The Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College seeks a creative, entrepreneurial, and hands-on fundraising professional for the new position of Development Manager.
The Fisher Center is a multi-venue performing arts center designed by Frank Gehry, located two hours north of New York City in the beautiful Hudson Valley. The Center presents and produces programs in orchestral, chamber, and jazz music and theater, dance, and opera by American and international artists. Acclaimed public programming includes the annual multi-genre SummerScape festival and the Bard Music Festival. The Center is home to the College’s Dance and Theater & Performance Programs and is at the forefront of the integration of professional artistic practice and undergraduate education through its multidisciplinary residency and commissioning initiatives. For more information on Bard College, visit www.bard.edu and for the Fisher Center, visit http://fishercenter.bard.edu/
The Development Manager is responsible for coordinating and implementing fundraising plans to support the operations and growth of the Fisher Center. The Development Manager will strategize and engage in all aspects of fundraising, with a focus on individual donor relationships and special events. The Development Manager works closely with the College’s Office of Institutional Support to seek support from foundations, government agencies, and corporations. The position reports to the Fisher Center’s Senior Producer and works closely with the Office of Development and Alumni/ae Affairs, the Fisher Center Advisory Board, and other Bard programs and departments.
The key responsibilities of the position are to: Fulfill a hands-on, creative, entrepreneurial role in the development and implementation of fundraising plans that support the annual and long-term goals of the Center; Identify, track, and deliver on development benchmarks; Coordinate ongoing prospect identification and research in all fundraising sectors; Cultivate and manage relationships with donors in all fundraising sectors; Conduct solicitations as appropriate; Manage the Center’s individual and corporate membership programs; Coordinate the preparation and submission of institutional proposals, reports, and correspondence by the Senior Grant Writer; Manage special events in coordination with event chairs, committees, and Special Events staff; Create and manage fundraising expense budgets; and Work with the Center’s communications team to manage a multi-channel communications strategy that supports development goals and advances the programs and priorities of the Center.
The successful candidate will have at least five years of experience in performing arts management and a thorough knowledge of multiple performance disciplines and the funding communities that support them. The ideal candidate will possess excellent writing and communication skills, strong project management skills, the ability to convey the mission and accomplishments of the Center’s programs to a diverse group of supporters, and excel at working independently as well as in close collaboration with other teams. Experience with Tessitura Software is preferred. A high level of organization and attention to detail, ability to work under pressure, multi-task and meet deadlines, schedule flexibility (work on nights and weekends will be required), and the ability to sit, drive, perform telephone and computer input functions and lift up to 25 lbs are required.
The position is located at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY. Alternative work arrangements such as part-time NYC residency are possible. Bard offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience and a generous benefits package that includes health, dental, and vision insurance, and a 403(b) plan.