Development Manager

The award-winning Flea Theater seeks a highly motivated Development Manager with excellent organizational, communication, logistical and fundraising skills to join our small entrepreneurial Off-Off Broadway organization. The Flea is a downtown beacon for creative artists of every discipline, and for adventurous audiences seeking bold and inventive work. Since its founding in 1996, The Flea has produced over 125 productions, including over 80 world premieres, 25+ New York and American premieres, and over 50 commissions. We are home to over 120 resident artists, including The Bats, our volunteer acting company and over 20+ independent theater, music and dance companies who are in residence through our Anchor Partner supported rental program.

The Development Manager (DM) is responsible for support and management of four major areas of fundraising activities: individual giving, institutional/government giving, board relations, including Emeritus and Junior, and event planning. The DM works closely with the Producing Director and Development Consultant to maintain and expand these four major areas; this position may also be expected to manage 1-2 interns periodically as well as a small team of Bats, who perform research and other development/office tasks.

INDIVIDUAL GIVING
The Development Manager oversees two major campaigns per year in collaboration with The Flea’s Audience Development Associate (ADA) – the Annual Appeal in the winter and a membership renewal and acquisition campaign in the summer. The DM along with the ADA is also responsible for processing and recording all gifts that are received, including but not limited to making copies of all checks and letters, OvationTix data entry, and the ghostwriting of acknowledgement letters for the Producing Director. The DM maintains a clean and accurate set of tracking documents and OvationTix database, from which they produce an up-to-date donor list to be published in each program. The Flea’s elite patron program, The Impact Circle, is tracked and managed by the DM, who helps maintain in tandem with the Development Consultant an up-to-date spreadsheet of Impact Circle current and prospective donor information, and works with the Producing Director and Development Consultant to periodically identify, cultivate and solicit to prospective donors.

INSTITUTIONAL/GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
The Development Manager maintains a calendar of grant deadlines and prepares drafts of grants for review by the Producing Director and Development Consultant. The DM processes all institutional grant awards and payments that are received. The DM is also responsible for ghostwriting correspondence to The Flea’s current and prospective funders – this includes invitations to Flea productions and events, mailing The Flea’s annual reports in early spring, and scheduling meetings. The DM keeps up-to-date information on current funders and researches prospective funders, keeps track of information internally disseminated about Flea programming and new initiatives, and notifies the Producing Director of any special project funding opportunities.

BOARD RELATIONS
The Development Manager is responsible for attending all board meetings and drafting minutes, as well as preparing packet materials and any information for presentations, per the Producing Director’s instructions. The DM also generally serves as a liaison to the Board, tracking RSVPs to meetings and events, assisting members with any ticketing needs and making sure all Board members are well taken care of when they attend Flea performances or events.

The Flea is currently overhauling its junior board initiative named The Agitators as well as launching an Emeritus Board. DM will oversee both groups. Responsibilities will include scheduling meetings, coordinating the fruition of specific events, and similar auxiliary liaising to the Board (e.g. processing tickets and tracking event RSVPs).

EVENT PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION
The DM is finally responsible for assisting the Producing Director in the planning and execution of major fundraising events, such as “Flea Board Nights” and annual galas. The DM also helps with opening night and closing night parties.

MISCELLANEOUS
The DM is an important player on The Flea’s staff and is responsible for attending weekly staff and departmental meetings and semi-annual company meetings, collaborating with the Marketing, Audience Development, and Development team (MADD) on any departmental projects, and for sharing house managing 1-2 performances per Flea production.

Requirements

The ideal candidate will have 2-3 years of experience working at an arts organization, including at least 2 years directly in a fundraising capacity, and have an understanding of producing Off-Off Broadway and working with a small administrative team. Grantwriting experience is deeply preferred; knowledge and/or experience maintaining government grant portals (e.g. eGMS Reach, SAM, NYS Grants Gateway) is also preferred. Candidates should possess quick problem-solving skills, an ability to interact with artists, administrators and funders/donors at all career levels and an aptitude for maintaining systems to efficiently manage a multitude of situations.

Salary is commensurate with your experience and includes health and dental benefits, which are paid 100% by The Flea. Typical office hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. – the position’s duties may require additional evening and weekends hours as needed for events, staff retreats, etc.

The Flea upholds the tradition of Off-Off-Broadway as a place to think and dialogue about current political and social issues and prevailing power structures through live theater experiences. With the belief that inequity begins with homogeneity in any and all power dynamics, The Flea is committed to the equitable inclusion of ALL in its present and future operations and artistic programs. We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to diversity onstage and off; administrators who identify as POC, disabled, and/or trans/genderqueer/nonbinary are strongly encouraged to apply.

START DATE: Late June or Early July 2020

Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter and 2 references to jobs@theflea.org as soon as possible.