About Aurora Theatre Company:

As the storyteller for our community, Aurora Theatre Company inspires new audiences and longtime theatre lovers alike with the visceral power of live theatre. Our venues, the most intimate professional stages in the Bay Area, highlight great acting, nuanced language, and an immediacy that makes for exhilarating theatre. By telling profoundly relevant stories, we’re building a new culture of theatre-going in the Bay Area and contributing to a revitalization of theatre nationwide, challenging all of us to think deeper, laugh louder, and engage more purposefully and profoundly with our neighbors and our world.

At Aurora, we believe that theatre belongs to everyone. We ask that our staff, artists, and audience work together to make all people feel welcome here. Our values include championing racial justice, better embodying anti-racist practices, and confronting and dismantling oppression.

Aurora Theatre is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, country of origin, political belief, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information/characteristics, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/registered domestic partner status, military or veteran status, or any basis protected by law. Members of underrepresented groups, including but not limited to BIPOC, non-binary, and transgender candidates are encouraged to apply.

Job Summary and Purpose:

The Director of Development will take the lead in building a culture of philanthropy at Aurora. They will lead and inspire staff and board members to achieve annual and long-term fundraising goals and implement growth strategies to advance the Theatre’s work. 

Leadership – 60%

• Work with staff and board members to build a culture of philanthropy at Aurora.
  Actively participate in and support institutional decision-making and long-range strategic planning as a member of Aurora’s senior team.
• Lead the planning and implementation of Aurora’s overall development program, developing annual and long-range strategies that align with strategic objectives and support growth and sustainability across all funding areas. 
• Work in close collaboration with the Managing Director and Board to support, guide, and encourage their active participation in fundraising. 
• Work closely with Marketing Director to coordinate messaging, collateral materials, and overall strategy for outreach and engagement with new and existing donors.
• Serve as staff liaison to the Board of Directors’ Gala, Planned Giving, and Stewardship Committees and work closely with the Committee Chairs and members to mobilize volunteers and achieve development goals.
• Attend and take minutes for bi-monthly Board of Directors meetings.
• Hire, supervise, mentor, and motivate development staff as required.
• Oversee management of the donor database; oversee selection and transition to a new system.
• Regularly share information and reports with the Board of Directors, Managing Director, and other staff.
• Actively contribute to Aurora’s efforts at Confronting and Dismantling Oppression.

Fundraising/Operational – 40%

• Optimize a robust major gifts pipeline, implementing cultivation and solicitation strategies for gifts of $1,000 and above. 
• Oversee the creation, planning, and implementation of donor events
• Create, or oversee the creation of, all collateral materials for development campaigns and events.
• Build relationships with regional and national foundation partners, and identify new projects and partners in collaboration with the senior leadership team. 
• Develop new strategies to increase support from corporations and community partners.
• Steward key donors and create new opportunities for donor engagement. 
• Develop (or oversee development and implementation of) annual year-end appeal and other campaigns designed to support donor renewal and new acquisition. 
• Oversee internal systems for prospect generation and management. 
• Oversee and actively participate in planning for major special events.
• Perform all duties in accordance with Aurora Policies and Procedures and comply with all federal, state, and local regulations.
• The duties and responsibilities described are not a comprehensive list. Additional tasks may be assigned to the employee from time to time, or the scope of the job may change as necessitated by business demands.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Performance spaces, most offices, and restrooms are accessible to wheelchair users
• Moderate noise level in building
• Offices are shared with others
• Sitting, typing, lifting, looking at a computer screen, driving, and telephone calls occur in the course of operations
• Meetings sometimes occur in spaces outside the Theatre
• The position is currently mostly remote, with occasional in-person evening and weekend attendance at performances and other events.

Knowledge, Skill, and Experience:

• Three years of senior development experience
• Experience working with major donors, individual giving, grant writing, and other key fundraising areas
• Excellent persuasive writing and editing abilities
• Positive, entrepreneurial spirit
• Strong communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and function well in a shared workspace 
• Ability to lead, inspire, motivate, and manage others
• Ability to understand and communicate complex business and fundraising strategies
• Experience building collaborative relationships with people across diverse backgrounds and personalities
• Ability to work independently and as part of the leadership team
• Demonstrated experience advocating for equity, diversity, and inclusion

To Apply: Please send resume and cover letter to jobs@auroratheatre.org.