Chief Development Officer

Reporting to the Artistic Director and serving on the senior leadership team, the Chief Development Officer (CDO) is responsible for creating and implementing the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University’s fundraising strategy and leading a comprehensive development program that ranges from membership levels to 8-figure capital gifts. The CDO is a key thought partner to the Artistic Director, Managing Director, Board Chair, and committee chairs of the boards for fundraising and organization-wide philanthropic strategy.

Under Terrie and Bradley Bloom Artistic Director Diane Paulus and Managing Director Anna Fitzloff, the A.R.T. is poised to raise unprecedented funding support to serve the A.R.T.’s mission to expand the boundaries of theater. The CDO will partner strategically with the Harvard University Development Office (UDO) to steward University and alumni donor relationships and promote A.R.T.’s interests. With this visibility and energy, the CDO will create and manage a department that is designed to capitalize on an evolving model of arts philanthropy and creative practice. 

The CDO manages a development team charged with increasing annual contributed support beyond $6 million to meet operational needs and completing an initial $185 million+ capital campaign for the new David E. and Stacey L. Goel Center for Creativity & Performance on Harvard’s campus in Allston which will be the future home of the A.R.T. Endowment funds will also need to be raised to support operations in the new center and this role will partner with the executive leadership and boards of A.R.T. and the University to develop that campaign strategy. The CDO will conceptualize and manage all aspects of the philanthropic portfolio, including individual giving, institutional giving, major gifts, annual funds and membership, planned giving, stewardship and solicitation, development operations, board recruitment, volunteer management and campaign planning. The CDO will lead and supervise the Development team in consistent collaboration with the senior Artistic team to generate fundraising support for all programming, including aspirational strategic initiatives.

The CDO will foster a culture of community, trust, respect, professional excellence, and accountability.

The Chief Development Officer will strategically and thoughtfully lead a development team currently consisting of the following roles:  

• Associate Director, Institutional Giving

• Associate Director, Principal Gifts

• Associate Director, Development Operations & Donor Relations 

• Associate Director, Stewardship & Major Gifts 

• Individual Giving Associate  

• Senior Development Coordinator

RESPONSIBILITIES

Philanthropic Strategy

• The CDO is an enthusiastic ambassador for the A.R.T. and the University and fosters catalytic philanthropic growth, developing and deepening critical engagements with partners and driving broader awareness and philanthropic support for the organization and its mission.

• The CDO leads the Development team’s efforts to implement a comprehensive development program to significantly grow the A.R.T.’s contributed revenue from a broad base of supporters, including individuals, corporations, foundations, government entities, and community organizations.

• The CDO and the Development team are responsible for developing a compelling case for support that aligns with the artistic vision, University strategic plans, and sustainability of the organization.

• This position develops and implements solicitation strategies for high-capacity individual, corporate, and foundation donors while working with staff and other University partners to support a comprehensive, multi-phased development effort. The CDO, personally and with its key stakeholders, identifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards annual and major gifts from individual and institutional donors at the level of six to seven-figures and greater.

• The position has direct budgetary and financial responsibilities and is expected to set and meet annual contributed revenue targets.

• Work with the Artistic Director, key leaders, and constituents to prepare strategic philanthropic goals for development using forward thinking data gathering strategies to drive decision making.

• Together with key staff members, the CDO initiates sophisticated prospect research with the objective of identifying and qualifying prospects as well as conducting due diligence.

• The CDO creates and implements new programs and campaigns to maximize unrestricted and restricted support for annual and multi-year commitments. 

• In consultation with the Managing Director, Artistic Director, and Development team, the CDO sets the annual fundraising goals for the A.R.T. and the advancement of A.R.T.’s membership program in partnership with Marketing and Communications.

• The CDO and Development team collaborate with the Artistic, Engagement, Marketing, and Communications teams to develop compelling proposals, appeals, reports, and other fundraising communications that align with the interests of individual supporters and deepens their engagement with A.R.T.  

• Collaborates as needed with the University Development Office (UDO) on integrating University messaging in A.R.T. materials and vice versa. Collaborates as needed with Harvard Public Affairs and Communications on media strategy.

• The CDO works with departments across the A.R.T. to identify events and opportunities to support fundraising goals, including the annual gala, A.R.T. in the World travel opportunities, and other engagement. Continually evaluates outcomes of said programs with objective of using human and financial resources effectively.

• The CDO will partner strategically with campaign-focused volunteers of the Board, dedicated A.R.T. capital campaign staff, and UDO to successfully complete an ambitious capital campaign raise.

• As part of the development strategy, the CDO will work in partnership with the Development team to develop and execute appropriate travel cultivation events and will participate in those events nationally and internationally. 

Leadership and Management

• The CDO recruits, leads, and mentors a diverse team of development professionals and contributes to the ongoing fostering of a high-functioning, results-oriented workforce.

• The CDO is responsible for effectively staffing and managing the Development team keeping in mind the institutional priorities, onboarding, departmental guidance, and performance management.

• The CDO sets clear goals and models shared accountability for members of the Development team.

• The CDO maintains philanthropic best practices, and demonstrates adherence to the principles, ethics, and best practices of modern fundraising, including the integration of various giving programs to diversify the funding base and cultivate greater donor commitments.

• The CDO reports on progress towards targets to executive and University leadership, and the board. This individual regularly enlists senior leadership, board members and its chairs in gift cultivation and supports them in stewardship and asks.

• The CDO works with the A.R.T. finance office and University Office of General Counsel and UDO to ensure accountability and standardization with fundraising policies and procedures. The CDO position is responsible for ensuring that the department adheres to Harvard’s gift policies in the engagement of donors and the solicitation and documentation of gifts and gift terms. This position is also expected to communicate and collaborate with university fundraising partners in the approach, engagement, and solicitation of Harvard alumni.

• The CDO is responsible for fostering a relationship between the A.R.T.’s leadership and its key donors and volunteers. This position maintains a top prospect list for the A.R.T. and a pipeline for the A.R.T. executive and board leadership’s travel and visits, appropriately preparing relevant briefings and then ensuring completion of next steps.

• The CDO provides support and guidance to the various board committees including playing an active role in identifying new board members, supporting succession of trustees and staff with a strategic and philanthropic mindset.

• In coordination with the Development team, the CDO ensures timely and proper acknowledgements and stewardship for donations while ensuring appropriate pledge reminding and tax receipting.

• The CDO collaborates with the Associate Director of Institutional Giving to manage the grants calendar and reporting deadlines as well as identifies new opportunities for foundation support.

• The CDO will maintain professional relationships within the broader arts and entertainment industry and knowledge of important developments within the regional and national funding environments and speak credibly and persuasively about the A.R.T.’s mission and its vision for the future.

• The CDO must have the ability to travel and attend various cultivation events on behalf of A.R.T and Harvard University.

Board Engagement & Cultivation

• Partner with the Artistic Director, Managing Director, and Board Chair to identify and recruit new board members (approximately 40 members), educate and engage board members in advancing a culture of prioritized philanthropy, cultivate and solicit board members for ongoing financial support, and leverage board members’ respective networks to expand the donor base and support of the A.R.T.  Likewise, the CDO will guide intentional engagement with A.R.T.’s Board of Advisors (approximately 35 members).

• Working closely with Managing Director, the Governance Committee Chair, and Nominating Committee Chairs, provide strategic assessment of board composition and serve as primary staff lead for new Board member recruitment and related onboarding activities. 

• The CDO, in collaboration with the Artistic Director and Development team, will ensure that all board meetings and events are professionally and exceptionally planned and executed. 

The CDO and the Development team will maintain an active schedule of in-person and phone/zoom check-ins with all board members throughout the year.