Head of Individual Giving & Events
Ars Nova
511 west 54th street
NY 10019
Deadline
Posted
Ars Nova, New York City’s premier home for emerging multi-hyphenate artists, seeks an ambitious Head of Individual Giving & Events to join their small-but-mighty team that punches above its weight and has a reputation for subverting the status quo with pop-culture-savvy, groundbreaking new work and industry-leading values-based initiatives.
ABOUT ARS NOVA:
Ars Nova discovers, develops and launches singular theater, comedy and music artists in the early stages of their careers. They are the stomping ground and launching pad for visionary and adventurous artists to create new work. They strive to create an ecosystem of creation that values and respects the humanity of artists and the arts-workers who support them by building care-filled, flexible processes and paying people fairly for their labor. They manifest the next generation of audiences for live entertainment by marrying a zeitgeist-forward aesthetic with radically accessible tickets.
Some of their acclaimed work includes: Heather Christian’s “Best of 2022” (New York Times, NY Mag, New Yorker) Oratorio for Living Things, the Lortel Award-winning “Outstanding Musicals” Rags Parkland Sings The Songs Of The Future and KPOP (Broadway 2022), Obie-award-winning and international touring Underground Railroad Game, and the Tony Award-winning smash-hit Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812.
Ars Nova recognizes both that it is a predominantly white institution and that their institutional practices have historically led to the exclusion of people of the Global Majority from their team. They work to become a more diverse, anti-racist, inclusive organization everyday, and they hope candidates from the global majority will accept their invitation to apply.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Head of Individual Giving & Events is a tenacious, innovative, and entrepreneurial fundraiser who is excited about making Ars Nova’s future-self possible through individual giving programs that build a culture of philanthropy within Ars Nova’s community and deeply engage current donors in their mission, values, and work; and benefit events that make it rain and increase brand positioning with high-profile, watershed, penny-drop moments at their annual Nova Ball and lots of high-touch, high-impact little moments at donor events throughout the year.
Reporting to Development Director, Dan Balkin, and working closely with Producing Executive Director, Renee Blinkwolt, and Founding Artistic Director, Jason Eagan, the Head of Individual Giving & Events is a key position in Ars Nova’s development team. This year, this role oversees approximately $1.2+M of Ars Nova’s annual fundraising, with plans to grow that total in the near future.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES AND COMPETENCIES:
The responsibilities, competencies and expectations outlined below are representative, not exhaustive. Responsibilities may shift as needed to best align with organizational needs.
With oversight from the Development Director and support from the Development Assistant, the Head of Individual Giving & Special Events will:
– Lead the strategy and execution of Ars Nova’s SUPER NOVA PROGRAM ($500 – $10,000) and ANNUAL FUND CAMPAIGNS including:
—Deliver on annual fundraising goals and track progress/communicate strategic wins & setbacks each month
—Identify and cultivate new Super Nova prospects, in partnership with Development Team and Executive Leadership, and oversee moves management progress for all active prospects
—Partner to create strategy, content, and language for campaigns during the end-of calendar and fiscal year seasons
—Secure annual renewals through mail, email, and phone solicitations
—Craft dynamic proposals, reports, acknowledgements, and other donor-related communications, working with the marketing team in the design of materials
—Oversee and guide benefit fulfillment and concierge services, with help from the Development Assistant
—Maintain and deepen relationships through pre-show greetings, coffee meetings, personal outreach, etc
—Oversee and maintain an organized system for donor stewardship
—Work with the Director of Development to identify planned giving, reserve fund, and major donor prospects, developing new methods of cultivation to expand their ability to fulfill their mission
– Lead the project management and execution of revenue generation for NOVA BALL, Ars Nova’s annual blow-out gala, and other DONOR CULTIVATION EVENTS by:
—Partnering with Executive leadership, Board members, and other team leaders to deliver on ticket and table goals, identify prospects, track progress, confirm guest list and seating, and other logistics as needed to optimize their big bash, ensuring guests experience a fabulous, flawless & invigorating evening that transforms new friends into dedicated supporters
—Drive the save-the-date, invitation, and benefit committee ask process, working across-teams to ensure a smooth flow of information, keeping all stakeholders apprised and engaged
—Liaise with table hosts and ticket buyers on guest names, access needs and dietary restrictions in advance of the event, and in coordination with external partners and venues
—Oversee and partner across teams on all smaller special event logistics, including pre- and post- show events at the theater and offsite cultivation and stewardship events
—Provide top-of-the-line concierge service for Board Members hosting parties at the theater or offsite in support of Ars Nova, including managing their invite and guest lists
– Co-manage the DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT in their administrative duties, providing structure and oversight over gift entry, data management, appeal process, and event planning logistics.
ABOUT THE POSITION:
This is an exempt, full-time position, based in NYC with an annual salary range of $70,000—$75,000, commensurate with experience. Ars Nova aims to compensate fairly and competitively within the not-for-profit entertainment industry, and on a transparent level salary system within the organization. Benefits include health and dental insurance, an open paid time off policy, an Employee Assistance Program offering confidential counseling, legal support, work-life solutions and the like, opt-in retirement savings plan after 1 year of service with an employer match, FSA, and TransitChek plans, and more.
This position will require regular onsite, in-person activity (including some evenings, weekends and holidays for events and parties), so applicants should intend to reside in the greater NYC area. Ars Nova works on-site Tuesdays-Thursdays every week, with greater flexibility to work remotely if desired and possible on most Mondays & Fridays.
Requirements
ABOUT YOU:
-You are invested in Ars Nova’s mission and core values, and have a passion for live entertainment and artists of all stripes;
-You have a proven track record of managing individual giving programs, preferably in an arts and culture institution;
-You are a proactive team player, time manager and project organizer, who can balance a variety of projects and goals while keeping an eye on the big picture;
-You have database experience (bonus if you have experience in Salesforce or Patron Manager) and understand the importance of accurate data and data-based storytelling and decision-making;
-You have an eye for details and precision;
-You know the NYC nonprofit and/or commercial theater landscape and key players within the industry;
-You share their commitment to anti-racism and creating and maintaining an inclusive environment, are excited about joining our efforts to make Ars Nova a more just and equitable place to work and make work, and have the ability to interact effectively with people of different cultures and socio-economic backgrounds.
BONUS IF:
-You have a positive attitude, enjoy collaboration and thrive in all-out, go-big-or-go-home environments;
-You are a skillful party host, and the type of person who wants to welcome folks in, fix them a plate, freshen their drink, and find something you have in common;
-You have a desire to improve systems and make things work better;
-You are a go-getter, relentlessly curious, and love to dig into the context and big picture of what you’re working on.
-You are level-headed and even-keeled. When event logistics change, you are able to keep calm, and ask for help – or make a new plan! – when you need it.
They know there are great candidates that may not have all of the qualifications listed above but possess intuitive knowledge or other fully transferable skills. If that’s you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell them about yourself.