfolio of Major Gift donors and prospects through all phases of the giving cycle, from discovery and engagement through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Lead the strategy and execution of our Artistic Director’s Circle program ($10K+ annual donors), including stewarding relationships with Artistic Director’s Circle members, and identifying and cultivating new prospects for the program, in partnership with Development Team, Board of Trustees and Executive Leadership.
• Manage a robust engagement and qualification program to identify major gift prospects, drawing upon lower-level donors, subscribers, and trustee networks.
• Work closely with the Executive Director, Nominating Committee, and Director of Development to identify and cultivate potential Board prospects.
• Partner with executive and board leadership, and resident artists to engage current donors and prospects, and prepare briefing materials, proposals, and research as needed.
• Craft personalized solicitations letters and customized proposals and pitch decks for potential campaign and major donors.
• Develop comprehensive knowledge of Signature’s programming and artists in order to clearly communicate the theater’s mission and impact on the field.
• Represent the organization at meetings, public events, and other activities.

Desired Skills

Signature is seeking a dynamic frontline fundraiser to be a connector, mover, and shaker on behalf of our mission and artists. The Director of Major Gifts should be a charismatic spokesperson for Signature’s work, who is excited about a role that might eschew the traditional 9-to-5 office job—in order to be at breakfasts, coffees, drinks, and dinner-and-shows out in the community to get to know our supporters and bring more of them into the fold. The ideal candidate has at least 5 years of experience in fundraising with a track record of successfully soliciting major gifts, preferably in a theater or other cultural organization.

Compensation

This is a full-time salaried exempt position, with compensation commensurate with qualifications and experience.  The salary range is $110,000.00-$120,000.00 annually.

Benefits

Benefits include group health, dental, and vision plans, as well as the opportunity to participate in tax-saving flexible spending, commuter and 401(k) plan

Considerations

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. Signature Theatre is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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