Career Opportunity
Development Coordinator

ABOUT THE GRAND THEATRE

The Grand Theatre is known for world-class theatre created and built in London, Ontario. As southwest Ontario’s premiere producing theatre and one of the most beautiful theatre spaces in Canada, the company has deep ties to the community and to its artists, artisans, and technicians.

As a vibrant cultural hub and not-for-profit professional theatre, the Grand serves to gather, inspire, and entertain audiences in London and beyond. At our home in downtown London, we create productions on two stages: the Spriet Stage (839 seats) and the Auburn Developments Stage (144 seats). The Grand season of theatrical offerings runs from September to May, and we collaborate with companies and artists across the country through our co-productions that see London-made artistic and creative work travel to audiences nation-wide. Through our successful COMPASS New Play Development Program, the Grand is committed to developing and premiering new, original works and supporting the growth and reach of theatre writers and creators. Our recently renovated venue offers a contemporary and welcoming environment that is also home to several successful music series’, community arts rentals, cultural and special events.

A cornerstone of the organization is our place as a teaching theatre, exemplified in our many mentorship programs and highlighted in our annual Grand Theatre High School Project. As the only program of its kind in the country and currently in its twenty-sixth year, the High School Project involves as many as one hundred high school participants annually from schools across the region. These students participate at no cost and take on roles both on stage and off, in a fully realized mainstage production under the direction of a professional creative team.

The Grand Theatre is located on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and Attawandaron Peoples. We acknowledge with gratitude the significant historical and contemporary contributions of local and regional Indigenous Peoples and of all the Original Peoples of Turtle Island (also known as North America). We are honoured to live, work, and tell stories together on this land.
 

OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION & RECONCILIATION

The Grand Theatre is committed to creating and practicing a company culture that ensures an accessible, equitable, inclusive, and welcoming space for all. We encourage applicants to review the Grand’s commitments to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Reconciliation on our website to confirm that your personal and professional values are aligned with this vision, and we invite you to reflect on these commitments in your submission.
 

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Grand Theatre (London, ON) has an exciting opportunity in our development department for an aspiring, dynamic, and energetic fundraising and development professional. The DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR will work directly with the Director of Development and closely with the rest of the Development team, to implement the annual individual giving strategies and to achieve revenue goals by sustaining and growing the number of individual donors to the theatre, activating strategy and fulfilling tasks and responsibilities as delegated, with main responsibility over the day-to-day operations of the department.
 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Ensure accurate database management, gift processing, recognition & tax receipting
  • Oversee fulfillment of donor benefits, donor correspondence & acknowledgements, major donor stewardship
  • Ongoing management of house program listings and mailings, booking and tracking of tickets for donors
  • Work with the Director of Development in supporting implementation of fundraising plan and appeal campaigns, and activate strategies for solicitation that will grow annual revenue and meet individual giving goals
  • Coordinate donor cultivation and stewardship through customer service, outreach, fundraising and donor events to ensure an exceptional donor experience
  • Gather statistics & prepare regular reports on all campaign activities, to support various efforts of the department
  • Monitor revenue and expenses related to individual giving and support the Director in all areas of development reporting
  • Ensure accurate database management and analysis through Tessitura and Excel
  • Assist the development department and work collaboratively with other program areas to advance fundraising goals
  • Meet with donors as determined by the Director of Development
  • Work with the Director to provide support to the Board of Directors and the Fund-Raising Committee on fundraising initiatives.
  • Support the individual & major giving efforts of the Director Development, Director of Business Development, Artistic Director and Executive Director and members of the Board of Directors
  • Work with the Director of Development in coordination with communications team to develop strategies for development presence in communications and marketing, website
  • Assume other tasks and responsibilities as needed
     

QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

  • A combination of education & work experience will be considered that may include:
    • Formal training in fund development
    • Minimum of 1-2 years of fund development or patron services experience
    • A ‘people-person’ with a passion & enthusiasm for professional theatre or performing arts
    • Additional experience in special event coordination an asset
  • Demonstrated knowledge Microsoft Office and familiarity with CRM databases (Tessitura preferred)
  • Experience in working with WordFly e-communication software or another equivalent
  • Use data to drive decisions and strategy to further fundraising efforts daily
  • Professional written communication skills, required for effective direct mail appeals, e-appeals, project management etc.
  • Excel in verbal communication, confident when presenting or speaking to large or small groups.
  • Work well with all levels of staff and donors
  • A team player who can also work well independently.
  • Outgoing, with the ability to initiate direct communication with donors and potential donors and community partners, provide customer service and sales over the phone, email, and in-person for entire portfolio
  • Have a clear understanding of the interplay between the value of donor stewardship and fund-raising results and put this into practice in your day-to-day work.
  • Have experience with budgeting, planning and project administration.
  • Can handle diverse and simultaneous tasks; meet deadlines and attend to follow-through and are always accountable for your work.
  • Able to work on a flexible schedule as occasional evenings and weekend work is part of the job responsibilities.
     

POSITION DETAILS

  • This full-time role reports directly to the Director of Development and collaborates closely with the Director of Business Development and co-coordinator; The role interacts with other senior leaders, admin staff, front of house staff, and production staff
  • Annual salary range between $35,000-45,000 per annum, commensurate to experience
  • The Grand’s work environment is primarily in-person at 471 Richmond Street in downtown London, Ontario, with regular office hours from 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday. This role requires evening and weekend work, particularly surrounding opening nights, events, and deadlines as per our development & events calendars
  • The role serves patrons in a variety of settings including in-person interactions in our lobbies, answering inbound telephone calls, written correspondence, placing outbound phone calls, and on and offsite activations and events.
  • The Grand offers a comprehensive compensation package that includes generous extended health & dental coverage, retirement benefits, and complimentary tickets
  • Prospective employees must be legally able to work in Canada, provide an up-to-date and clear police information check, and agree to the theatre’s employee handbook and health & safety policies, as part of the employment agreement.
     

TO APPLY

Please submit your creative resume, cover letter, and a one-page writing sample in a single PDF by email to:

Heather Siskind-Levite, Director of Development  hsiskind-levite [at] grandtheatre.com (hsiskind-levite[at]grandtheatre[dot]com)

Subject: Coordinator Position – (Your name here)

Applications will be reviewed as received, no later than November 7, 2024. We thank all candidates for their interest in this position, however, please note that only those selected for an interview may be contacted.

The Grand Theatre is committed to a selection process and work environment that is inclusive, equitable and accessible. We welcome applications from qualified individuals that reflect the abilities and diversity of communities we serve. Accommodations for applicants with disabilities are available upon request for job applicants throughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodation, please notify us and we will work with you to meet your needs.