WHO: Dixon Place

POSITION: Development Director

DESCRIPTION: Dixon Place, an award-winning, non-profit performing arts organization, seeks a special individual with hands-on experience in all aspects of fundraising and capacity building.

DP’s full-time Development Director — a dynamic, creative individual possessing a high degree of initiative with strong project management and leadership skills — will implement a comprehensive fundraising plan, including major and annual individual giving; foundation, corporate, and government grants; and special events. This pro-active individual will take a hands-on leadership role in building the capacity of DP to increase the organization’s reach, and effectively and gracefully represent the organization to outside contacts. S/he must share our passion about innovative art and artists, and work collaboratively with Artistic Director, Business & Finance Director, the Board of Directors, and the hundreds of artists DP presents annually.

Responsibilities include:

Strategic Planning – Working with the Artistic Director and Business/Finance Director to develop strategies for annual and long-term fundraising, including Board-driven activities, cultivation and stewardship with individual giving campaigns, institutional giving and identification of new opportunities

Major & Annual Giving – Managing all individual giving, including major gifts, annual appeal, and Benefit leadership; work with Artistic Director and Board to identify and track prospects

Grants Management – Managing foundation, corporate and government grants, including identifying new sources, cultivating relationships, writing proposals, developing budgets with Finance Director, and administering application, procurement, tracking, and reporting processes

Special Events – Planning and executing all aspects of special events, including annual benefits and donor cultivation events, in coordination with the Board and staff

Board Relations – Working with the Artistic Director to foster creative thinking about Board fundraising activities, and provide support for Board governance

Staff Coordination – Working within all aspects of the organization to monitor grant compliance

Systems Development – Developing new systems (or re-vamp existing ones) to properly/efficiently record all donor/prospect activity and interests

Artist & Audience Constituency Relations – Staff at least one performance per week, hosting performances, facilitating artists’ experiences, and greeting and providing DP information to audiences

The ideal candidate will have:

• Professional affiliations and direct experience with the culture of NYC fundraising
• Bachelor’s degree and professional experience in development and fundraising, preferably in the performing arts or related fields
• Strong experience with non-profit systems and practices
• Knowledge of all aspects of fundraising, including major gifts, one-on-one solicitation, cultivation and stewardship, grant writing, budgeting, and event-based fundraising
• Engaging, outgoing personality, with excellent verbal and interpersonal communication skills
• Excellent writing skills with demonstrated ability to create a clear and compelling fundraising message
• Creative and strategic thinking skills, with an ability to grasp the big picture as well as an eye for detail
• Experience representing an organization to a variety of high level contacts, including Board members, government representatives, foundation officials, and major donors
• Experience in coordinating special events
• Ability to create systems, prioritize multiple and varied responsibilities, and meet deadlines
• Ability to gather, synthesize and analyze data
• Strong computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Drive, and experience with FileMaker Pro, as well as Quickbooks, a plus
• Knowledge of fundraising information sources, databases, and research tools

Although office location and hours are flexible, this full-time position requires the ability to occasionally work weekends and at least one night a week in the theater.

Please explore our website (www.dixonplace.org) for info on DP’s mission, history, and programming.

Compensation
Dixon Place offers a competitive salary based on experience. Three-month trial period; one-week paid vacation plus legal holidays and monthly health insurance contribution after six months; two-week paid vacation after one year.

To Apply: Applications will be accepted via email only. Due to the volume of applications, only those candidates short-listed for the first round of interviews will be notified.

To apply, send the following — in one complete PDF file — to catherine@dixonplace.org (cc: benjamin@dixonplace.org) with “Development Director” in the subject line:

1. Cover letter explaining your qualifications for the position, your interest specifically in Dixon Place, and salary requirements
2. Resume
3. Writing sample (development-related)
4. Three references from current or former supervisors

Dixon Place is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. NO PHONE CALLS OR OFFICE VISITS PLEASE!