Shakespeare & Company is committed to evolving its approach to diversity and inclusion to engender an active process and positive change toward equity in its employment and artistry. Our goal is to engage ourselves in endeavors that enrich and promote a more just society, and we seek to engage those who will embrace our vigorous commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility as well as anti-racism initiatives.
We strongly encourage applications from groups historically underrepresented in theater and theater administration including People of the Global Majority, LGBTQIA+, women, people who are neurodiverse, and people with disabilities. Shakespeare & Company is committed to the principles of equal employment and to providing equal employment opportunities; we intend to maintain an inclusive work environment free of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation based on sex, gender, race, religion, color, national origin, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, political affiliation, military service, veteran status, pregnancy or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws. Shakespeare & Company is committed to a COVID-safe environment: in most cases employees will have completed their COVID-19 vaccination regimen, will get tested before they start work, and re-test as needed, adhering to local, state, and union safety protocols where and when appropriate.
Reporting to the Director of Development, the Manager of Individual Giving will work with others to achieve the Company’s contributed income goals each fiscal year, focusing primarily on individual donors through the evolution and implementation of Shakespeare & Company’s annual fund and donor events. The position will require regular contact with a variety of external and internal constituencies including staff, donors, patrons, and members of the Board of Trustees. The Manager of Individual Giving will be a collaborative member of the Development team and a strategic, flexible, positive, and curious thinker. The ideal candidate is eager to maintain a commitment to values of equity and inclusion with experience communicating effectively with groups of individuals from diverse backgrounds, identities, abilities, and experiences. This is a year-round, full-time position, and benefits include paid vacation, health insurance, and a retirement plan.
Roles and Responsibilities
A successful Manager of Individual Giving will:
- Provide strategic thinking for a comprehensive annual giving campaign.
- Identify, solicit, and steward additional fundraising prospects, funding sources, and individual donors.
- Create a strategy for strengthening and expanding the base of supporters and improving donor retention.
- Strengthen the benefits program, including reexamining member benefits and attracting new donors through other programmatic initiatives.
- Increase Players’ Society membership.
- Create and implement communications programs for donors and prospects.
- Work closely with the Database Manager on acknowledgment letters and donor information, including donor tracking and donor analysis using Raiser’s Edge database.
- Support the preparation of materials for quarterly board meetings, and update board notebooks, contact lists, and other board materials.
- Serve as liaison/concierge to higher-level donors and board members.
- Serve as donor liaison to implement donor benefits offered, including ticketing for performances.
- Acknowledge donors via phone and letters on donor renewals, thank you calls, and follow-up to donor invitations.
- Work with the Marketing and Communications Department on concept, design, development, and management of print materials including membership brochures and special event invitations.
- Oversee Playbill and donor recognition for season and productions.
- Manage direct mail appeals for Annual Operations, Education and Training programs, ticket buyers, and special appeals.
- Oversee the calendar of mailings, events, meetings, and all Development-related outreach.
- Help to plan, organize, and manage all donor events, including the annual gala.
- Work with the Director of Development and Finance Director in the creation of departmental budgets.
In addition, Shakespeare & Company expects that all employees adhere to Company policies and procedures outlined in the Employee Handbook; work safely; perform duties as workload necessitates; maintain a positive and respectful attitude; utilize discretion regarding proprietary information; communicate regularly with supervisor about departmental issues; demonstrate regular and consistent attendance and punctuality; participate in Company events as needed or required, and complete other duties as assigned.
Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Characteristics
The successful candidate will have:
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects and timelines.
- Exceptional written and oral communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills.
- A positive energy, and an inspiring, forward-thinking, empathetic, and collaborative working style, exhibiting an openness to many perspectives and experiences.
- Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
- Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office proficiency, and familiarity with Raiser’s Edge preferred.
- A commitment to values of anti-racism and anti-oppression and personal and/or professional experiences advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.
- Interest and respect for the foundational principles and methods in Shakespeare & Company’s commitment to the actor/audience relationship.
- Demonstrated experience in a high-transaction performing or other arts or non-profit environment.
- Completion of a COVID-19 vaccine regimen and booster, if eligible.
We understand that there are many paths to developing skills and acquiring experience and therefore welcome candidates from diverse and nontraditional backgrounds for this role who have demonstrated equivalent transferable skills to carry out the major duties outlined in this job description. This job will entail climbing stairs; reaching with hands and arms; using hands to finger objects and controls; lifting and/or moving up to 25 pounds; close vision, distance vision, and peripheral vision; and reading of written, printed, and/or computer screen data.