Individual Giving Officer

POSITION: Individual Giving Officer

DEPARTMENT: Development

CLASSIFICATION: Full time / Salaried / Exempt

SUPERVISOR: Director of Individual Giving

OVERVIEW

Founded in 1947 by Nina Vance, the Alley Theatre is a pioneer of regional theatre, and one of the leading nonprofit theatre companies in the United States. The Alley has been awarded the prestigious Regional Theatre Tony Award® and the Texas Medal of Arts Award. The Alley has transferred productions to Broadway, Off-Broadway, major European Festivals, and to 40 American cities. Unique among regional theatres, the Alley is committed to maintaining a Resident Acting Company and providing them with work year-round. Nationally recognized directors, actors, playwrights, and designers from across the country have regularly joined the Resident Acting Company.

Rob Melrose, Artistic Director at the Alley, took over as artistic leader of the organization in 2019. His vision for the future of the Alley is both thrilling and ambitious. His strategic goals include upholding the Alley’s artistic excellence, keeping longtime Alley Theatre devotees eager to return each season, and creating productions and cultivating new audiences.

Rob Melrose and Managing Director Jennifer Bielstein along with Alley’s leadership team are committed to fostering an environment where everyone is encouraged to bring their authentic selves.

FUNDING

The Alley Theatre’s financial balance sheet is one of the strongest of any theatre company in America. It has an endowment of $35 million and cash reserves of more than $5 million. The Alley’s operating budget for FY26 is approximately $24 million. The Theatre expects to raise approximately $12 million in contributed revenue this year. The Alley has a strong history of excellent financial management and has no operating or capital debt.

JOB STATEMENT

The Individual Giving Officer will be responsible for managing a portfolio of 100-120 individual donors and prospects with the capacity to give up to $15,000 annually. He/she will play a significant role in helping the team meet its budgeted financial goals and will collaborate closely with all members of the Individual Giving team.

JOB DUTIES

• Act as the primary portfolio manager for 100-120 individual donors and prospects with the capacity to give between $2,500 and $15,000 annually.
• Responsible for meeting annual financial and activity goals through the successful cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors.
• Conduct a minimum of 150 substantive actions (including face-to-face visits) with portfolio donors and prospects each year.
• Work with prospects assigned by the Research Analyst to cultivate and steward new donors as well as cultivate existing donors based on Research Analyst insights.
• Attend all donor events with the intent to build relationships with Alley Theatre donors. Events include Greenroom greeting, CenterStage dinners, Individual Giving Committee meeting and receptions, and patron events.
• Build plans and enter all donor interactions into database to ensure accurate reporting and portfolio management.
• Advance current and prospective donor relationships through personal contact including but not limited to one-on-one donor meetings and tours; impact reports for high level donors; pre-show and post-show social hours; and regular contact via calls, texts, emails, letters, and seat notes.
• Stay informed of all performance and educational activities taking place at the Alley to ensure that meaningful cultivation and stewardship steps are taken to engage with each donor/prospect in the assigned portfolio.
• Be an active participant in a team-based fundraising department and provide additional assistance to other development staff members when possible.
• Support the Special Events team with annual fundraisers, including Alley Ball and Deck the Trees.
• Participate in end-of-year and end-of-season annual fund campaigns.
• In addition to the duties listed above, the Alley Theatre expects the following of each employee:  adheres to theatre’s policies and procedures; works in a safe manner;  performs duties as workload necessitates; maintains a positive and respectful attitude; communicates regularly with supervisor about department issues; demonstrates efficient time management and prioritizes workload; demonstrates regular and consistent attendance and punctuality; meets department productivity standards; participates in Alley Theatre events as needed or required; and completes other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS (SKILLS and KNOWLEDGE)

• A minimum of three years of experience in fundraising within the non-profit sector including direct solicitation experience, as well as developing cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Excellent communication skills with demonstrable ability to prepare and present both formal written and oral presentations.
• Requires strong collaboration skills to work effectively across the organization and function consistently as a highly valued and high performing team player within the Development department and the organization.
• Demonstrated ability to multi-task and meet deadlines.
• Knowledge of Windows products, including Word and Excel.
• Broad knowledge of individual giving fundraising principles (i.e., identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship)
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal skills.
• High attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Flexibility to work patron and special events that occur on the evenings and weekends.
• Bachelor's Degree preferred.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORKING CONDITIONS

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Ability to lift and move 25 lbs.
• Must be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment where directions and priorities can change rapidly.
• Typical hours are during the day, but the position requires flexibility to be available for weekend, holidays, and evening work hours as needed.

BENEFITS & PERKS

• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• Paid vacation, floating holiday and sick time
• 401(k) with matching, FSA, HRA (Alley paid deductible)
• Free and discounted tickets to Alley Theatre performances
• Discounted Parking ($4 Bi-weekly)
• Discounted gym membership
• Employee wellness program & Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Houston, TX is one of the most affordable cities in the nation with no state or city income tax.

Alley Theatre is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at hrdept@alleytheatre.org.

The Alley Theatre is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state, or federal law. We encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.