About Theatre Development Fund
Theatre Development Fund, Inc. (“TDF”) is dedicated to bringing the power of the performing arts to everyone. As one of the only arts service organizations whose membership is the audience, our mission is to remove the financial, physical, and invisible barriers to access to the performing arts. Our vision will be complete when EVERY New Yorker (and visitor to NYC) feels ownership of and belonging in the live performing arts.
With an annual operating budget of $17,000,000, TDF fulfills its mission through two key areas of work:
- TDF’s mission-driven ticketing programs provide broad access to audiences for whom price is a barrier to entry. Through the iconic TKTS Booth in Times Square and Lincoln Center, and through TDF’s membership programs, the organization serves over 1M audience members per year.
- TDF’s Community Programs remove financial, physical, and invisible barriers to attendance for the communities that need it most. These programs serve close to 50,000 audience members annually, particularly those members impacted by hearing loss and deafness, vision loss and blindness, mobility loss, or by intellectual and developmental disabilities. Further, TDF serves 10,000 high school students every year and over 150 community organizations, including veterans, seniors, and other underserved communities. Our methodology includes both access to discounted/free tickets, and the curation of an environment at the theatre where audiences can feel comfortable, safe, and can experience the show on their own terms.
About the Position
The Individual Giving Manager is an integral member of TDF’s fundraising team, helping to raise upwards of $4M annually. Reporting to the Deputy Director of Development, this is a forward-facing fundraising position, responsible for the care and feeding of TDF Champions, our dedicated pool of donors giving $1,000-$24,999 annually. Responsibilities include:
- Drive identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship for a portfolio of ~150 mid-level donors and prospects, predominantly through phone and email communications with some in-person meetings
- Manage marketing and stewardship efforts for Champion donors, including communications, solicitations, and benefit fulfillment
- Work with the Associate Director of Individual Giving and Events to elevate high potential Champion level prospects to the major gift portfolio for qualification
- Work with the Development Operations Manager to identify new Champion level prospects and move them through the donor pipeline
- Manage operations for mid-level donors, including writing and processing acknowledgements, meeting downloads and prospect plan updates, and assisting with gift entry and other operational responsibilities during appeals and when the Development Operations Manager is out of office
- Provide support as needed for events, including cultivation events, Board dinners, TDF’s annual Broadway Breakfast and our new Spring Benefit
The successful candidate will be ambitious and curious. They should enjoy working directly with donors and telling TDF’s story. They will be energized by the opportunity to learn about what makes donors and prospects “tick”, their interests and world views, and enjoy planning strategy around stewardship and solicitation.
About you:
- You have 3+ years’ experience in nonprofit fundraising or sales
- You are a creative thinker and problem solver who works well with others and has a desire to learn and implement new ideas
- You are able to balance forward facing fundraising—phone calls, donor meetings and events—with the administrative and marketing tasks associated with the position
- You take initiative, are flexible and work well both independently, cross-departmentally, and with a team
- You use good judgment and hold yourself accountable; you can be trusted to represent the organization with a variety of stakeholders, including donors and board members
- You are familiar with Tessitura or other similar CRMs
Application Instructions / Public Contact InformationAt TDF, we serve many communities who are historically excluded from the performing arts, and we are committed to diversity of experience in our workplace also. We encourage applicants with diverse cultural perspectives, including race, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, class, physical ability, sexual orientation, or educational background to apply. Additionally, 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 hear from you. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply, even if you are not sure you meet 100% of our qualifications.
To apply, please send your resume, and a cover letter telling us what you hope to bring to this role to resumes@tdf.org.
Start Date: December 1, 2024
TDF is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). We are committed to diversity in all areas of our work, both in our programs and in our workplaces. We encourage applicants with a unique cultural perspective inclusive of race, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, class, physical ability and sexual orientation.