Position Summary
The Director of Institutional Advancement is the lead position of EWP’s development team.
(The team currently consists of an Associate Director of Institutional Advancement and a Grants Writer.) This new position at EWP would oversee major gift strategies, grants management, donor database management and research, direct appeal strategies and cultivation and stewardship initiatives.
The primary objective is to grow fundraising income by developing meaningful relationships
with existing EWP donors and manage a team designed to engage new and existing donors in their understanding of EWP’s mission. This is an externally-facing position charged with building ethical, meaningful and lifelong-relationships with donors and other stakeholders.

This position will report to and work in close collaboration with the Producing Artistic Director and will serve as a partner with the EWP’s senior staff. This is a full-time exempt position and requires working some evenings and weekends for meetings and events.

Areas of Accountability
● In collaboration with the Producing Artistic Director, develop a multi-year, strategic fundraising plan including annual fund, individual major gifts, institutional grants, planned gifts, and more.

● Implement resource development strategies and engage staff and volunteer leadership to maximize financial support from individual and institutional donors.

● Design activities to introduce current and potential donors to the programs and services of EWP.
● Lead the advancement team to develop strategies to bolster gift levels based on contact reports with individual and institutional donors.

● Manage a major gifts portfolio of prospects and donors and provide timely detailed donor reports to the Producing Artistic Director and Board.

● Conduct ongoing research and successfully cultivate new donor prospects.

● Support the creation of a philanthropic culture among staff and board: a model of generosity and fund development rooted in relationship, community engagement,
interconnection, and equity rather than a transactional process.

● Create cultivation (education) and stewardship (expressions of gratitude) plans to ensure consistent messaging on need, impact, and donor appreciation.

● Oversee grant writing and reporting efforts to ensure funder reports and proposals are complete, timely and accurate.

● Engage in local and national corporate giving opportunities.

● Track all donor contacts utilizing the donor database (Salesforce). Ensure accuracy of data entry and reporting.

● Perform all other duties and tasks as assigned, with an "all hands on deck" mindset.

Who are we looking for?
The Director of Advancement will be enthusiastic about EWP’s mission and energized by joining an anti-racist organization whose vision is to inspire and advocate for a world free of racism and discrimination through transformative artistic works. The ideal candidate will be one who has managed and led an Advancement Department before. They will have experience and knowledge creating fundraising strategies and plans, leading capital campaigns, securing major gifts, strong written and verbal communication skills and experience working with nonprofit boards. Though not necessary the ideal candidate will have experience fundraising for performing arts organizations and working with the Asian Pacific Islander community.

Experience and qualifications:
● More than 5 years of experience securing major gifts from individuals, institutions, and other revenue sources.

● Certified Fundraising Executive preferred.

● Strong interpersonal and communication skills – regular contact with EWP donors is required.

● Experience with and aptitude for relational databases, including data entry, tracking, and analyzing data. Knowledge of PatronManager within the SalesForce is preferred.

● Experience with and aptitude for all aspects of external communications including but not limited to public relations, print and digital media, and events.

● Must be able to write and speak clearly and persuasively about EWP to varied audiences.

● Computer skills, including proficiency with word processing, spreadsheets, mail merge and advanced functions.

● Experience with the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors.

● Ability to manage a team, while engaging a portfolio of relationships with external contacts.

● Comfortable working in an anti-racist organization with a diverse group of external visitors and internal staff at all levels

● Must be able to hold sensitive information confidentially.

● Excellent time and project management skills.

● A connection to or knowledge of the LA and/or Southern California philanthropic community is a plus.

See the full job description here.