Director of Development

Nov 5

Hudson Valley Shakespeare
Garrison, NY

Anticipated Start Date: N/A

Description

To meet this moment and seize its many opportunities, HVS seeks a highly motivated, skilled, and experienced Director of Development to join the team and lead the organization’s fundraising efforts. They will work in close partnership with the Artistic Director, Managing Director, and an engaged and energized Board to expand development initiatives that support high artistic standards, foster strong connection to the community, and cultivate successful engagement of both loyal and burgeoning donors, funders, and audience members.

The Director of Development oversees a full-time Development Manager. At this moment of institutional growth, HVS will also hire a Director of Marketing and Communications, who will be a key collaborative partner to the new Director of Development and leadership. Both leaders will have the rare opportunity to start their journey with the organization concurrently and thereby establish strategies and practices collectively from the outset. Together, as a team, they will find innovative ways to build on the organization’s beloved reputation, and to broaden and deepen its circle of supporters to best position the organization for long-term success.

Responsibilities

Fundraising

Provide strategic and creative leadership in raising just over $2 million in annual contributed revenue through individual and board giving, foundation, government and corporate support, and special events
Articulate and lead a clear annual development plan and incorporate departmental short and long-term goals, benchmarks that reflect growth, specific targets for various areas of giving, and other necessary objectives
In collaboration with the Managing Director, set annual goals for each line of contributed revenue
Oversee management of the department’s budget and the annual evaluation of the development department’s programs including cost benefit analysis
Create a strong and compelling case for support each year, aligned with organizational goals, integrated into various communication platforms, and utilized by staff and Board
Oversee the implementation and management of individual annual fund giving, including board gifts and the major gifts relationships (donors $1,500+), ensuring ongoing cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship
Harness an active pipeline of major donor prospects and board prospects, including donors who generously participated in the capital campaign, to ensure that the organization builds on those newly formed relationships and stewards them into the future
Review daily ticket buyers lists for on-site fundraising initiatives and maintain a presence at the theater tent greeting major donors during the summer season
Oversee the planning and execution of the Gala in deep collaboration with the Development Manager, leadership, and the Board; and guide the Development Manager in the task of planning and completing an array of cultivation events for current and prospective donors
Manage HVS’s institutional giving strategies, including the cultivation of institutional relationships, and oversee the workflow of the institutional grant applications and reports, collecting content from all departments and managing submissions
Act as a leader, alongside the Artistic and Managing Directors, in the final phase of the capital campaign efforts, where approximately $8 million is yet to be raised

Board Development

Build ongoing relationships with Board members to further their engagement, solicit their annual gifts, confirm their Gala participation, and support them in their development of relationships for the organization
Liaise with the Board Committees dedicated to all fundraising, Gala support, and Board recruitment, and build ongoing communications related to these efforts
Prepare and present development reports at quarterly Board meetings to show progress towards goals
In collaboration with the Managing Director and Board leadership, identify and recruit potential Board members and solidify the onboarding processes for new members

Organizational and Departmental Leadership

Serve as an enthusiastic and visible spokesperson and ambassador for the organization
Examine and improve systems that will aid development operations, including ongoing fundraising communications, prospect research, and gift acknowledgments, and processing
Manage the hiring, onboarding, and performance review processes for all development team members
Work in partnership with the Artistic Director and Marketing Director and other team members to promote the brand of the organization and continuously understand and improve the patron’s experience
Understand and uplift HVS’s values and practices around equity, inclusion, accessibility, and sustainability

Requirements

Proven experience and a successful track record of fundraising in the non-profit development sector, knowledge of theater or performing arts is a plus
Knowledge of the arts and culture philanthropic community, familiarity with New York State and the Hudson Valley region is advantageous
Ability to communicate ideas and plans with fellow staff and board members, then build consensus, and manage a project from start to finish
Capacity to build external relationships with a wide range of supporters, and promote HVS’s mission with passion and commitment
Familiarity with capital campaign processes and openness to work with and learn from an outside consultant
Excellent organizational, written/oral communication, and interpersonal skills
Experience planning and executing large-scale donor events (galas, etc.) and engaging a Board in the success of those events
Strong understanding of how to best utilize a relational donor database and the ability to accurately analyze, interpret and take action on patron data
Skill in both innovative and strategic thinking, excited to grasp the big picture, prioritize, and manage the workflow of projects, and collaborate with the team on the testing of ideas
Enthusiastic and curious team member, eager to be an active and engaged leader within a dynamic theater company
Appreciation for the beauty of the HVS environment and passion for sustainable practices

Not sure you meet 100% of our qualifications?

Research shows that cis men apply for jobs when they fulfill an average of 60% of the criteria, while others tend only to apply if they meet every requirement. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. So, whether you're returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or taking the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar. Please use your cover letter to tell us about what you hope to bring to this role.

Salary Range and Employee Benefits

The salary for this position is $100,000-120,000. Hudson Valley Shakespeare provides comprehensive benefits, including providing access to insurance (health, dental, vision, life, long and short-term disability upon eligibility); offers paid time off; and parking. Employees contribute to their health insurance coverage. HVS offices are located within a renovated cottage on the organization’s new property, located at 2015 Route 9 in Garrison NY.

Team members work onsite in the office four days of the week, with some flexibility as needed. HVS is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to building a culturally diverse and equitable environment, and we strongly encourage applications from people of color and women. Candidates from populations underrepresented in the theater field are strongly encouraged to apply.

How to Apply for this Job

Apply Now

The Director of Development search is being conducted on behalf of Hudson Valley Shakespeare by Tom O’Connor Consulting Group, a New York-based executive search and consulting firm specializing in the arts and culture industries. The search is being led by Search Consultant Brenna Thomas, in consultation with and support from the TOCG search team.

Your cover letter should include any training or experience relevant to the job profile that you would like to highlight, why you consider yourself a good fit for this opportunity, and anything else you’d like us to know about your qualifications that may not be present in your resume. The priority application deadline for this search is November 21, 2024. Applications received by this date will receive priority consideration. While we will still accept and consider applications after this date, we encourage you to apply as early as possible for the best chance at being considered for the position. Please note that meeting the priority deadline does not guarantee an interview.

About the Organization

Hudson Valley Shakespeare (HVS) is in the midst of a transformational moment as an organization. After undergoing tremendous artistic and programmatic evolution in recent years, following the successful transition from a founding leader to the installation of Artistic Director Davis McCallum in 2014 and Managing Director Kendra Ekelund in 2022, HVS is in a place of great strength in terms of its mission, work, and leadership. At the same time, HVS (known as Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, until recently) has just broken ground on building a new permanent home in Garrison, NY, a LEED Platinum certified open-air theater, to be named the Samuel H. Scripps Theater Center.

The new theater will be located on 98-acres of land overlooking the Hudson River, conveyed to the organization by philanthropist and longtime conservationist, Christopher Davis, and providing the organization the opportunity to evolve from a seasonal festival to a cultural anchor for the Hudson Valley and an enduring destination for arts lovers nationally and globally. Now in the public and final phase of a triumphant $58 million capital campaign to complete this project, HVS is poised to assemble a stronger staff infrastructure, provide increased resources to artists, and elevate its presence with the local community and national theatre landscape.

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