Director of Major Gifts

Writers Theatre; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Disability insurance

403(b) retirement plan

Paid vacation and leave

Job summary

Writers Theatre in Glencoe, IL is seeking a Director of Major Gifts to lead cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of individual donors, with a focus on gifts $15,000 and above. You will manage a major donor portfolio and craft personalized proposals tied to Writers Theatre’s artistic programming and long-term campaigns.

The role requires strong relationship-building, collaboration with the Director of Advancement and Executive Director, and regular donor engagement at performances and

Qualifications

• Five or more years of fundraising experience, preferably in major gifts.
• Proven success cultivating, soliciting and securing gifts of $15,000+.
• Experience managing a donor portfolio and developing personalized fundraising strategies.
• Ability to build relationships with high-capacity donors, trustees and community leaders.
• Experience collaborating with executive leadership and board members on fundraising.

Responsibilities

• Lead cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of individual donors.
• Manage a portfolio of major donors and prospects; secure multi-year commitments.
• Develop personalized proposals that align donor interests with the theatre’s priorities.
• Represent Writers Theatre at performances and events; coordinate donor engagement.
• Maintain donor records and coordinate with advancement colleagues on stewardship.

Skills

Major gifts

Donor portfolio

Prospect development

Donor relations

Strategic planning

Tessitura CRM

MS Office

Tools

Tessitura CRM

Job description

Position: Director of Major Gifts
Location: Glencoe, IL (Hybrid)
Department: Advancement
Reports to: Director of Advancement
Classification: Full-Time, exempt
Salary: $70,000 – $80,000; benefit eligible

About Writers Theatre

Writers Theatre (WT) is a nationally recognized, award-winning theater company located on Chicago’s North Shore, acclaimed for its intimate productions, bold new work, and exceptional artistry. With a commitment to telling powerful stories and serving as a cultural anchor in our community, we strive to create transformative experiences both on and off the stage. With an annual operating budget of $6.5 Million, the theatre, now in its 35th season, is a major Chicagoland cultural destination with a national reputation for excellence, being called “America’s finest regional theater company” by The Wall Street Journal. Under the leadership of Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma and Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Artistic Director Braden Abraham, the company is charting a path forward for its future.

Position Summary

Working closely with the Director of Advancement, the Director of Major Gifts (DMG) will lead the cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of individual donors, with a focus on securing gifts of $15,000 and above through The Artists Council. The DMG will manage a portfolio of major donors and prospects, developing personalized strategies to secure significant philanthropic support for Writers Theatre’s artistic programming, organizational priorities, special campaigns and long-term sustainability.
The DMG will partner closely with the Director of Advancement and Executive Director to engage donors and prospective supporters in meaningful philanthropic relationships and will play a leadership role in strengthening the major gift pipeline, identifying opportunities for increased giving, multi-year commitments, special initiatives and future campaigns, including The Writers Theatre Vision Campaign. The DMG will regularly meet with donors and prospects, conduct personal solicitations, and represent Writers Theatre at performances, cultivation events, and community gatherings. Some evening and weekend work will be required based on the advancement calendar.

Duties and Responsibilities

Major Gifts & Portfolio Management

• Manage a portfolio of major donors and prospects with a focus on securing gifts of $15,000 and above
• Develop and execute individualized cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies to achieve annual major gift fundraising goals
• Conduct regular donor meetings and personal solicitations to secure new, renewed and increased gifts
• Identify, qualify and cultivate prospective major donors with the capacity and interest to make significant philanthropic investments in Writers Theatre
• Develop personalized proposals and giving opportunities that connect donor interests with Writers Theatre’s artistic vision and organizational priorities
• Secure multi-year commitments and identify opportunities for transformational gifts in support of the theatre’s long-term sustainability
• Collaborate with the Director of Advancement and Executive Director on major gift solicitations and donor engagement strategies

Donor Relations & Stewardship

• Build and maintain meaningful relationships with major donors and prospects through regular personal outreach, meetings and engagement
• Develop individualized stewardship plans that strengthen donor relationships and encourage increased philanthropic support
• Work with the Director of Advancement and Executive Director to engage trustees and other key supporters in major gift cultivation and solicitation
• Host donors and prospects at performances, opening nights, special events and other cultivation opportunities
• Collaborate with Artistic and Education departments to develop opportunities for donors to engage more deeply with Writers Theatre’s programming and mission
• Work with Advancement colleagues to ensure appropriate donor recognition, benefits and personalized stewardship
• Represent Writers Theatre at donor meetings, community events and other opportunities to strengthen philanthropic relationships

Fundraising Strategy & Leadership

• Work with the Director of Advancement to establish annual major gift goals and develop strategies to achieve contributed revenue targets
• Build and maintain a strong pipeline of major gift prospects, identifying opportunities for increased giving and long-term philanthropic engagement
• Collaborate with the Associate Director of Individual Giving to identify and cultivate donors with the potential to transition into the major gifts portfolio
• Partner with the Director of Advancement on special fundraising initiatives, campaign planning and the cultivation of prospective campaign supporters
• Support the Director of Advancement and Executive Director in preparing for major donor meetings, solicitations and trustee engagement
• Collaborate with the Associate Director of Advancement Operations on prospect tracking, gift administration and stewardship processes
• Maintain accurate and timely records of donor interactions, solicitation activity and relationship plans in Tessitura
• Participate in regular prospect strategy meetings and contribute to department-wide fundraising initiatives

Additional duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Five or more years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, preferably in major gifts or individual giving
• Demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting and securing major gifts of $15,000 or more
• Experience managing a major donor portfolio and developing individualized fundraising strategies
• Proven ability to build meaningful relationships with high-capacity donors, trustees and community leaders
• Experience working collaboratively with executive leadership and board members on major gift cultivation and solicitation
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop compelling proposals and communicate organizational priorities to prospective supporters
• Superior organizational and time management skills
• Self-motivation to initiate donor contact, develop relationships and achieve fundraising goals
• Strategic thinking and the ability to identify opportunities for significant philanthropic investment
• Knowledge of Tessitura software or equivalent CRM
• The ability to empathize with donors, patrons and staff
• Enthusiasm and appreciation for live theatre
• Flexibility, creativity and poise under pressure
• Ability to correctly assess priorities and meet deadlines
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite

Work Environment

General admin work hours are Monday through Friday, 9:30 – 5:30 pm

Evening and weekend hours will be necessary

This is a hybrid work position, with offices/theatre building located in Glencoe, IL

Benefits include: medical, dental and disability insurance, vacation and other paid leave, a 403(b)-retirement plan (with employer match) and medical and dependent care cafeteria plans. (edit the following as fit for your position)

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.