Job Description

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Associate Director of Development, Individual Giving is responsible for directing the Theater’s individual giving program, with a personal portfolio focused on major donors at the $10K level and above. Responsibilities of this role include planning individual giving campaigns, serving as writer and communications strategist for individual donor-facing communications, donor events management, and supporting overall department operations to ensure effective use of data in driving individual giving strategy. This position reports to the Director of Development and works with the Executive Director, Artistic Director, and other Theater staff.

A successful candidate will be able to prioritize multiple deadline-driven projects, gracefully adapt in high-pressure situations, enjoy a collaborative approach to their work, and be knowledgeable about researching individual donors and able to contribute to strategies for individual giving prospects.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Donor and Prospect Management

• Develop and manage execution of a growth plan for individual donors at the $10K level and above.
• Direct a moves management system to support donor pipeline development
• Identify potential major donors, researching and developing cultivation strategies
• Manage system for gift processing and acknowledgments and analytic reporting.
• Partner with the Director of Development to monitor and update development policies and procedures.

Donor Engagement

• Develop annual plan for direct donor communications, including timing, channel, segmentation, and messaging strategy.
• Manage a personal portfolio of 75-100 donors and prospects qualified to make major gifts to support the Theater’s annual and long-term needs.
• Support solicitation efforts for direct reports and other relationship managers across the organization (theater leadership, program managers, and Trustees) by prospecting, coaching, and co-creating custom proposals.
• Manage and drive execution of the individual giving stewardship program, from standard acknowledgement letters to high-touch activities that acknowledge extraordinary giving.
• Plan and execute a variety of major donor events, including Opening Nights.

Communications

• Co-manage external donor communications in collaboration with the Director of Development and Director of Communications.
• Help interpret giving motivations and guidelines for individual donors (stated and otherwise) and proactively engage colleagues across the organization for information collecting.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

• Drives IDEA to Action platform by engaging in committees, events, training, and other initiatives as needed.
• Models CST’s core values of service, ingenuity, and collaboration as well as its customer service ethos.
• Champions the organization’s commitment to a respectful, inclusive, and equitable workplace.
• Seek out general operating and programmatic shifts throughout the season and communicate updates with key donors.
• Cultivates an in-depth knowledge of all streams of Chicago Shakespeare programming and curate and document the most compelling stories to reach donors.
• Other duties as assigned. 

Job Qualifications

COMPENTENCIES

• Possess excellent verbal and written communication skills, good business sense, and computer literacy including Microsoft Office, and use of CRM (Tessitura preferred)
• Be very well-organized, able to plan and manage strategically, set priorities, and focus on details while not losing sight of the big picture, with the flexibility to welcome and embrace change, and the ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced theater environment.
• Be a personable, positive, and diplomatic individual with integrity, an exceptional work ethic, and a sense of humor, who collaborates effectively with trustees, donors, volunteers, and staff.
• Possess a passion for the performing arts, understand and support CST’s mission and can articulate this mission and role to others.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Work hours are generally 9am-5pm, Monday through Friday
• Evening and weekend hours will be necessary.
• Worksite is primarily at the CST facilities on Navy Pier in Chicago, IL

PHYSICAL DEMAND

•  N/A

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Have, at minimum, a Baccalaureate degree, and 7-10 years progressive experience as a fundraising professional.
• Exposure cultivating and soliciting individual major donors at the $10K level and above.
• Experience managing long term relationships with lead major donors and board members.
• Possess expertise in and knowledge of recent funding trends and motivations in the individual giving arena, particularly focused on major giving.

ADDITIONAL EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Staff management experience a plus
• Special events experience a plus
• A working knowledge of Chicago philanthropists is a plus.

ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 which means 14 days has passed since obtaining 2 doses of a primary series with Pfizer, Moderna, or Novavax or a single dose of Johnson & Johnson. Proof of vaccination must be provided before beginning work with Chicago Shakespeare Theater or a request for a qualifying exemption must be submitted and approved prior to beginning work.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION STATEMENT

CST is dedicated to increasing equity, diversity and inclusion in our audiences, our programs and in all our hiring for staff and artists. We are committed to providing a work environment that is free from discrimination. CST prohibits discrimination in employment against any employee or job applicant because of that person’s race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, sex, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, familial status, veteran status, status with regard to public assistance, membership in a local human rights commission or any other legally protected status.