POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT: 

South Bay Musical Theater Development Director (half-time)

Posted May 2024

Location: Remote with occasional work at the organization’s office in San Jose or at the Saratoga Civic Theater in Saratoga, CA

Compensation: Half-Time ($25/hour for 20 hours/week), Hours are flexible.

Apply: Submit a cover letter and resume to hiring@southbaymt.com. 

Reports To: Board of Directors (pending hiring of an Executive Director)

JOB DESCRIPTION

South Bay Musical Theatre (SBMT) seeks an experienced strategic thinker, fundraiser, and leader to serve as Development Director (DD). The Director has responsibility for the institution’s fundraising programs and will create, develop, and execute both short-term and long-term strategic fundraising plans to meet annual and campaign fundraising goals. 

The Development Director serves as a key member of the SBMT management team. The DD has no direct reports, but works closely with the SBMT Development Committee of volunteers. 

The Development Director will lead the design, development, and execution of strategies to grow a comprehensive fundraising program at SBMT. In coordination with the management team and Board of Directors, the DD will plan, oversee, and implement all fundraising and development activities, ensuring that they are completed according to time and budget constraints, in order to achieve Board-approved contributed income goals. The DD plays a critical role in growing and sustaining SBMT’s ability to achieve its mission to be a theatre for everyone.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Create, develop, lead, and execute a strategic fundraising plan to increase community support for SBMT and to meet board-approved goals.
  • Lead and improve the company’s development plans in individual giving, major donor gifts, monthly gifts, corporate and foundation gifts, grants, sponsorships, and events.
  • Play a leadership role and work collaboratively as a part of the SBMT leadership team.
  • Proactively generate and cultivate major donor leads and prospects. Maintain a portfolio of donors at various gift levels.
  • Identify grant opportunities, draft proposals, and successfully apply for funding from all relevant grant-making organizations.
  • Maintain and strengthen development department processes, including prospect research, donor stewardship, gift accounting, and pledge remittance. 
  • Ensure the ongoing evaluation and development of effective fundraising systems, including memberships, recognition opportunities, gift acknowledgement policy, donor benefit fulfillment, and non-solicitation communications. 
  • Provide timely, highly personalized service to donors, ensuring that they are receiving proper benefits, acknowledgements, recognition and communications.
  • Lead the planning, execution, and fundraising for SBMT’s various musical productions and fundraising events.
  • Develop and grow the planned giving program—stewarding existing donors and raising awareness of planned giving and legacy giving (including bequest and estate gifts, IRA gifts, donor advised funds, and appreciated stock) within our donor community.
  • Identify sponsors for productions, cultivate the sponsorship program, and manage the benefits.
  • Develop, monitor, and regularly report on all contributed income budgets and Development expense budgets, including annual fund and special campaigns. Work with the CFO and attend finance-related meetings as required.
  • Work with the Marketing Director on appropriate and consistent fundraising communications across all media (including regular patron emails and website) that conform to SBMT brand standards.
  • Coordinate and collaborate with the Artistic Director, Business Manager, and other SBMT leaders to ensure consistent communications and interactions with donors, SBMT leaders, internal stakeholders, and other key constituents. 
  • Represent SBMT in the community, through attendance at local and regional cultural programs, lobbying and networking with elected officials, and participation in local business networking organizations.
  • Maintain donor listing on the company website.
  • Manage corporate matched gifts and reporting (Benevity).
  • Uphold and promote SBMT’s mission and values.

QUALIFICATIONS AND CAPABILITIES

  • At least 3 years of development experience, ideally in the arts, with a record of achievement and growth.
  • Experience with an arts organization/non-profit is required; experience with a performing arts organization is preferred.
  • A college undergraduate degree is preferred, or equivalent experience in a relevant field.
  • Ability to work flexible hours, including occasional evenings for donor events. Most work will be performed remotely, with occasional work required in-office at the Administrative Offices in San Jose and/or the Saratoga Civic Theater in Saratoga, CA. The position will include weekend and evening hours.
  • Demonstrated ability to design and implement a set of comprehensive fundraising strategies that lead to diversified funding and sustainable growth, including a record of personally securing high dollar gifts from individuals, institutions, and/or government agencies, ability to establish and balance priorities and to meet deadlines, and experience developing and executing high-profile cultivation and fundraising events.
  • Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with management team, Board members, and volunteers in ways that deepen engagement in and increase the success of a fundraising program.
  • Demonstrated management and leadership skills, strong analytical abilities, intellectual curiosity, and unwavering interest in detail.
  • Creativity, initiative, self-confidence and energy. Enjoy and thrive in the theatre’s dynamic, fast-paced environment, and work effectively as both a team player and an independent self-starter.
  • Highly personable, diplomatic and friendly individual, who genuinely enjoys frequent participation in social events, works effectively with trustees, donors, volunteers and staff, and relishes taking an active, public role in the cultivation and solicitation of donors, as a representative of SBMT, as well as in working behind the scenes.
  • Genuine interest in theatre and the arts in general, understand and support the theatre’s mission and appreciate the important role cultural institutions play in the life of a vibrant community, and have the ability to articulate this mission and role to others.
  • Keen understanding of the evolving nature and dimensions of philanthropy, including motivations for giving and for volunteering, particularly in arts organizations.
  • Evidence of the ability to balance creative thinking, strategic planning, and tactical execution, as well as strong business and fiscal management skills.
  • Proficiency with donor databases (Benevity), Google Workspace, and Microsoft Office Suite including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
  • Exceptional communication skills, including listening, writing, and public speaking skills, with the ability to deliver compelling presentations to internal and external audiences.

SALARY & BENEFITS

  • Compensation: Half-Time ($25/hour for 20 hours/week), Hours are flexible.
  • Apply: Submit a cover letter and resume to hiring@southbaymt.com. SBMT is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Persons from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about SBMT, please visit https://southbaymt.com/. No phone calls please.

ABOUT SOUTH BAY MUSICAL THEATRE

As one of Silicon Valley’s oldest theatrical groups, South Bay Musical Theatre exists to provide patrons with quality productions at a reasonable price. By emphasizing entertainment and enrichment, excitement and enlightenment, and involvement with the community, we pledge to adhere to the highest standards of professionalism.

South Bay Musical Theatre strives to provide high-quality entertainment by bringing together a diverse group of participants in an inclusive, collaborative, and nurturing environment. As we share our passion for Theatre Arts, we endeavor to leave a lasting, positive impression upon our community.