Studio East Training for the Performing Arts Senior Development Manager Kirkland, WA · Full time Company website

Apply for Senior Development Manager

Studio East inspires, trains, and entertains young people from across the Puget Sound region through engagement in the art and craft of theatre—developing valuable skills they can use throughout their lives. Vision: To provide transformative theatrical experiences that empower young people to discover their full potential, cultivate essential life skills, and become confident, compassionate, and resilient individuals. Between the Studio’s Mainstage season, camps and classes, and StoryBook Theater, Studio East serves over 70,000 people and provides theatre education opportunities for over 6,500 students ages 3-20 annually.

The Senior Development Manager provides strategic leadership in planning, implementing, and managing fundraising efforts for Studio East. This role is instrumental in cultivating and stewarding relationships with individual donors, corporate sponsors, foundations, and government funders to secure financial support for all programming, community outreach, and operational needs.

 

Reporting to the Managing Director, the ideal candidate is a quick learner, strategic thinker, and skilled communicator, with passion for theater and its importance in our world. The candidate should have experience with fundraising and/or non-profit theater, with a proven track record in contributed revenue cultivation. The Senior Manager will sit on the leadership team of Studio East and work in close collaboration with the Artistic Director, Education & Accessibility Program Manager, Marketing & Communications Manager, and Finance & Front of House Manager.

 

This role is a full-time role based in Kirkland, with the flexibility to work from home up to three days a week. Core working hours are Monday-Friday with some evening and weekend hours to support special events and programming.

 

Principle Duties and Responsibilities

 

Fundraising Strategy and Execution (40%)

• Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising plan, including annual giving campaigns, major giving, corporate sponsorships, grants, and special events.
• Collaboratively lead management of donor database to track contributions, generate reports, and analyze fundraising metrics.
• Partner with the Marketing Team to create compelling fundraising materials, including appeals, newsletters, and social media campaigns.
• Coordinate with current Development team and grant writers to identify appropriate funding opportunities, deliver compelling proposals, and manage final reporting for foundations and government agencies.

 

Donor Relations and Stewardship (40%)

• Identify, cultivate, and work with the Managing Director, Artistic Director and Board to solicit donors and prospects to build a robust donor pipeline, set fundraising goals, and report on progress.
• Build and nurture strong relationships between Studio East and the greater community of donors, families, sponsors, and community members.
• Deepen donor engagement and increase giving levels.

 

Event Management (20%)

• Plan and execute annual fundraising events such as Spring Gala, Season Announcements, and more by coordinating logistics, developing event budgets, and coordinating staffing needs.
• Coordinate donor appreciation events and programs, such as receptions, or behind-the-scenes experiences with artists.
• Collaborate with marketing and programming staff to align events with the organization's artistic mission and brand.

 

Skills and Abilities

• Proven ability to work as a team player with diverse groups
• Highly motivated, self-starter with strong organizational skills and ability to perform and prioritize multiple tasks seamlessly with excellent attention to detail
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, comfortable speaking in public, and networking in diverse settings
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion
• A resourceful team player, with the ability to also be extremely effective independently and be proactive with approaches to problem-solving with strong decision-making capability
• Excellent time and task management skills as evidenced by a proven ability to efficiently and effectively handle multiple tasks at the same time as well as appropriate delegation

 

Personal Attributes

• Sense of humor, creativity and an appreciation of the role of philanthropy in building community
• Commitment to diversity, accessibility and inclusion
• High level of integrity, professional maturity and sound judgment
• Passion for the arts and its integral role in community building

 

Minimum Qualifications

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite, and Database/CRM software.
• At least two years as part of a Fund Development Team in a not-for-profit organization showing increasing responsibility and growth.
• Demonstrated knowledge of successful annual fundraising practices and donor engagement strategies

 

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with capital campaigns
• Experience in grant writing
• Knowledge of community-centric fundraising practices and principles
• Familiarity and experience with King County philanthropic community and arts funding opportunities
• Experience in Patron Manager and/or Salesforce as a donor CRM
• Experience with budgeting and financial reporting for nonprofit contributed revenue.

 

Benefits

• 80% Employer-Paid Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 100% Employer-Paid Life Insurance
• Company-provided laptop
• Flexible schedule including hybrid schedule up to 3 days per week from home & unlimited PTO
• Free tuition to Studio East after school classes or summer camp for any children in the same household as the Senior Manager

 

 

Equal Opportunity Employer

Studio East is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religious creed, disability (mental and physical) including HIV, AIDS, and AIDS-related conditions, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, age, marital status, sexual orientation, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

 

Studio East participates in I-9 & E-Verify. You must be able to prove you are legally authorized to work in the United States. This role requires a background check for any role working in-person.

 

Studio East will endeavor to make reasonable accommodation to the known physical or mental limitations of qualified employees with disabilities unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on Studio East operations.

 

About Studio East

Studio East works to create confident, compassionate, responsible young people through training in the art and craft of theater. We believe theater is a transformative, cultural force that develops valuable skills children can use throughout their lives – discipline, resilience, dependability, creative problem solving, teamwork — regardless of their eventual chosen vocation.

 

Studio East Training for the Performing Arts (Studio East) is based in Kirkland, WA, and began as a single teen theatre training program in 1992. The studio’s programming has since then expanded to include a full season of Mainstage youth performances, several “kids” performances featuring a younger cast, and theatre arts camps and classes. Studio East now provides best-in-class theatre education, performance skills, and audience opportunities to inspire, train, and entertain young people through engagement in the art and craft of theatre.

 

In 1998, Studio East created StoryBook Theatre (SBT), a professional touring production of interactive musicals written for young children and their families with the primary goal of introducing very young audiences to the magic and wonder of live musical theater. Each season, SBT brings live theatre to dozens of schools and outdoor parks throughout the Puget Sound.

 

Between the Studio’s Mainstage season, camps and classes, and StoryBook Theater, Studio East serves over 70,000 people and provides theatre education opportunities for over 6,500 students ages 3-19 annually.