Careers

The Development Officer is a key member of our administrative team. The Development Officer reports to the Executive Director, and works collaboratively with the Artistic Director, Director of Marketing and Board of Directors. The Development Officer is an integral part of the creative visioning and smooth execution of all donor relations and fund development at Persephone Theatre.

Persephone Theatre is looking for a creative and charismatic individual who can strategically and personally enact the following responsibilities:

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist in creating, implementing, and monitoring for success, fundraising and stewardship plans and their corollary materials (e.g., stewardship reports, thank you letters, correspondence, naming opportunity descriptions, etc.) to secure and keep, major gift donors.
• Secure a targeted amount of gifts & sponsorships identified in the fundraising plan.
• Solicit Foundation and Corporate Sponsorships for the season or specific plays or initiatives.
• Coordinate face-to-face solicitations.
• Coordinate mail-out and email solicitations with the Marketing Department.
• Ensure recognition and stewardship obligations outlined in gift agreements are included in customized stewardship plans and tracked. Coordinate annual fund statements to donors and sponsors.
• Strategize, lead and coordinate (in association with the Director of Marketing) all gift announcements and events for donors, including but not limited to The Director’s Circle.
• Assist in creating and implementing our donor recognition program, including giving societies and guidelines for annual giving, mid-level, major and planned giving donors.
• Liaise and coordinate with our volunteer Fund Cabinet in the pursuit of donation and sponsorship prospects.
• Optimize and update our Theatre Manager database, in coordination with our Box Office Manager, as a tool for documenting, implementing and executing cultivation and stewardship plans.
• Manage our donor naming approvals through the approved Board processes, and inventory the naming opportunities along with the coordination and updating of donor signage, plaquing, or website recognition.
• Manage our sponsorship recognition, in concert with the Director of Marketing.
• Manage sponsorship payments and donation records, in collaboration with the Controller.
• Mail or email all tax receipts for donations over $20, in a timely manner.
• Willingness to increase personal development in fundraising industry best practices in donor and sponsorship relations for all programs and make recommendations for implementation.
• Other projects and initiatives, as mutually agreed.

Desired Skills & Qualifications:

• Minimum 3-years of progressive experience in a fundraising or donor relations capacity, or relevant professional experience in a similar role

• Event management with a focus on relationship management, sponsorship solicitation and volunteer leadership
• Grant or foundation writing experience an asset
• Personable with strong customer service skills
• Demonstrated ability to draft materials such as solicitation letters, impact reports, foundation letters, etc.
• Knowledge of fundraising/database software (Theatre Manager specifically would be an asset)
• Experience with relationship management
• Exceptional communication skills, oral and written
• Ability to work in a changing environment while maintaining a positive outlook
• Must be a team player, and should have a love of the theatre and the performing arts

• Strategic thinking and problem solving
• Belief in Persephone Theatre’s mission, vision and values, and a commitment to reconciliation, equity, diversity and inclusion
• Must be a resident of Canada, or legally able to work in Canada at the time of application

Key competencies include:

• Personal Accountability – a self-motivated sense of purpose and direction that supports reliability and accountability for personal and professional actions.
• Customer Focus – the commitment to patron, donor, supporter and prospect satisfaction.
• Planning, Organizing, and Managing Time and Priorities – the ability to ascertain top priorities, forecast while anticipating outcomes and risks, and establishing appropriate courses of action.
• Professional deportment – the position may require the candidate to become one of the public “faces” of the organization.

Salary and Benefits:

• $50,000-55,000 per annum, commensurate with experience
• 3 weeks vacation, accrued annually
• Comprehensive extended health and dental plan
• Professional Development support available

This is a salaried, full-time position working year-round and will require some work during evenings, weekends and holidays. Overtime work can be banked and offered back as time in lieu.

The ideal candidate will begin in July 2023. Exact start date to be negotiated.