Development Director

The Contemporary Theater Company; Wakefield (RI); Hybrid; USD 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

403(b) match

Two weeks annual vacation

Parental leave

Job summary

The Contemporary Theater Company in Wakefield, RI seeks a Development Director to lead fundraising efforts, cultivate major gifts, and manage donor relations. The role blends strategic planning with hands-on donor engagement to secure sustainable revenues for artistic programs.

Responsibilities cover individual giving, foundations, corporate sponsorships, and campaign management, with monthly board reporting and collaboration with staff.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of nonprofit development or fundraising experience.
• Proven success in soliciting individual donors or securing corporate sponsorships.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities with limited supervision.
• Proficiency with donor management software or CRM tools.
• Passion for the arts and alignment with CTC's mission.

Responsibilities

• Identify, cultivate, and solicit individual donors at all giving levels.
• Develop and execute a major gifts strategy to grow CTC's private donor base.
• Maintain relationships with existing donors through personalized outreach and stewardship.
• Draft donor appeals, thank-you letters, and fundraising communications.
• Build and maintain a donor and sponsor pipeline for sustainable revenue growth.
• Track donor records and activity in AudienceView and the donor database.

Skills

Donor solicitation

Fundraising

CRM tools

Communication

Independent work

Tools

AudienceView

Job description

Development Director

Full-Time Employee | $50,000/year | Wakefield, RI

About Contemporary Theater Company

Contemporary Theater Company (CTC) is a nonprofit theater organization based in Rhode Island dedicated to producing bold, relevant, and community-centered theatrical work. We believe in the transformative power of live performance and are committed to making the arts accessible to all. As we continue to grow our programming and community impact, we are seeking a motivated development professional to help expand our philanthropic support.

Position Overview

CTC is seeking an experienced and passionate Development Director to join our team. The ideal candidate is a self-starter with a strong track record in nonprofit fundraising, relationship building, and donor stewardship. All financial goals listed below are baselines, which are in line with recent performance, with growth targeted after a six-month ramp period. At the end of that six-month period, the position will be reviewed to assess the Director’s performance and make any needed changes to the job description.

Contract Details

• Compensation: $50,000/year salary; Success with annual KPIs will trigger a bonus equal to 10% of salary
• Hours: 40 hours per week, flexible working hours
• Location: Hybrid (remote and on-site in Theater as needed)
• Start Date: As soon as possible
• Benefits include 403(b) Retirement Fund match, two weeks annual paid vacation, and parental leave plan
• Reports to: Board of Directors

Key Responsibilities

• Individual & Private Donor Fundraising
  • Identify, cultivate, and solicit individual donors at all giving levels.
  • Develop and execute a major gifts strategy to grow CTC's private donor base
  • Maintain and strengthen relationships with existing donors through consistent, personalized outreach and stewardship
  • Draft compelling donor appeals, thank-you letters, and fundraising communications
  • Build and maintain a robust donor and sponsor pipeline to ensure sustainable, long-term revenue growth
  • Manage donor records and track activity in CTC's donor database and ticketing service, AudienceView
• Grants & Foundation Giving
  • Identify, research, and apply to foundation grant opportunities aligned with CTC’s programs and priorities
  • Continue our applications to RI Foundation, RISCA, The Champlin Foundation where we have established relationships
  • Find additional funders or increased opportunities with grant-giving organizations
• Corporate Sponsorship
  • Research and identify prospective corporate sponsors aligned with CTC's mission and programming
  • Develop tailored sponsorship packages and pitch materials
  • Conduct outreach and manage relationships with corporate partners
  • Negotiate and fulfill sponsorship agreements, ensuring sponsor recognition and benefits are delivered
• General Development & Strategy
  • Track progress toward revenue goals and provide regular reports to the Board of Directors, attending the CTC’s monthly Board Meetings at least once a quarter
  • Support planning and execution of fundraising events as needed
  • Stay current on nonprofit fundraising best practices and local philanthropic trends
• Campaigns & Appeals
  • Draft and execute CTC’s annual appeal, including direct mail and/or email campaigns targeting current and lapsed donors
  • Lead CTC’s other giving campaigns, currently centered on 401 Gives and Giving Tuesday, from start to finish — including strategy, messaging, timeline, coordinating with our social media manager, and post-campaign donor follow-up
  • Develop compelling campaign narratives and calls-to-action that reflect CTC’s voice and mission
  • Analyze campaign results and apply learnings to future appeals
• Additional Responsibilities
  • Support the planning and execution of cultivation events and donor appreciation activities
  • Develop a legacy giving or planned giving awareness initiative
  • Create and maintain a sponsorship and donor benefits fulfillment tracker
  • Contribute to end-of-year reporting and donor impact storytelling

Key Performance Indicators

• 2027 Q1 KPIs
  • Develop 2027 donation campaign plan and plan 401 Gives campaign for April 1
  • Develop 2027 grant application timeline
  • Secure $25,000 in sponsorships in Q1 of 2027 (does not have to be for Q1 events)
• 2027 Year-end KPIs
  • Goal of $300,000 in combined Donations, Grants, and Sponsorships, an increase of $100,000 - $150,000 compared to recent years
  • Exceed 45% donor retention rate for 2026 vs 2027
  • Establish best practices on topics including: donor cultivation procedures; data gathering and management; conflict-of-interest and transparency; and alignment with annual strategic goals.

Qualifications

• Required:
  • 3+ years of experience in nonprofit development, fundraising, or a related field
  • Demonstrated success in individual donor solicitation and/or corporate sponsorship
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities with limited supervision
  • Proficiency with donor management software or CRM tools
  • Passion for the arts and alignment with CTC's mission
• Preferred:
  • Experience working with nonprofit theaters or arts organizations
  • Existing relationships within Rhode Island's philanthropic or business community
  • Specific grant writing successes with Rhode Island funders