Description

The Actors Center is seeking a part-time Development Manager—an entrepreneurial opportunity for a passionate arts and theater professional who is excited to help shape the future of a growing organization. While the Executive & Artistic Director serves as the organization’s primary fundraiser and lead solicitor, this role is a critical strategic partner: supporting, amplifying, and strengthening The Actors Center’s overall fundraising efforts.

This position is designed for a development professional who is eager to grow. The Development Manager will help build systems, deepen donor relationships, and expand fundraising capacity, with the opportunity to take on increasing responsibility over time. Working closely with the Executive & Artistic Director and Board of Directors, this individual will play a central role in strengthening The Actors Center’s culture of philanthropy and positioning the organization for long-term sustainability and impact.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Fundraising Partnership

• Partner with Executive Director and board leadership to advance major gift strategy, including donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Manage and grow a major donor pipeline, ensuring consistent prospect movement, follow-up, and alignment with campaign priorities.
• Develop donor strategies, briefing materials, proposals, case statements, and presentation decks to support fundraising efforts.
• Contribute strategic initiatives to expand individual giving and broaden the donor base.
• Collaborate with leadership to plan and execute annual fund strategy, increasing donor engagement, and identifying pathways to major giving.
• Support integrated fundraising campaigns, ensuring alignment between major gifts, annual fund, and organizational messaging.
• Participate in donor meetings and gradually assume direct solicitation responsibilities.
• Plan and execute donor cultivation and stewardship events, strengthening community engagement.
• Engage artists, stakeholders, and community members as ambassadors to support development activities and deepen donor relationships.

Development Infrastructure & Systems

• Strengthen internal development systems and processes to support sustainable growth.
• Draft and manage gift agreements and pledge documentation.
• Oversee timely and meaningful donor acknowledgment and stewardship processes.
• Maintain detailed records of prospect strategies, meeting outcomes, solicitations, pledges, and payment schedules.
• Build scalable systems that allow The Actors Center’s fundraising capacity to expand over time.

Please apply with a cover letter and resume. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.  

KEY DETAILS

Part-Time, average 25 hrs /week, with additional hours during peak periods
Salaried, $45,000, annually
Based in NYC: Some in-person work required, with additional flexible remote schedule
Some evening and weekends required for programs and events
2 weeks paid time off, plus additional sick days provided

GROWTH OPPORTUNITY

This role is intentionally structured as a collaborative and growth-oriented position. The Executive & Artistic Director remains the organization’s chief fundraiser; however, the Development Manager will have meaningful ownership over strategy, systems, and relationship management, with the opportunity to assume increasing leadership in donor cultivation and solicitation over time.

This position is ideal for a motivated and entrepreneurial fundraising professional who is deeply passionate about theater, acting, or the arts, thrives in a growing organization, and is excited to build something lasting while growing professionally alongside the institution. We welcome candidates at different career stages—whether you’re building your development career or bringing seasoned experience to a flexible, part-time role.

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE AND MINDSET

• At least 3 years of experience in nonprofit development, fundraising, or a closely related field
• Strong organizational skills and demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities with attention to detail and follow-through
• Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to write warmly and compellingly on behalf of an organization
• Collaborative and proactive—you anticipate needs, flag issues early, and bring solutions
• Genuine interest in theater, the performing arts, or the nonprofit arts sector
• Ability to attend in-person meetings, events, and occasional planning sessions in NYC
• An eagerness and ability to quickly learn new software and technology tools. (Current tools: Airtable, Salesforce, Asana, Mailchimp, and Canva)
• Grant writing experience is a plus, but not required

We recognize that great candidates come from a variety of backgrounds. We encourage you to apply if you meet most, but not necessarily all of these qualifications.

ABOUT THE ACTORS CENTER

For 29 years, The Actors Center has sustained New York’s acting community by providing a home for creative and artistic development. Through our ongoing creative residency, we provide a company of 300 professional actors—who work regularly throughout theater, film, and television—with time, space, community, and resources, to continue their growth as artists. Our Resident Company members perform and collaborate with countless theaters, film studios, and training programs, enhancing work witnessed by millions of audience members and students each year. 

In 2024, we launched a groundbreaking Mentorship Program for emerging artists. The program connects them with our esteemed Resident Company for support and guidance, empowering them to forge careers that are not only successful, but sustainable, fulfilling, and reflective of their values.

Read More About The Actors Center
Meet Our Resident Company
Read About the Mentorship Program

COMMITMENT TO EQUITY, INCLUSION, & BELONGING

At The Actors Center, we are committed to the work of advancing equity, inclusion, and belonging within our organization, our community, and throughout the world. Our approach to advancing equity is holistic, global, long-term and deeply embedded within our vision for unleashing creative human potential. This leads us to seek a broad range of perspectives and backgrounds to achieve our mission and to maintain an inclusive workplace environment. 

As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to employment practices that ensure employees and applicants are provided with opportunities without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, medical condition, national origin, marital status, or any other factor that is not related to the position.

TIMELINE & HOW TO APPLY

Please apply with a cover letter and resume via our online application form at www.theactorscenter.org/hiring.
We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled.