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Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Functions & Duties:

An inspiring and inclusive leader, the Director of Development will possess the ability to motivate staff, board members, donors, and key stakeholders throughout the local and national artistic community. A passion for the performing arts is critical to success, as is the fundamental belief that arts and creativity are of great value to society.

LEADERSHIP SUPPORT AND ENGAGEMENT
• Develop, articulate, and manage the overall development plan for the organization in close collaboration with the Executive Director, Artistic Director, and other key internal stakeholders.
• Support the Executive Director in developing major philanthropic opportunities and in designing cultivation and solicitation strategies for high-level donors and prospects.
• Ensure that the Executive Director, Artistic Director, and board members are effectively staffed for fundraising activities and donor conversations, and that their time is optimally, efficiently, and appropriately leveraged.
• Serve as an active and valued member of the organization's senior management team, which is responsible for the overall management, strategic planning, and prosperity of the organization.
• Oversee the preparation and presentation of regular reports to the Executive Director, the senior management team, and the Board of Trustees as it relates to philanthropic revenues and initiatives.
• Serve as a liaison to the organization's Board of Trustees, as directed by the Executive Director. Provide staff support and direction to the Development Committee of the Board.

PROGRAMMATIC ELEVATION
• Assess the fundraising potential of the organization by evaluating, strengthening, and enhancing existing individual and institutional giving programs, including membership programs. Develop and implement new and innovative strategies for identifying and acquiring prospective donors, increasing donor retention, and upgrading and renewing
existing donors.
• Serve as an architect and builder of a sophisticated, cohesive, and systematic multi-year fundraising and engagement strategy that is reflective of best practices, consistent with the organization's mission and core values, and designed to produce sustainable long-term growth in philanthropic contributions.
• Develop efficient and effective programs designed to leverage annual gifts as a pipeline for major and planned giving prospects. Ensure that accurate and timely data is captured in McCarter’s CRM database, Tessitura.
• Partner closely with staff in other departments, particularly the Director of Marketing, to coordinate the development, production, and distribution of print and online communications to donors and members. Ensure that internal and external communications incorporate appropriate, consistent, and compelling fundraising messaging and reinforce the organization's key priorities and strategic direction.

STAFF MANAGEMENT AND FUNDRAISING
• Personally cultivate, solicit, and steward a select portfolio of major gift prospects and donors and, in doing so, lead the frontline fundraising team by example. Represent the organization in meetings with donors and prospects and at special events. Uphold a high degree of professionalism and sophistication as a representative of McCarter to
external audiences.
• Lead the organization's development staff of full-time employees, promoting a culture of innovation and collaboration and ensuring that the staff is well-prepared to meet the ongoing challenges and opportunities for the organization. Oversee development personnel activities, including the hiring, mentoring, and evaluation of all development staff and strategically grow the development team.
• Provide clear direction and priorities for staff. Work with each staff member to set mutually agreed upon, well-defined, and measurable goals. Ensure that staff members execute effective moves management strategies and timely, accurate gift acknowledgements that result in meaningful engagement, successful solicitation of prospects, and superb stewardship of donors.
• Develop, oversee, and executive philanthropic strategies for future campaign endeavors.
• Fosters camaraderie, creativity, and a positive work environment, while demonstrating grace and perspective in navigating challenges.
• Adhere to safe working practices while embodying McCarter safety and code of conduct policies.
• Participate in the work to make McCarter an anti-racist theater. Actively seek ways to improve our work practices to make the Development department more equitable and inclusive, while upholding and exhibiting our stated values of “justice and joy, beauty and belonging.”