Director of Advancement and Philanthropic Engagement

Theatre Communications Group

To lead for a just and thriving theatre ecology.

New York

Work Location: In-office

Nonprofit Service Organization

  • Full Time
  • New York (Remote)
  • Thu, Feb 20, 2025
  • Work Location: In-office
  • Nonprofit Service Organization
  • $90,000.00
  • $95,000.00

Website Theatre Communications Group

To lead for a just and thriving theatre ecology.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre, seeks a Director of Advancement and Philanthropic Engagement to join our team. This role will work closely with TCG’s Executive Leadership, Staff, and Board of Trustees to drive fundraising initiatives and strengthen coalition building to enhance engagement with key constituencies.

The Director of Advancement and Philanthropic Engagement will lead the strategy and execution of TCG’s fundraising efforts across individual, foundation, corporate, and government sources. They will also develop and implement a change capital campaign and establish a planned giving program to ensure sustained support for TCG’s programs, services, and endowment.

This role collaborates closely with the Co-Executive Director of National Engagement, the Director of Membership, and the Director of Marketing and Communications to align national engagement efforts with TCG’s mission, values, and strategic objectives.

About Theatre Communications Group
Theatre Communications Group (TCG) is committed to modeling, promoting, and advancing anti-racist and anti-oppressive values to fulfill its mission to lead a just and thriving theatre ecology. Since its founding in 1961, TCG’s constituency has grown from a handful of groundbreaking theatres to over 800 Member Theatres and affiliate organizations and over 4,000 individual members; TCG advances a better world for theatre and a better world because of theatre. TCG offers its members networking and knowledge-building opportunities through research, communications, and events, including the TCG National Conference, one of the largest nationwide gatherings of theatre people; awards grants and scholarships to theatre companies and individual artists; advocates on the federal level; and through the Global Theater Initiative, TCG’s partnership with the Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics, serves as the U.S. Center of the International Theatre Institute. TCG is North America’s largest independent publisher of dramatic literature, with 19 Pulitzer Prizes for Drama on the TCG booklist. It also publishes the award-winning American Theatre magazine and ARTSEARCH®, the essential source for a career in the arts. In all its endeavors, TCG seeks to increase the organizational efficiency of its Member Theatres, cultivate and celebrate the artistic talent and achievements of the field, and promote a more extensive public understanding of and appreciation for the theatre. www.tcg.org

Key Responsibilities:
● Fundraising Campaigns and Event Management
o Partner with Executive Leadership, Staff, and the Board to develop and implement strategies for growing TCG’s individual donor and funder network, diversifying contributed income, and redefining the organization’s fundraising philosophy across individual, foundation, corporate, and government sources.
o Maintain a portfolio of major gift donors and prospects, cultivating and securing significant contributions, including planned gifts, while driving individual giving efforts to secure $500k+ annually from existing donors and new prospects.
o Lead key campaigns, including TCG’s change capital campaign and other strategic initiatives, securing six-figure gifts or higher to achieve $2M+ annually from institutional partnerships and new sources.
o Create and implement annual fundraising strategies around key events, including the Gala, cultivation events, and donor engagement gatherings, working with external event planners to meet revenue and engagement goals.
o Oversee the grants submission calendar, guide the Institutional Philanthropy Manager and consultants, and set annual accountability benchmarks for the advancement team in collaboration with the Co-Executive Director of National Engagement.

● National Engagement Cultivation and Collaboration:
o Lead the development of new approaches and engagement activities to enhance National Council for the American Theatre (NCAT) involvement, while spearheading recruitment efforts to cultivate a pipeline of prospective NCAT members, in collaboration with select staff from the programming ensemble and membership teams.
o Lead the intake and evaluation of new initiative ideas from NCAT and business partner requests, ensuring the appropriate program teams review and assess the feasibility of moving forward with these proposals.
o Work with the National Engagement team to collaborate on developing institutional messaging and elevate TCG’s philanthropic communication through programs and printed and digital assets.
o Lead collaboratively with the National Engagement team to cultivate regional and global partnerships with funders, corporations, and business affiliates to expand the visibility and impact of TCG’s programs.
o Collaborate cross-departmentally with the programming ensemble and publishing team to secure funding and sponsorships and support general planning for the TCG Biennial Conference and annual convenings.
o Enhance TCG’s sponsorship program in partnership with the Institutional Philanthropy Manager, focusing on sponsor renewals, acquisition strategies, and the fulfillment of sponsorship benefits, with a goal of $70K or more.

● Team Management and Development Planning:
o Lead and manage dedicated staff and consultants, including hiring for the department, guiding grant submissions, donor cultivation, and reporting, while upholding and modeling TCG’s core values and fostering a positive workplace culture.
o Coordinate funder, sponsor, and donor meetings, ensuring the involvement of Co-Executive Directors when necessary, and provide the tools and information needed for successful outreach and coalition-building efforts.
o Develop and present the annual development plan, managing individual and institutional giving strategies, and tracking progress through project management tools to ensure goal achievement.
o Create and manage department revenue and expense budgets, while leading the team in supporting program staff with the management of program-restricted grants.
o Articulate a compelling case for philanthropy, fostering a culture that understands the relationship between fundraising and TCG’s programs and mission.

● Qualifications:
o Demonstrable experience and commitment to activating anti-racism, equity, and inclusive values, with the ability to apply these values in day-to-day work.
o Dedication and a deep commitment to fostering diverse and inclusive environments, working effectively across various identities, including gender expression, race, sexual orientation, religion, ability, age, class, and immigrant status.
o Leadership that is collaborative and inclusive: able to set a clear vision while fostering teamwork, encouraging diverse perspectives, and empowering staff.
o Substantial fundraising and management experience with a proven track record of meeting fundraising goals and securing major gifts, combined with expertise in prospect research, donor identification and qualification, and successful event planning and implementation.
o Experience in grant writing with editing and proofreading skills, combined with strong interpersonal, verbal communication, public speaking, and presentation abilities.
o Time management and entrepreneurial problem-solving skills, with attention to detail and follow-through.
o Proficiency with CRM databases and Microsoft 365 Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and SharePoint), along with experience using online fundraising platforms and email marketing tools.
o Aptitude for and interest in community organizing and coalition building.
o Must be based near New York City/tri-state region to attend occasional in-person meetings, events, or collaborations as needed.

Compensation and Benefits
The salary range for this position is $90,000 – $95,000 and will include a comprehensive benefits package, medical, dental & vision, Employee Assistance Program, Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability, two weeks of vacation time, and additional paid time off.

Other benefits include a collegial environment that encourages a healthy work-life balance, personal and professional development opportunities through Grow@TCG, free TCG books and monthly American Theatre magazines, and events for staff designed by TCG’s “fun committee” to foster a warm, inviting, and friendly office culture.
Staff members also participate in mandatory year-round ED&I, accessibility, and anti-racism training, as well as participating in various internal groups: TCG’s Culture Committee, LGBTQ+ TCG affinity space, BIPOC @ TCG affinity space, and Anti-Racist Learning and Action Affinity Space for White TCG Staff.
How to Apply
Please include “Director of Advancement and Philanthropic Engagement” in the subject line and email your resume and cover letter in a single attached .pdf file to job@tcg.org. All materials must be sent via email. No phone calls, please! We will respond only to those resumes in which we have an interest.

Application Deadline
All application materials must be received by February 20th or until the position is filled. Resumes will be reviewed as they are received, so applicants are encouraged to submit their materials before the deadline.

TCG is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a deep commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in our hiring process and all aspects of our work. We believe that diverse ideas, cultures, and traditions reflect the broad diversity of the U.S. and are vital assets that enrich the programs and services we provide to the theatre field. We honor the intersectionality of identities and strive to uphold EDI principles in both our workplace and our work. We strongly encourage candidates who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQ+, gender non-conforming and non-binary, neurodiverse, and people with disabilities to apply.

To apply for this job email your details to job@tcg.org