Membership & Development Manager
The historic nonprofit Carolina Theatre of Durham seeks a seasoned Membership & Development Manager to join the team and help execute its member program and fundraising strategy. This position supports the theater’s mission by building and curating strong stakeholder relationships to bring a range of artists, films, and educational programs to our region. We strongly value a diversity of people and experiences and encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.
The Carolina Theatre of Durham, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that manages the City-owned historic Carolina Theatre complex including the 1,000-seat historic Fletcher Hall and two cinemas that screen independent film, as well as festivals and retrospectives, 365 days per year. The organization presents more than 60 Star Series performances per year in Fletcher Hall and provides more than 35 educational performances for more than 15,000 school children from 12 counties in our Arts Discovery series. Fletcher Hall is also home to several performing arts resident companies and hosts a variety of non-profit and commercial community events throughout the year.
As a City-owned, nonprofit-run facility, we believe that our entire community should be welcomed and celebrated here. We are committed to approaching all our work, our programs, and our policies with a focus on ensuring that all voices are heard and valued and that each is respected and included. Our staff, volunteers, vendors, partners, and guests come from every imaginable walk of life. Diversity, equity, and access for all are the focus we also expect from all with whom we work, contract, or partner.
The Carolina Theatre benefits from having a diversified revenue stream including ticket sales from film and live events, rentals, memberships, and contributions from individual, corporate, foundation, and government sources. The income mix is currently 86% earned and 14% contributed income. Early campaign feasibility studies show that there is tremendous potential in contributed income, thanks to a loyal audience base, stable membership, sponsorship revenue, and a diverse lineup of programming. As the theater nears its 100th anniversary in 2026, the Membership & Development Manager will be fundamental in cultivating these relationships and growing a pipeline of major individual and organizational giving to help the theater pave the way for the next 100 years.
POSITION SUMMARY: Working closely with the Senior Director of Development, the Membership & Development Manager will craft and implement a stewardship strategy to maintain and grow member and stakeholder relationships. This role will serve as a primary theater contact for members, donors, grantors, and sponsors and will manage communications with these constituents to increase commitment and engagement. As part of this function, the Membership & Development Manager will also be responsible for the donor database and oversight for entering, updating, categorizing, and designing reports for constituent and gift information. Additional responsibilities include assisting with grant research, writing, and reporting, securing program and event sponsorships, planning member events, planning the annual fundraiser, and coordinating the planned giving program. This role also interfaces with marketing, education, programming, production, and other departments frequently. As the theater is a growing organization with projected expansion, the Membership & Development Manager must have demonstrated experience collaborating with a broad spectrum of internal and external partners and the ability to manage multiple projects and responsibilities simultaneously.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Commitment To Diversity and Access
● Commitment to consistently view and evaluate all work, programs, and policies through an anti-racist, equity, and access lens Member Relations and Program Management
● Manage and grow the membership base through strategic engagement, personalized outreach, and relationship cultivation at the donor lounge, meetings, and events
● Assist the Senior Director of Development in reaching out to members by phone, email, and in-person to ensure consistent communication and growth of relationships within the theater community
● Coordinate with box office staff to track lapsed memberships and membership renewals to manage communication and maximize retention
Donor Stewardship and Relationship Management
● Maintains the donor database (DonorPerfect), enters gift information, and updates constituent records
● Conducts database analysis to identify opportunities for donor cultivation, sustained giving, and major donor-giving potential
● Tracks donor interactions, relationships, and attendance at shows and adds reminders for follow-up communications
● Produces reports to evaluate development revenue sources and monitor progress to budget expectations
● Creates and mails donor acknowledgment letters, sponsor and grantor recognitions, and personalized notecards
ASSISTS WITH ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Calendar and Fiscal Year-End Appeals
● Provides support in identifying and securing new individual supporters, engaging existing supporters and stakeholders, increasing Board commitments, and leveraging organizational connections
● Collaborates with the Senior Director of Development and the Development Committee to build visibility and awareness for appeals and encourage peer-to-peer fundraising
● Works with the marketing team to create consistent messaging and communications that articulate need, emphasize impact, and encourage giving
● Coordinates a sustainable in-kind giving program to obtain products and services that benefit CTD’s operations and growth
● Manages the mailings for the calendar year-end solicitation and fiscal year-end annual report
Sponsorships and Corporate Giving
● Works with Senior Director of Development to identify prospective sponsor relationships, draft sponsorship proposals, and secure program and event sponsors
● Coordinates with internal teams to ensure sponsor recognitions, benefits, activations, and deliverables are achieved as contracted
● Supports relationship management of existing corporate sponsors by maintaining frequent communication, providing sponsor engagement and volunteer opportunities, and creating reports to demonstrate sponsor impact and reach
Fundraising Events
● Collaborates with the Senior Director of Development and the Development Committee to plan and execute Dancing with the Carolina Stars (DWTCS), the theater’s annual fundraising gala
● Assists in securing vendors, sponsors, and performers for DWTCS and coordinating with internal teams to provide relevant details and logistics for all production elements
● Liaises with the marketing team to design DWTCS communications and promotions to maximize ticket sales, community awareness, and sponsor engagement
● Provides ideas and support for private donor and member events and assists with invitations, planning, and follow-up communications
● Helps to identify and recruit volunteers for all fundraising events and committees
Grant Writing and Reporting
● Partners with the Senior Director of Development to manage the grant calendar, track submission and reporting deadlines, draft proposal narratives, and obtain relevant data and metrics from internal departments as required by funders
● Assists with interim and final grant reports and serves as a primary theater contact for grantors and donors
● Researches and advises on potential grant opportunities that align with the theater’s mission, vision, and funding objectives
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
● Two or more years of development experience in a nonprofit setting with demonstrated experience in cultivating donor, sponsor, corporate, and foundation relationships
● Skillset which includes lead generation, prospecting, drafting proposals, and securing funding commitments
● Familiarity and experience in managing and using donor CRM databases
● Strong attention to detail and superb organizational and customer service skills
● Strong written and verbal communication skills and a collaborative, team-oriented perspective
● A passion for building connections and the desire to authentically listen to donors, volunteers, partners, and community members
● A creative approach to development and the ability to turn an obstacle into an opportunity
COMPENSATION:
This full-time, exempt position will pay $60,000 annually. Benefits include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance benefits; a 403(b) retirement program; and generous PTO benefits. Administrative hours are Monday-Friday 9:00-5:00 PM with films, performances, and other events most evenings and weekends. All team members are eligible for flexible work arrangements to account for evening and weekend work.
TO APPLY:
Please email a resume and cover letter in PDF format to HR@carolinatheatre.org. Applications will be accepted until the position has been filled. Thank you for your interest in the Carolina Theatre of Durham!
