Hiring: Grants and Development Communications Manager, McCarter Theatre Center - McCarter Theatre Center

POSITION: Grants and Development Communications Manager

DEPARTMENT: Development

REPORTS TO: Director of Development



BENEFITS INCLUDE: Medical, vision, and dental insurance; paid time off (PTO), sick leave, and holiday time; flexible spending and health savings accounts; employer-sponsored life, long-term, and short-term disability insurance; a 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution and match, access to free parking, and various perks.



LOCATION & SCHEDULE: This is an in-person position reporting to our administrative offices located at 91 University Place in Princeton, NJ. Regular business hours are Monday thru Friday, 9am – 5pm. Some weekend and evening hours will be required as scheduled in advance.



START DATE: This position will be filled with an anticipated start date no later than September 1st, 2024.



POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Join McCarter Theatre Center as the Grants and Development Communications Manager, working closely with the Director of Development to maintain and grow McCarter’s pipeline of institutional donors with an emphasis on foundation and government support. This position interacts periodically with other members of the leadership staff including the Artistic Director, Executive Director, Director of Finance, and other key personnel.



The Grants and Development Communications Manager is the lead grant writer for foundation and government grants and manages an existing portfolio of 70+ institutional donors, as well as pursuing new institutional funding opportunities. This role serves as the project manager for major and multi-year grants to ensure timely management of grant requirements including the project content, budget, and deliverables.



Additionally, this position oversees the development staff’s writing for accuracy and consistency, with full editing rights over all documents and electronic communications, ensuring all messaging is streamlined and cohesive. This role guarantees that external communications consistently and effectively convey McCarter’s mission and vision. We invite you to bring your expertise in these areas in order to amplify McCarter’s voice.



ESSENTIAL FUNCTION & DUTIES:

- Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward institutional donors with a focus on foundation and corporate foundation donors.

- Solicit unrestricted and program-specific grants to support new and existing initiatives.

- Write and submit letters of intent, grant proposals, and reports for foundation and other institutional grants or sponsorships, ensuring compliance with all guidelines and timely submission.

- Serve as the project manager for major and multi-year grants to ensure timely fulfillment of grant requirements including project content, budget and deliverables.

- Coordinate grant proposal activities and objectives across departments, including the drafting and submission of interim and final narrative and financial reports.

- Collaborate with leadership staff, including the Artistic and Executive Directors, on grant proposals and reports to strengthen donor relationships and assist with planning donor visits.

- Represent and promote McCarter’s mission at donor programs and events, engaging with donors, prospective donors, stakeholders, and partners.

- Conduct independent research to identify new foundation donors.

- Engage with program officers to cultivate relationships and solicit invitations to submit proposals.

- Review and edit written work produced by development staff to ensure accuracy and consistency.

- Work with the Director of Development to produce an Annual Report and other special projects as needed.

- Maintain online rating agencies such as DataArts, Guidestar, and Charity Navigator.

- Participate in development training sessions required by the Director of Development, as well as institutionally required professional development opportunities.

- Ensure compliance with all relevant laws, regulations, and ethical standards governing philanthropic fundraising and gift acceptance, including adherence to the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Code of Ethics.

- Stay informed about current trends and best practices in grants management and institutional giving through professional development activities, networking opportunities, and ongoing education.

- Prioritize safe working practices while embodying McCarter's safety and code of conduct policies to maintain a secure environment for all staff and guest artists.

- Participate in the work to make McCarter an anti-racist theater. Actively seek ways to improve our work practices to make the Development department more equitable and inclusive, while upholding and exhibiting our stated values of “justice and joy, beauty and belonging.”



QUALIFICATIONS:

- A Bachelor’s degree, and/or preferably 3-5 years of experience as a fundraiser.

- A proven track record of securing significant foundation and government support.

- Ability to work effectively with senior management, trustees, and donors.

- Familiarity of and passion for the performing arts.

- Ability to interact well with major supporters and prospects.

- Exceptional writing, speaking and interpersonal skills.

- Excellent time management and organizational skills.

- Strong ability to work collaboratively in cross-functional teams.

- CRM database experience, preferably with Tessitura or other fundraising software.

- Strong research skills to identify potential new donors and funding opportunities.

- Experience in grant writing and managing grant proposals from inception to completion.

- Detail-oriented and analytical skills to ensure accuracy and compliance in all submissions.

- Proactive and self-motivated, with the ability to take initiative and work independently.

- Experience with budget management and financial reporting related to grant funding.

- Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and integrity.

- Flexibility to work occasional nights and weekends as assigned.

- The flexibility and willingness to travel to meet with donors and prospects, and to participate in fundraising-related events.

- Ability to work in an on-site/off-site hybrid environment.

- A collaborative mindset, with the ability to work harmoniously with individuals from diverse backgrounds, personalities, and work styles, always approaching challenges with optimism, civility, and a solutions-oriented approach.

- Exhibit a critical consciousness and genuine interest in promoting equitable, diverse, inclusive, and accessible workplace values and practices while working with individuals of diverse needs, personalities, and work styles, and employing an optimistic and solution-oriented mindset towards fostering inclusivity and support within the team environment.

- Final candidate will need to successfully complete a background screening.



WORK ENVIRONMENT:

- Led by our core values, McCarter fosters and expects a culture of care and respect for the wellbeing of our staff.

- Work will primarily be completed in a shared office space in our administrative office located at 91 University Pl, Princeton, NJ.

- Employees may be asked to use personal transportation to meet with donors and prospects.

- This position entails extended periods of sitting, manual dexterity for operating office equipment, and the ability to read and interpret documents, while occasionally requiring lifting and carrying objects up to 15 pounds, engaging in repetitive tasks, standing, walking, bending, and reaching within the office environment.

- Employees may be asked to use a personal cell phone in order to access authenticator apps and related software necessary for work credentials/multi-factor authentication (MFA). Applicants should be comfortable using their personal devices for these purposes as part of their job responsibilities, as workarounds cannot be guaranteed in order to access certain platforms.



This job description may not be inclusive of all assigned duties, responsibilities, or aspects of the job described, and may be amended at any time at the sole discretion of McCarter.



ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW:

McCarter is one of the country's flagship theatres, a vibrant center for community and for the performing arts, and a key cultural anchor for Central New Jersey. Located on the campus of Princeton University and incorporated as an independent, charitable nonprofit, the company is a nationally renowned, multi-disciplinary creative hub of arts and ideas, offering theatre, music, dance, spoken word, and educational programs for all ages.



A two-time Tony Award winner, McCarter’s legacy of artistic excellence traces back to the theatre’s first performances in 1930. A home for new play development and world premieres, the company has launched numerous works that have gone on to tens of thousands of performances reaching millions of audience members around the world.



Among the 100,000 community members who directly participate in the company’s work every year, more than 7,500 are students taking part in McCarter’s robust arts-in-education offerings. The company offers more than 20 annual in-school residencies in classrooms in Princeton and Trenton, hosts schools from throughout the region for student matinee performances, and offers need-based scholarships to every one of its dozens of educational after-school and summer programs each year. Co-led by Artistic Director Sarah Rasmussen and Executive Director Martin Miller, McCarter leads with values of “justice and joy, and beauty in belonging,” creating stories and experiences that enliven minds, expand imaginations, and engage communities.



TO APPLY: Please email jobs@mccarter.org with your name and “Grants and Development Communications Manager” in the subject line and include a cover letter, resume, as well as a relevant professional writing sample. Do also mention where you heard about the position. We look forward to learning more about you!



EQUAL OPPORTUNITY COMMITMENT:

McCarter is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring, supporting, and promoting a diverse workforce and inclusive culture. As such, McCarter seeks team members who: contribute to a diversity of backgrounds and experiences to support an expansive artistic vision; are committed to engaging in ongoing anti-racism and anti-oppression work collectively and individually; value collaboration, curiosity, flexibility, and an openness to continuous personal and professional growth.



We encourage all candidates to apply, even if they do not currently meet all the qualifications. We know there are great candidates who may not have all the qualifications listed above but possess intuitive knowledge or other fully transferable skills. If that is you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself. McCarter is committed to on-the-job training and mentorship. We also encourage candidates who do not live within commuting distance to apply; We are eager to tell you about the area, which includes many communities and towns outside of Princeton.



McCarter Theatre Center is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in the application and hiring process for individuals with disabilities if needed and requested. To request disability accommodation, please contact (609) 258-6500 and connect with Human Resources.
Salary: PAY: $65,000 -- $75,000; Full-time; Annual; Exempt