This role will be responsible for DTC’s annual fundraising and stewardship programs. The Director of Development (DoD) will report to the Executive Director and manage a three-person team, including a Corporate and Foundation Relations Officer, an Individual Donor Relations Officer, and a Development Operations & Event Coordinator. The DoD will work closely with individuals, corporations, foundations, and government entities in fulfilling DTC’s revenue goals, while also engaging, cultivating, and stewarding a passionate community of supporters invested in the organization’s mission and programs.
Roles and Responsibilities
Fundraising and Stewardship
- Lead the development, implementation, and enhancement of all fundraising activities, including annual campaigns, individual giving, events, grants, sponsorships, planned giving, and capital projects.
- Construct development strategies in consultation with the Executive Director, senior leadership, and the development team, and create an ambitious and comprehensive development plan and calendar with clearly defined goals, objectives, timelines, and assigned responsibilities.
- Maintain a personal portfolio of donors and successfully cultivate and solicit major gifts from a diverse group of individuals, corporations, and foundations, ensuring appropriate stewardship of donors at all levels.
- Build clear and transparent standards that ensure DTC donors see the value and impact of their support through stewardship, donor recognition, with particular emphasis on the goal of donor retention.
- Devise tailored engagement strategies to increase support from current donors and prospective donors.
- Understand and clearly articulate DTC’s mission, history, programs, values, and policies to cultivate and enhance authentic relationships throughout the region.
- Embrace other fundraising and stewardship duties as needed.
Planning and Team Leadership
- Inspire, motivate, and mentor the development team, setting performance standards and goals, providing constructive feedback and evaluations, and supporting opportunities for professional development and growth.
- Collaborate with the Finance team to ensure tracking and documentation to meet organizational and external reporting needs in an efficient, transparent, and timely manner.
- Work closely with the Marketing and Public Works (education & community engagement) departments to cultivate, expand, and diversify an excited and engaged base for DTC.
- Manage the development team and other colleagues in the evaluation and alignment of donor benefits with the needs and wants of DTC’s constituents, with a goal of increasing support, especially at the Benefactor level.
- Oversee the strategic use of the CRM database (Tessitura) and other technology to guarantee the highest level of donor engagement, satisfaction, and expressions of appreciation.
- Create a supportive, collaborative, productive, and healthy work environment based on respect, teamwork, and the equity, diversity, and inclusion values of DTC.
- Embrace other planning and team leadership duties as needed.
Board and Community Engagement
- Serve as the staff liaison to the Board’s Development Committee and work with them to explore new contributed revenue sources, create and monitor revenue and expense budgets, and provide accurate reporting and analysis for contributed revenue.
- Mobilize the Board of Trustees, Executive Director, corporate partners, and community leaders to drive fundraising activity and personal engagement with top prospects and donors.
- Partner with the Executive Director and Board Nominating Committee to identify and recruit new board members, educate board members about their role in development, cultivate and solicit them for financial support, and leverage their respective networks to expand the donor base and support for DTC.
- Commit to the ongoing discovery of new major gift prospects throughout the community and serve as DTC’s primary knowledge source for funding opportunities and philanthropic outlets.
- Understand and clearly articulate DTC’s mission, history, programs, values, and policies to cultivate and enhance authentic relationships throughout the region.
- Be a passionate, visible, and informed advocate, actively seeking opportunities to engage with the broader community and to participate in events that position DTC for improved fundraising and visibility.
- Embrace other board and community engagement duties as required.
Traits and Characteristics
Displaying excellent diplomacy and a collaborative team spirit, the DoD will be comfortable in a range of social settings. They will have a strong ability to multitask complex functions and will be driven by practical results and return on their investment of time, energy, and resources. With a strong acumen to discern systems and apply practical thinking, they can work in financial settings that require accuracy and attention to detail.
Other key competencies include:
- Interpersonal Skills – The acumen to organize and motivate others while creating a sense of order, direction, and active participation among the internal and external stakeholders to achieve collective goals.
- Personal Accountability – The ability to take accountability for decisions, grow from mistakes, and possess a high degree of awareness of the impact of personal actions and decisions.
- Customer Focus – The drive for anticipating, meeting, and exceeding the needs, wants, and expectations of donors, sponsors, and other supporters.
- Leadership and Problem Solving – The thoughtfulness to organize and influence people to believe in a vision, and to define, analyze, and formulate solutions to issues.
- Time and Priority Management – The aptitude for prioritizing and completing tasks to deliver desired outcomes within allotted time frames.
Qualifications
A demonstrable record of managing teams, fundraising events, and the prospecting, cultivation, solicitation, and stewarding of gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundations in a nonprofit setting, along with a history of improving systems and processes to deepen engagement with donors is required. A bachelor’s degree is preferred, and a minimum of 5 years of supervisory and senior-level development experience is required. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are necessary. Experience in, and broad understanding of, theater or performing arts is very desirable. Proficiency with Tessitura is highly desirable.
Compensation and Benefits
DTC provides competitive compensation, with a salary range between $120,000 and $135,000 commensurate with experience, coupled with health benefits, 403b, and a potential relocation stipend. This position will work onsite Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at the DTC’s offices, with the option for remote work on most Mondays and Fridays; however, this position will be expected to attend some evening and weekend events in conjunction with DTC performances and events, as well as other community activities.
Applications and Inquiries
To submit your cover letter, which outlines your suitability for the position, and your CV/resume (electronic submissions preferred), please visit https://artsconsulting.com/opensearches/dallas-theater-center-seeks-director-of-development/.
DTC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.
DTC wants to be the best place to work and see theater, and to be a positive and transformational force in Dallas and beyond. DTC stands up for equity, diversity, and inclusion across the company and community. As a leading national theater, DTC recognizes that building an equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment is central to relevance and sustainability in the community that they serve and love.
DTC will strive to create a culture of inclusion where individuals can thrive and succeed, are able to participate in and contribute to the progress and success of DTC while growing both professionally and personally.
DTC recognizes and values individual differences and acknowledges structural and systemic racism and other access barriers that prevent full and fair participation of people outside the dominant culture and power dynamics. DTC acknowledges the complexities of becoming a fully inclusive and anti-racist organization and accepts the challenge to build an organization where full and fair participation is the norm.
DTC commits to providing fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement and to creating space for culturally diverse voices to be heard and power to be shared.
