Nonprofit

Manager of Donor Programs

Hybrid, Work must be performed in or near New York, NY
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  • Details

    Job Type:
    Full Time
    Start Date:
    May 19, 2025
    Experience Level:
    Mid-level
    Salary:
    USD $60,000 - $70,000 / year
    Cause Areas:
    Arts & Music, Education, Philanthropy

    Description

    MANAGER OF DONOR PROGRAMS - SIGNATURE THEATRE

    Signature Theatre, one of New York's leading off-Broadway theatres, is seeking a MANAGER OF DONOR PROGRAMS.

    About Signature

    Signature Theatre is an artistic home for storytellers. By producing several plays from each resident writer, Signature offers a deep dive into their bodies of work. Founded in 1991 by James Houghton, Signature serves its mission by hosting our distinctive playwright residencies at our home at The Pershing Square Signature Center, a three-theatre facility on West 42nd Street designed by Frank Gehry Architects. The Center supports and encourages collaboration among artists, cultural organizations, and local communities by providing free, public access throughout the space. In addition to its three theatres, the Center features a studio theatre, a rehearsal studio and a public café and bar. Since its founding, Signature has received over 100 awards and in 2014 became the first New York theatre to receive the Regional Tony Award.

    EDIA

    Applicants from populations underrepresented in the theatre field and aligning with Signature theatre’s institutional goals and priorities focused on playwrights, community and access are strongly encouraged to apply.

    Position Summary

    Reporting to the Director of Individual Giving & Special Events, the Manager of Donor Programs is a key position in Signature’s Development Department. This position oversees fundraising from individual donors giving less than $10,000 annually.

    Responsibilities

    • Lead the execution of individual giving from small gifts and donor programs, including Patrons ($1,000-$9,999); Friends ($100-$999); and Groundbreakers (Emerging Philanthropists & Young Professionals), overall managing an $800K portfolio of donors
    • Co-create the strategy for acquisition, renewals, and annual appeals for all donor programs with the Director of Individual Giving & Special Events
    • Serve as the key institutional contact for all individual donors, including coordinating benefit fulfillment, ticketing, renewals, and acknowledgements
    • Be the face of Signature’s Development Team at several performances each week while Signature is in production, greeting donors and thanking them in-person
    • Manage all gift entry for individual donations, and coordinate with the Finance Team on audit compliance, reconciliation, and payment processing
    • Lead the process for weekly gift acknowledgements—including creating copy, circulating for signatures and notes, and ensuring timely delivery of our heartfelt appreciation
    • Create newsletters and specialized communications to Signature’s patrons and donors
    • Collaborate with the Marketing Team to create email, social media, and direct mail content to acquire new donors and articulate Signature’s mission and vision to all audience members
    • Identify prospects for major gifts and board giving from Signature’s Patron, Groundbreakers, and Friends programs
    • Collaborate with Signature’s Tessitura Operations Manager to become the Development Department’s Tessitura power user, troubleshooting any issues with recordkeeping and gift processing, both manually from the staff and online transactions from donors
    • The Manager of Donor Programs is a key member of the Development team, participating in all company events and assisting across the department and the Company as needed. Some evening and weekend work will be required.

    Desired Experience

    • 3+ years of fundraising experience, preferably in an arts and culture institution
    • Experience with Tessitura, or a similarly robust CRM software
    • Experience in Adobe Suite, Canva, Wordfly, Microsoft 365 Suite, and/or Asana, a plus

    Desired Skills

    • Excellent interpersonal communication skills, and comfort in representing Signature Theatre to the public
    • An innovative and entrepreneurial approach to fundraising with a drive to grow our individual giving base
    • Careful attention to detail, paired with particularly keen memory and persistent follow-through
    • Drive toward hitting fundraising goals and monthly/quarterly targets, with the ability to quickly identify challenges and opportunities and pivot as needed
    • A collaborative spirit and ability to establish effective working relationships across the staff

    Compensation & Benefits

    This is a full-time and salaried exempt position. The annual salary ranges between $60,000 and $70,000. Benefits include group health, dental, and vision plans, as well as the opportunity to participate in tax-saving flexible spending, commuter and 401(k) plan participation.

    Hybrid & Remote Working Options

    Signature Theatre’s staff works at the Pershing Square Signature Center on West 42nd Street in New York City. While the office is open Monday to Friday, employees have the option to work two days a week remotely.

    To Apply

    https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Details/3174137/SIGNATURE-THEATRE-COMPANY-Inc/MANAGER-OF-DONOR-PROGRAMS

    Optional ability to submit work samples with your application. This can be anything that showcases your ability to meet any core functions of the job description.

    Next Steps

    Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and first round interviews will be scheduled beginning April 16. There will be an estimated 2-3 rounds of interviews. We hope to make an offer for this position in early May.

    Considerations

    All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, affectional preference, gender identity or expression, sexual and reproductive health decisions, pregnancy, disability, genetic predisposition, age, military or veteran status, marital or familial status, or any other protected characteristic, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

    MANAGER OF DONOR PROGRAMS - SIGNATURE THEATRE

    Signature Theatre, one of New York's leading off-Broadway theatres, is seeking a MANAGER OF DONOR PROGRAMS.

    About Signature

    Signature Theatre is an artistic home for storytellers. By producing several plays from each resident writer, Signature offers a deep dive into their bodies of work. Founded in 1991 by James Houghton, Signature serves its mission by hosting our distinctive playwright residencies at our home at The Pershing Square Signature Center, a three-theatre facility on West 42nd Street designed by Frank Gehry Architects. The Center supports and encourages collaboration among artists, cultural organizations, and local communities by providing free, public access throughout the space. In addition to its three theatres, the Center features a studio theatre, a rehearsal studio and a public café and bar. Since its founding, Signature has received over 100 awards and in 2014 became the first New York…

    Benefits

    Ten vacation days, eleven holidays observed, two floating holidays, medical, dental, vision, 401k, and more.

    Ten vacation days, eleven holidays observed, two floating holidays, medical, dental, vision, 401k, and more.

    Location

    Hybrid
    Work must be performed in or near New York, NY
    Associated Location
    480 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036, USA

    How to Apply

    https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Details/3174137/SIGNATURE-THEATRE-COMPANY-Inc/MANAGER-OF-DONOR-PROGRAMS

    Optional ability to submit work samples with your application. This can be anything that showcases your ability to meet any core functions of the job description.

    Next Steps

    Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and first round interviews will be scheduled beginning April 16. There will be an estimated 2-3 rounds of interviews. We hope to make an offer for this position in early May.

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