position overview

Chief Development Officer Washington, DC

Search conducted by Development Resources, inc. www.driconsulting.com American Theater in the Nation’s Capital

Founded in 1950 by Zelda Fichandler, Thomas C. Fichandler, and Edward Magnum, Arena Stage was one of the nation’s original resident theaters and has a distinguished record of leadership and innovation in the arts. The legacy of world-class productions that Arena Stage has developed and produced includes 15 shows that have had a life on Broadway: 33 Variations; Execution of Justice; Accidental Death of an Anarchist; K2; Tintypes; The 1940s Radio Hour; Loose Ends; A History of the American Film; Zalmen, or The Madness of God; Boccaccio; Moonchildren; Raisin; Indians; Pulitzer Prize winders The Great White Hope and Next to Normal; and Tony Award winner for best musical Dear Evan Hansen. Arena Stage has also produced a robust educational program that reaches deep into the community, including Voices of Now, Moving Stories, DC Ticket Partnership, and Camp Arena Stage. THE THEATER’S LEADERS Led by Artistic Director Molly Smith and Executive Producer Edgar Dobie, Arena Stage at the Mead Theater is today a leading center for the production, presentation, and study of American theater. Ms. Smith has commissioned or championed numerous world premiers by American playwrights, including Paula Vogel’s Pulitzer Prize-winning How I Learned to Drive and Mineola Twins; Tim Acito’s The Women of Brewster Place; Moises Kaufman’s 33 Variations; Charles Randolph-Wright’s Blue; Zora Neale Hurston’s lost play Polk County; Karen Zacarias’ Legacy of Light; and Passion Play, a cycle by Sarah Ruhl—some of which Smith also directed.

Edgar Dobie has enjoyed a career in public theater as Executive Director of Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, R.I, founding Managing Director of Toronto’s Canadian Stage Company, and Managing Director at National Arts Centre in Ottawa and Vancouver’s New Play Center. For six years he was President of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Company, and for the past three years he has been the North American Executive Producer of Riverdream. Dobie’s Broadway producing credits include Sunset Boulevard (Tony Award for Best Musical), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Paul Simon’s The Capeman, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Boubil and Schonberg’s The Pirate Queen and 9 to 5. He serves as a Tony Award nominator and as a member of the executive committee of both Theatre Washington and SW Business Improvement District. THE MEAD CENTER FOR AMERICAN THEATER With the opening on October 25, 2010 of the Mead Center for American Theater, Arena Stage became a national icon of American theater, with 125 full-time staff, more than 200 seasonal performers, and more than 3,500 volunteers. Arena Stage’s staff and artists have been honored with a Tony Award for Artistic Excellence, 100 Helen Hayes Awards, an American Express Award for Outstanding Leadership, a Washington Post Award for Innovative Leadership, a National Multicultural Institute Diversity Award, and the Mayor’s Arts Award for Excellence in an Artistic Discipline.

Search conducted by Development Resources, inc. www.driconsulting.com THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM Arena Stage’s 14-person development team supplements ticket sales to raise approximately $6M in philanthropic gifts each year. The development program, supported by a Board of Trustees and its Development Committee, secures comprehensive gifts from individuals, foundations, corporations, and government grants, as well as a series of special events.

With the support of the Board, Artistic Director, and Executive Producer, Arena Stage recently commissioned a development assessment that has identified potential for growth. With its recruitment of a Chief Development Officer, the theater is taking the THE ARTISTIC PROGRAM first step to pursue these opportunities. Arena Stage is unique among major theater companies in its focus on American playwrights past, present, and Arena Stage’s audience of more than 300,000 people future. The American Voices project, introduced by creates a wealth of potential supporters. The theater Artistic Director Molly Smith, is the centerpiece of Arena has conducted a wealth screening that has qualified Stage’s theatrical and educational work. Through more than 18,000 people for 5- and 6-figure gifts, commissioned plays, readings and workshops, and world including thousands of who have donated in the last premieres as well as second and third productions, Arena two years. Hundreds more donors have been qualified Stage brings the work of American playwrights to for 7-figure gifts, including dozens who have given in contemporary theater-going audiences. the last two years. In addition to individual major gifts, there is an opportunity to grow partnerships with In 2013, Arena Stage launched Playwrights’ Arena, a corporations in the DMV region. collaborative working laboratory specifically for local American playwrights. In 2016, it launched Power Plays, In addition to growing the annual fund, the CDO will an ambitious initiative to commission and develop 25 new lead the Ovation Campaign. With a comprehensive goal plays and musicals over the course of the next 10 years of $70M, the campaign has an outstanding goal of focusing on stories of American politics and power from $20M. 1776 through the early 21st-century.

Search conducted by Development Resources, inc. www.driconsulting.com Team Leadership The Opportunity ❖ Continually align the development department with the theater’s fundraising and strategic Arena Stage seeks a Chief Development Officer to goals. lead the design, development, and execution of a comprehensive fundraising program. Reporting to ❖ Manage day-to-day operations of the the Executive Producer, the CDO will manage and development team and staff, by setting motivate a full-time staff of 14 professional ambitious and achievable goals and providing fundraisers and guide the work of volunteers and general oversight for all development activities. the Board of Trustees to meet annual and campaign fundraising goals. The CDO has dual responsibilities ❖ Ensure the ongoing evaluation and to manage and grow a $6 million annual fund and to development of effective fundraising systems, direct the completion of the Ovation Campaign. The including memberships, recognition CDO will be a key member of Arena Stage’s senior opportunities, and acknowledgement policy. management team with responsibility for organizational strategic planning, overall fundraising ❖ Serve as lead and primary fundraiser on the strategy, and donor portfolio enhancement. Ovation Campaign, coordinating the work of volunteers and staff and playing a lead role in Strategic Planning donor outreach. ❖ Lead and manage a comprehensive development program that includes Donor Outreach individual, corporate, foundation, and ❖ Cultivate, solicit, and steward major donor to government giving as well as special events. secure 6- and 7-figure gifts.

❖ Serve as a high-level advisor on the executive ❖ Build and maintain high-level contacts with team, providing strategic input that shapes current and prospective donors and other financial goals and identifies opportunities for business and project partners. support. ❖ Work with and support Arena Stage’s Board of ❖ Develop and oversee the execution of long- Trustees and the Board’s Nominating and term strategies to broaden the donor base. Development Committees, defining priorities, strategically identifying and recruiting new ❖ Generate, monitor, and manage the annual members, and regularly reporting on results to development department expense budget, ensure program and fiscal accountability. producing periodic reports for the Executive Producer and Board. ❖ Direct the major gifts program, enhancing donor events and directing donor outreach to support the vision of Arena Stage.

Search conducted by Development Resources, inc. www.driconsulting.com The Candidate

The Chief Development Officer of Arena Stage must ❖ Knowledge of the Greater Washington, D.C. be an accomplished leader and fundraiser with a philanthropic community. convincing passion for the arts. The CDO should have a sophisticated sense of how to structure a ❖ Knowledge of fundraising databases, especially high-functioning major gifts program, how to design Tessitura. messaging for an innovative performing arts institution, and how to evaluate and adjust to Personal Characteristics and Leadership Style fundraising results in real time. ❖ Clear sense of vision that inspires and motivates others. Background ❖ Keen analytical skills and a sense of creativity ❖ At least eight years of experience in upper- necessary to frame and solve problems. level positions within a non-profit fundraising program; some experience in an arts ❖ Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to institution is preferred. quickly earn trust and confidence. ❖ Bachelor’s degree is required; advanced ❖ Exceptional communication skills in all registers, degree in a related field is preferred. including writing, public speaking, and listening. Skills and Accomplishments ❖ Commitment to confidentiality, particularly in ❖ Experience building and leading a high- dealing with donor records. performing and comprehensive fundraising team. ❖ Demonstrated sense of initiative and follow- through. ❖ Demonstrated ability to guide, manage, and support Board members and other ❖ Ability to plan and manage time and to be in fundraising volunteers. control of numerous tasks at any given moment. ❖ Record of leading the development and execution of strategies that have successfully grown and diversified a donor base.

❖ Demonstrated ability to design and implement effective cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for individual giving.

❖ Record of securing 6- and 7-figure gifts; experience securing gifts for performing arts institutions is preferred.

❖ Ability to build and maintain relationships with high-net-worth individuals.

Publicity for Junk, ❖ Extensive knowledge of fundraising April 5 – May 5, 2019 campaigns, including finance and budgeting.

Search conducted by Development Resources, inc. www.driconsulting.com Questions, résumés, and CVs should be sent to [email protected]

All first round interviews for this position will take place at Development Resources, inc. at 1820 N. Fort Myer Drive, Suite 702, Arlington, VA 22209, (703) 294-6684, or via telephone/video conference. DRi is an executive search and development consulting firm that recruits senior leaders and works with them to build talented teams, create bold strategic plans, and design powerful fundraising programs. Arena Stage is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is seeking a diverse slate of candidates for formal consideration.

Search conducted by Development Resources, inc. www.driconsulting.com