A side exterior view of historic Ford’s Theatre, a three-story brick building with five arched windows on the second and third floor. The bottom floor is white and has five arched entryways.
Photo © Maxwell MacKenzie.

Development Associate

The Development Associate is an integral part of the success of the fundraising team at Ford’s Theatre and is responsible for gift administration, including gift entry and drafting acknowledgement letters. The Development Associate provides support to all areas of the development department, including individual giving, membership, corporate giving, special events, grants and major gifts. The position is based in Washington, D.C. and is eligible to work within stated Ford’s hybrid/tele-work guidelines.

All Ford’s Theatre Society employees are required to actively participate in the Society’s ongoing efforts to become an anti-racist organization. These efforts include staff-wide conversations, new programming, development of new resources for staff and audiences, and an expectation that all staff will keep themselves informed of resources and trends in the field of anti-racism and DEAI and how they can be applied to their own work on a day-to-day basis.

Principal Responsibilities

Gift Administration

  • Enter all pledges and gifts into the Tessitura database correctly and in a timely manner
  • Run biweekly pledge billing for members and donors with auto-pay schedules
  • Resolve any unclear details or questions about the donations with the appropriate development staff
  • Draft timely and accurate invoices, pledge confirmation letters, gift and pledge acknowledgements and/or receipts for all gifts as necessary and required
  • Maintain organized files relating to donors/members and their giving and make sure that this information is easily accessible to all development staff
  • Administer mailing process for membership renewals, ensuring each member segment receives appropriate inserts
  • Provide administrative assistance in executing solicitations, including list clean up, proof-reading and mailing
  • Assist members of the development team as needed in the preparation of funding proposals and materials to existing and prospective donors
  • Complete any matching gift paperwork or online confirmations

Donor Stewardship

  • Oversee and assist in the execution of the “Member Mints” program, which provides members and special donors with a token of appreciation when they attend performances
  • Oversee and assist in the process of finding, ordering and mailing the Ford’s annual gift for members
  • Support corporate relations efforts in fulfilling sponsor benefits by managing lobby and other recognition displays
  • Serve as a point of contact for members calling the membership hotline with questions, concerns, or requests to purchase performance tickets, as well as assist in answering emails that come to the membership and donate in-boxes
  • Answer questions and promote membership to prospects calling the membership hotline using a full understanding of benefits, season description and the impact of membership
  • Create the donor lists for Ford’s website and the theatrical printed programs throughout the year
  • Review selected member and general donor communications, materials and online pathways and provide feedback

Database Responsibilities

  • Keep accurate and up-to-date records in the Tessitura database for all donors and members including their contact information and gift amounts/dates, as well as the appropriate codes, flags, recognition and attributes to ensure that they are included in all relevant mailings, events, and other contact points
  • Work with all development staff, database administrator, the finance department and other departments as needed to monitor data quality, limit duplicate records in the system and provide reports as requested

Additional Responsibilities

  • Provide special event support as needed and requested in creating, managing, tracking and executing a variety of events for donors and prospects
  • Attend and/or work select rehearsals, performances and special events hosted by Ford’s – includes some evenings and weekends
  • Assist in basic research and identify prospects for giving and membership through traditional prospect research tools using iWave and other online tools
  • In conjunction with a third-party administrator, organize, prepare, and provide information and assistance for state charitable solicitation registrations.
  • Conduct after-hours, guided tours of the Ford’s Theatre Campus for donors and prospects as needed
  • Other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Prefer at least one year’s experience in development or fundraising for a non-profit, cultural organization
  • Occasional weekend and evening work required
  • Demonstrated excellent time management, prioritization and organizational skills
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
  • Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with a diverse group of donors, coworkers and constituents
  • Demonstrated accuracy and solid attention to detail
  • Excellent skills in database entry and maintenance
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel required, knowledge of databases is desirable
  • Demonstrated strong customer service skills
  • Enthusiasm for the performing arts and/or history a plus
  • Commitment to advancing ideals of Diversity Equity and Inclusion in the workplace and Ford’s events

Salary

  • Approximately $46,000 – $48,500 annually
  • Ford’s offers a dynamic working environment steeped in culture and history along with a robust benefits package including highly subsidized health insurance, 401(k) contributions, and generous paid leave policies.

To Apply: Please send resume and cover letter to [email protected].