Director of Individual Giving

POSITION: Director of Individual Giving

DEPARTMENT: Development

CLASSIFICATION: Full-Time/ Salaried/ Exempt

SUPERVISOR: Chief Development Officer

OVERVIEW

Founded in 1947 by Nina Vance, the Alley Theatre is a pioneer of regional theatre, and one of the leading nonprofit theatre companies in the United States. The Alley has been awarded the prestigious Regional Theatre Tony Award and the Texas Medal of Arts Award. The Alley has transferred productions to Broadway, Off-Broadway, major European Festivals, and to 40 American cities. Unique among regional theatres, the Alley is committed to maintaining a Resident Acting Company and providing them with work year-round. Nationally recognized directors, actors, playwrights, and designers from across the country have regularly joined the Resident Acting Company.

Rob Melrose, Artistic Director at the Alley, took over as artistic leader of the organization in 2019. His vision for the future of the Alley is both thrilling and ambitious. His strategic goals include upholding the Alley’s artistic excellence, keeping longtime Alley Theatre devotees eager to return each season, and creating productions and cultivating new audiences that are as diverse and vibrant as the city of Houston.

Rob Melrose, Managing Director Dean Gladden and Alley’s leadership team are committed to promoting Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in all aspects of the Theatre’s programming and operations. We are conscious about fostering an environment where everyone is encouraged to bring their authentic selves. We embrace differences and strive to be inclusive of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

JOB STATEMENT

The Director of Individual Giving is a key member of the development leadership team responsible for all revenue generation from individuals and manages three Individual Giving Officers, and one development associate. This position is also responsible for overseeing the department’s development operations team and will directly supervise Alley Theatre’s Research Analyst and Development Associate Gifts Processing. The Director of Individual Giving will work with the Individual Giving Committee and other stakeholders to grow Alley’s Major Gifts program strengthening the Alley Theatre’s donor base; while also overseeing an integrated fundraising program: portfolio management and broad-based fundraising strategies.

JOB DUTIES

• Provide leadership and guidance to all members of the Individual Giving Team and ensure that they have the support and resources necessary to reach their financial goals and perform job responsibilities to reach annual budgeted fundraising goals.
• Manage a portfolio of 100-120 individual donors who contribute $10,000 or more annually.
• Ensure an effective and engaged Individual Giving Committee by providing regular updates on fundraising goals and results, providing opportunities for members to be engaged, and working with members to engage in prospect identification.
• Work with Chief Development Officer, Research Analyst, and the Individual Giving team to strengthen and grow the Alley’s major gifts program, growing the overall number of donors who contribute $10,000 or more annually.
• Work with Research Analyst and Gifts Officers to identify new prospects at all levels to continue to maximize donor lifetime revenue.
• Work with Chief Development Officer to create fundraising projections that will determine annual revenue goals for the Individual Giving Team.
• Grow Alley Theatre’s Individual Giving Committee. Lead all committee meetings and activities.
• Manage Alley Theatre’s telefunding campaign. Duties include providing weekly guidance and insight to telemarketing teams, determining calling priorities and distribution of calling leads.
• Oversee and ensure a successful broad-based annual giving campaign. Responsible for all fundraising channels including direct mail, e-mail, social media, telefunding, and others.
• Work with development and marketing teams to execute two successful special campaigns each year (end-of-year and end-of-season). Duties include shaping strategy, determining revenue and participation goals, and executing all planned activity set forth in the campaign calendar.
• Work with Development Associate Gifts Processing to ensure accurate data management and gifts processing. Ensure that acknowledgments and invoices are distributed in an expedient manner.
• Work with Individual Giving Associate to evaluate and strengthen donor stewardship plan in the area of patron events, donor benefits, and stewardship communication efforts.
• Work evening and weekend patron events with the intent to build relationships with Alley Theatre donors. Events include Greenroom duty, Center stage dinners, insider patron events, and rehearsals.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Updates job descriptions, hiring and training new team members.
• Motivating and coaching employees to improve performance, provide feedback and training opportunities.
• Organizes and oversees the schedules and work of departmental staff.
• Conducts or assists with performance evaluations that are timely and constructive.
• Ensuring staff members follow company policies and procedures.

REQUIREMENTS (SKILLS and KNOWLEDGE):

• Minimum five years of fundraising experience within the non-profit sector.
• Experience managing a fundraising team.
• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• Excellent communication skills with demonstrable ability to prepare and present both formal written and oral presentations.
• Effective management skills to develop, motivate and retain assigned interns and volunteers.
• Requires strong collaboration skills to work effectively across the organization and function consistently as a highly valued and high performing team player within the Development department and the organization.
• Requires exceptional project management skills and ability to multi-task within budgetary and resource constraints and timelines.
• Must be able to think critically and strategically and anticipate potential project challenges.
• Knowledge of analytics for response analysis, program evaluation and campaign planning.
• Extensive computer and database knowledge necessary (MS Office suite and Tessitura a plus).
• Demonstrated record of ability to multi-task and meet deadlines completing assignments on time and on budget.
• Broad knowledge of the principles of fundraising and Individual Giving.
• Successful experience in making cold calls as well as developing cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal skills.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong problem solving, research, analytical, organizational, and strategic planning skills.
• Flexibility to work events that occur in the evenings and on weekends.
• Self-motivated and self-starting individual.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Ability to lift and move 25 lbs.
• Must be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment where directions and priorities can change rapidly.
• Typical hours are during the day, but the position requires flexibility to be available for weekend, holidays and evening work hours as needed.

BENEFITS & PERKS

• Medical, dental and vision insurance.
• Paid vacation, floating holiday, and sick time.
• 401(k) with matching, FSA, HRA (Alley paid deductible).
• Free and discounted tickets to Alley Theatre performances.
• Bi-weekly $4 Discounted Parking.
• Discounted gym membership.
• Employee wellness program & EAP.
• Houston, TX is one of the most affordable cities in the nation with no state or city income tax.

TO APPLY

To apply for this position, please go to the following link on the Alley’s website and apply.

https://www.alleytheatre.org/about-us/opportunities/employment

Alley Theatre is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us atHRdept@alleytheatre.org.

The Alley Theatre is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital or familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law. We encourage people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities, veterans, and others who demonstrate the ability to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community. Successful candidates will commit to an equitable and inclusive workplace, including but not limited to: racial equity, accessibility for individuals with disabilities, use of gender inclusive language, and cultural sensitivity. Read more at Alley Theatre Official Website - Equity Diversity Inclusion