Director of Development

Main Street Theater Houston; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Complimentary theater tickets

Paid time off

Job summary

Main Street Theater Houston is seeking a Director of Development to lead the fundraising strategy and donor relationships essential for sustaining approximately 50–60% of the annual operating budget through contributed revenue.

The role combines high-level strategic planning with hands-on execution across individual giving, corporate partnerships, foundations, and events, requiring evening and weekend availability for openings and galas.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of progressive fundraising experience in the non-profit sector, ideally in performing arts.
• Deep familiarity with the Houston philanthropic community and local donors.
• Proven success in closing major individual gifts and securing sponsorships.
• Proficient with donor management software/CRMs and fundraising analytics.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to tell the theater's story.

Responsibilities

• Oversee identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individual donors, with a focus on major gifts ($5,000+).
• Manage grant-writing calendar and reporting to local, regional, and national foundations.
• Plan and execute the annual gala and other donor events to meet revenue targets.
• Supervise development staff, manage budgets, and report progress to leadership and board committees.

Skills

Major gifts

Donor management

Fundraising analytics

Storytelling & communication

Collaboration & teamwork

Tools

Tessitura

Spektrix

Raiser's Edge

Job description

Position Summary

The Director of Development (DoD) is a key member of the executive leadership team, reporting directly to the Executive Artistic Director in the development and implementation of a comprehensive, multi-channel fundraising strategy to secure approximately 50–60% of Main Street Theater’s annual operating budget through contributed revenue.

This role requires a blend of high-level strategic planning, hands‑on execution, and sophisticated relationship management across individual giving, corporate partnerships, foundation grants, and special events.

Key Responsibilities

1. Individual Giving & Major Gifts (40%)

• Donor Pipeline Management: Oversee the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individual donors at all levels, with a heavy emphasis on growing the major gifts ($5,000+) portfolio.
• Board Engagement: Partner with Board members to maximize their personal giving potential and leverage their networks to introduce new prospects to the theater.
• Annual Campaigns: Strategy and execution for annual appeals, sustained giving circles, and occasional capacity or capital campaigns.

2. Corporate, Foundation & Government Grants (30%)

• Institutional Giving: Oversee the grant‑writing calendar, ensuring timely, compelling proposals and meticulous reporting to local, regional and national foundations.
• Houston Philanthropy: Capitalize on Houston’s unique corporate landscape (energy, finance, healthcare, retail) to build creative sponsorship packages tied to productions, education programs, and community outreach
• Public Funding: Manage relationships and applications with local government arts agencies, including the Houston Arts Alliance (HAA), Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA), and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).

3. Special Events & Stewardship (20%)

• Annual Gala: Lead the planning and execution of Main Street Theater's annual gala, working with event committees to meet or exceed net revenue targets.
• Opening Night & VIP Experiences: Design and execute high-touch stewardship events, including opening night receptions, behind‑the‑scenes tech rehearsals, and artist dinners to deepen donor engagement.

4. Operations & Internal Partnership (10%)

• Data Integrity: Supervise the development staff (e.g., Development Coordinator or Database Manager) ensuring accurate donor records, gift processing, and acknowledgment timelines in the CRM (e.g., Tessitura, Spektrix, or Raiser's Edge).
• Budgeting & Reporting: Establish annual revenue goals and expense budgets; provide regular, transparent progress reports to the Executive Director and the Board Finance Committee.
• Partnership with Main Street Theater executive team to support individual and theater initiatives.

Qualifications & Experience

• Experience: Minimum of 5–7 years of progressive fundraising experience in the non‑profit sector, ideally within the performing arts or cultural spaces; some leadership experience preferred.
• Local Knowledge: Deep familiarity with the Houston philanthropic community, including local family foundations, corporate giving priorities, and major cultural donors, is highly preferred.
• Track Record: Proven success in personally closing major individual gifts, securing corporate sponsorships, and hitting multi‑million dollar institutional revenue goals.
• Tools: Proficient with donor management software / CRMs and fundraising analytics.
• Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; a natural storyteller who can articulately champion Main Street Theater's commitment to challenging audiences, growing local artists, and providing memorable theatrical experiences.
• Flexibility: Willingness to work evening and weekend events, specifically during production opening nights and donor receptions.
• Collaboration: Support and partner with team members to ensure effective outcomes.

Compensation & Benefits

• Commensurate with experience and scaled for a $2.7M budget organization.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance; generous paid time off (PTO); and complimentary tickets to all Main Street Theater productions and events.