Associate Director of Development, Institutional Giving

POSITION OVERVIEW
The Associate Director of Development, Institutional Giving will manage the theater’s portfolio of corporate, foundation and government partners. The position is a key member of the Development Department, leading efforts in identifying prospects, creating compelling cases for support, driving cultivation strategies, managing a significant pipeline of existing grants, and preparing leadership for cultivation and stewardship meetings with institutional funders.
A successful candidate is a strong writer, able to prioritize multiple deadline-driven projects, gracefully adapt in high-pressure situations, enjoy a collaborative approach to their work, and be knowledgeable about researching donors and able to contribute to strategies for each prospect.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Grant Writing and Portfolio Management:
Create compelling cases for institutional support
Manage portfolio of all current institutional funders, as well as create strategy for increasing support across corporate, foundation and government revenue streams including multi-year institutional gifts.
Create and manage a grants calendar.
Manage research on CFG funders and overall trends, with the goal of deepening existing relationships and uncovering new opportunities for local, regional, and national partnerships.
Oversee maintenance of detailed, accurate systems and files in Tessitura and Asana to track contacts, submissions, and reporting deadlines.
Brief CST staff and board leadership for meetings and site-visits.
Support CST leadership in soliciting six-figure institutional donors and prospects

Stewardship and Events:
Develop a sponsorship strategy to maximize production sponsorship opportunities for the theater
Ensure the portfolio of corporate, foundation and government donors are well stewarded, and that CST leadership forges strong relationships with key institutional partners.
Track and fulfill benefits including discounted tickets, complimentary tickets, recognition, signage, and special events.
Working with the Events Director, plan special events for CFG partners as part of their benefit fulfillment or to cultivate new partners.
Partner with the Director of Development in coordinating peer to peer events with Board members and their CFG colleagues and prospects. 

ADDITIONAL DUTIES
Drives IDEA to Action platform by engaging in committees, events, training, and other initiatives as needed.
Models CST’s core values of service, ingenuity, and collaboration as well as its customer service ethos.
Champions the organization’s commitment to a respectful, inclusive, and equitable workplace.
Possess an in-depth knowledge of all streams of Chicago Shakespeare programming and serve as an articulate, passionate representative for the theater and its artists.
Seek out general operating and programmatic shifts throughout the season and communicate updates with key donors.
Other duties as assigned.

COMPENTENCIES
Strong grant writing skills
Possess excellent verbal and written communication skills, good business sense, and computer literacy
Well-organized, able to plan and manage strategically, set priorities, and focus on details while not losing sight of the big picture, with the flexibility to welcome and embrace change, and the ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced theater environment.
Personable, positive, and diplomatic individual who displays integrity, an exceptional work ethic, and who collaborates effectively with trustees, donors, volunteers, and inside staff.
Possess a passion for the performing arts, understand and support CST’s mission and can articulate this mission and role to others. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work hours are generally 9am-5pm, Monday through Friday
Evening and weekend hours will be necessary.
Worksite is primarily at the CST facilities on Navy Pier in Chicago, IL

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Have, at minimum, a Baccalaureate degree, and 7-10 years progressive experience as a fundraising professional.
Five or more years of grant writing experience
Exposure cultivating and soliciting corporate, foundation and government funders.
Have direct experience managing relationships with lead institutional donors.
Experience with both large and small-scale grant/proposal submission
Experience with relational database management systems; Tessitura experience preferred. 

ADDITIONAL EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE          
Possess expertise in and knowledge of recent funding trends and motivations in the giving arena.
A working knowledge of the current national arts funder landscape is a plus.
Corporate sponsorships experience a plus
Special events experience a plus 

ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 which means 14 days has passed since obtaining 2 doses of a primary series with Pfizer, Moderna, or Novavax or a single dose of Johnson & Johnson. Proof of vaccination must be provided before beginning work with Chicago Shakespeare Theater or a request for a qualifying exemption must be submitted and approved prior to beginning work.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION STATEMENT
CST is dedicated to increasing equity, diversity and inclusion in our audiences, our programs and in all our hiring for staff and artists. We are committed to providing a work environment that is free from discrimination. CST prohibits discrimination in employment against any employee or job applicant because of that person’s race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, sex, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, familial status, veteran status, status with regard to public assistance, membership in a local human rights commission or any other legally protected status.