Largely standard Syracuse Stage business hours, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, with some evening and weekend hours necessary to facilitate the cultivation and operational needs of a professional theatre.
Overview/Context:
Syracuse Stage is the nonprofit, professional theatre company in residence at Syracuse University. The Director of Development is sited directly at Syracuse Stage, and interacts primarily with Stage staff and trustees, collaborating regularly with and reporting to the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ Assistant Dean for Advancement.
Stage is nationally recognized for creating stimulating theatrical work that engages Central New York, and for its significant contribution to the artistic life of Syracuse University, where it is a vital partner in achieving the educational mission of the University’s Department of Drama.
Founded in 1974, Stage is Central New York’s premier professional theatre and has produced more than 300 plays in 44 seasons including a number of world, American, and East Coast premieres. Each season more than 65,000 patrons enjoy an adventurous mix of new plays and bold interpretations of classics and musicals featuring the finest theatre artists. In addition, Stage maintains a vital community engagement and education programs, annually reaching over 30,000 people from 24 counties.
Syracuse Stage is a member of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT) and a constituent of the Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the largest professional theatre trade groups in the country. America’s leading actors, directors and designers work and/or have worked at Stage including Tony Award-winners and Emmy recipients. These visiting artists are supported by a staff of artisans, technicians, educators and administrators who are responsible for all facets of the theatre from building sets, props and costumes to marketing, development and box office.
Subscribers and supporters keep Syracuse Stage a vibrant artistic presence in Central New York. Partnership with Syracuse University, as well as support from government, foundations, corporations, and ensures the continued role of Syracuse Stage as a valued cultural resource for the University and the community.
Stage’s Mission:
Syracuse Stage tells stories that engage, entertain, and inspire us to see life beyond our own experience.
Stage’s Vision:
Re-imagining what’s possible for regional theater–through active inclusion, innovative outreach, and bold productions – Syracuse Stage shapes the cultural and social vitality of Central New York, enriches the Syracuse University student experience, and fosters change in ourselves, our communities, and our world.
Stage’s Core Values:
People – Actively including diverse individuals, communities, ideas and perspectives. Passion – Commitment to integrity, excellence and enthusiasm in our work. Curiosity – Fostering an innovative and adaptive environment that elicits wonder.
Position Description:
Coordinate and oversee fundraising activities to generate contributed income for Syracuse Stage from all sources, including individuals, corporations and foundations, government and in-kind donations. Will serve as a key member of the campaign team tasked with raising funds for the renovation of the Syracuse Stage complex. Develop strong working relationships with Syracuse Stage Board of Trustees, funders, community members, and staff to achieve budgeted financial goals. Implement and oversee logistics for the annual Syracuse Stage gala, opening night dinners and other projects as assigned. Recruit, retain and supervise development department staff of three.
- Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, preferably for an arts or educational institution.
- Demonstrated success in solicitation of gifts from individuals, foundations and corporations.
- Commitment to developing and leading fundraising staff.
- Understanding of Syracuse and its philanthropic community a plus.
- Impeccable attention to detail.
Syracuse Stage is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in all areas of our work, on and offstage. We are dedicated to hiring and developing diverse talent and believe deeply in equity, diversity of race/ethnicity, gender identity, abilities, veteran status, and all the other fascinating characteristics that make us different. We are committed to reducing physical barriers in the workspace and ensuring that all applicants and employees receive reasonable accommodations to perform the essential functions of any given role. We strongly encourage applicants who share these values to apply.
- Demonstrated success with personal, corporate and foundation solicitations.
- Strong writing, planning and organizational skills.
- Demonstrated organizational and communication skills, as well as the ability to work with other development professionals.
- Ability to recruit, retain and lead a team of development professionals.
- Experience with constituent database/CRM systems, such as Blackbaud, Salesforce, etc.
- Familiarity with the performing arts and an understanding of Syracuse’s philanthropic community.
- Highly professional and ethical standards for handling confidential information.
- Capital campaign experience desirable.
- Design and implement a development plan for each season to achieve budgeted goals for all areas of contributed income, including capital campaign, strategic action plans, timelines for initiatives and cash flows, budget and comprehensive plans for donor benefits. Supervise implementation of plan with development staff. Develop concepts for all solicitation and printed materials.
- Nurture and maintain ongoing relationships and dialogue with Board of Trustees. Serve as staff liaison to Board’s Development Committee to maximize potential giving. Monitor board participation in all fundraising activities and work with the Managing Director and Board Chair to ensure Board development and motivation in the area of fundraising.
- Oversee and track annual proposals and reports for county, state and federal government grants, corporations and foundations. Write or assign writing of proposals and assured timely delivery to meet deadlines. Research and develop new sources of government and foundation funding in conjunction with programmatic and or project needs to Stage. Complete annual and intermittent reporting on grants as required by funders.
- Plan and develop annual individual giving campaigns, including Circles solicitations and Angel Appeal. Strengthen and promote planned giving campaign.
- Work with Development Manager to establish annual budget and goal for Syracuse Stage Gala, including concept for event, date, location, timeline and artist. Oversee fundraising and logistics for the event, including table sponsorship sales initiative.
In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter.
Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and nearly 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience.
The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors and 100 minors offered through 13 schools and colleges; nearly 15,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.syracuse.edu.
Syracuse is a medium-sized city situated in the geographic center of New York State approximately 250 miles northwest of New York City. The metro-area population totals approximately 500,000. The area offers a low cost of living and provides many social, cultural, and recreational options, including parks, museums, festivals, professional regional theater, and premier shopping venues. Syracuse and Central New York present a wide range of seasonal recreation and attractions ranging from water skiing and snow skiing, hiking in the Adirondacks, touring the historic sites, visiting wineries along the Finger Lakes, and biking on trails along the Erie Canal.
Syracuse University is an equal-opportunity, affirmative-action institution. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law to the extent prohibited by law. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services, and activities.
Syracuse University has a long history of engaging veterans and the military-connected community through its educational programs, community outreach, and employment programs. After World War II, Syracuse University welcomed more than 10,000 returning veterans to our campus, and those veterans literally transformed Syracuse University into the national research institution it is today. The University’s contemporary commitment to veterans builds on this historical legacy, and extends to both class-leading initiatives focused on making an SU degree accessible and affordable to the post-9/11 generation of veterans, and also programs designed to position Syracuse University as the employer of choice for military veterans, members of the Guard and Reserve, and military family members.
Syracuse University maintains an inclusive learning environment in which students, faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, social activities, governance, and all other aspects of campus life reflect a diverse, multi-cultural, and international worldview. The University community recognizes and values the many similarities and differences among individuals and groups. At Syracuse, we are committed to preparing students to understand, live among, appreciate, and work in an inherently diverse country and world made up of people with different ethnic and racial backgrounds, military backgrounds, religious beliefs, socio-economic status, cultural traditions, abilities, sexual orientations and gender identities. To do so, we commit ourselves to promoting a community that celebrates and models the principles of diversity and inclusivity.
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