Director of Individual Giving

The Aurora Civic Center Authority (ACCA), an innovative organization located on Stolp Island in the Fox River in the heart of the richly diverse community of historic Aurora, Illinois (one hour from downtown Chicago), is seeking a Director of Individual Giving. ACCA is the parent organization, which also includes a 501(c)3 arm under the name of Paramount Arts Centre, Inc. It operates three performance venues: the 6,000-person RiverEdge Park, the 1,843-seat landmark Paramount Theatre, and the 165-seat Copley Theatre. ACCA produces and presents over 300 performances each year, including star-studded touring productions and a self-produced Broadway Series of musicals for an annual audience of 350,000 patrons from over 250 communities. ACCA proudly operates the Paramount School of the Arts in the new John C. Dunham Aurora Arts Center, right next door to Paramount Theatre in downtown Aurora, and the company looks forward to producing a new, Bold Series of plays and musicals in the newly renovated Copley Theatre beginning in the 2021-2022 season. Paramount Theatre also hosts free community events, $1 Classic Movie Mondays and its opulent interiors provide a spectacular backdrop for private functions such as wedding receptions or corporate galas. Across the street from Paramount Theatre are the gorgeous Meyer Ballrooms which play host to multiple wedding receptions and rental events throughout the year.

The Aurora Civic Center Authority is committed to being a defining catalyst for personal and community transformation by:

• making the performing arts accessible for every age and socioeconomic background,
• introducing the magic of live theater across generations to encourage expansive imaginations and broad views of people and the world,
• and contributing to the future stability and growth of Aurora’s downtown.

The highest purpose of any theater is to inspire its community toward a more perfect humanity. Such humanity can exist only when every member of the community is included and valued, empowered and heard. To express this truth, ACCA commits its leaders, volunteers, artists and staff to the active, continual and accountable pursuit of the following principles: equity, inclusion and diversity.

ACCA truly believes and lives by its mission statement and its commitment to equity, social justice and inclusion.

DEPARTMENT – Development

DIRECT REPORTING – Chief Development Officer

POSITIONS SUPERVISED – Individual Giving Manager(s)

WORKS CLOSELY WITH – Development Team, ACCA Department Heads

POSITION STATUS & SCHEDULE – Full time exempt, approximately 40 hours per week. Hours may include evening and weekend hours.

COMPENSATION – Commensurate with experience; excellent benefits package including health, paid time off, and 401k

HIRE DATE – July/August 2021

POSITION SUMMARY – The Director of Individual Giving is responsible for working with the Development staff to plan and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy for the Aurora Civic Center Authority individual giving programs in order to promote and enhance a culture of philanthropy. This individual is a key contributor to the Development team focused on major gifts and leadership annual giving and is responsible for leading a small team of front-line fundraisers. Furthermore, this role will help drive annual philanthropic revenue through five- and six-figure gifts from subscribers, sponsors and friends. This person reports to the CDO and is part of a growing development team that works closely with staff throughout the Aurora Civic Center Authority.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES –

• Proactively manages a robust portfolio of donor households and prospects for qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship purposes that result in five- and six-figure gifts
• Devise and implement cultivation and solicitation strategies (including ask amounts and vehicles); and meet activity and revenue goals by planning, managing, and maintaining an aggressive visit schedule with donors; travelling as necessary to meet with prospective donors at the theatre and in the community
• Provide coaching and supervision for Individual Giving team to increase fundraising results; develop performance goals, metrics and outcomes with CDO
• Create an excellent donor experience through customer service, active listening, and thoughtful discussion surrounding community-focused, donor-centric philanthropy

• Design, create and deliver proposals personally to donors and assist others in preparing for such visits
• Work closely with CDO to set and execute long-term fundraising plans, including strategies to grow and sustain individual gifts to the organization at-large and within various identified priorities
• Collaborate with all internal departments and relay information regarding capacity and inclination to give to the appropriate areas within the organization; participate in committees or strategy teams to assist with setting short or long-term fundraising priorities
• Complete and file timely donor contact reports; maintain individual donor records in the donor database
• Work with Donor Relations team to ensure that individual prospects are acknowledged in a timely, personalized manner and prepare reports for donors as needed related to their gifts

• Meet and host donors while they are attending shows at Paramount Theatre, Copley Theatre and RiverEdge Park
• Play a vital role in overall fundraising efforts
• Support Development Department staff as needed

In addition to the duties listed above, ACCA expects the following of each employee:  adheres to ACCA’s policies and procedures; works in a safe manner; performs duties as workload necessitates; maintains a positive and respectful attitude; communicates regularly with supervisor about department issues; demonstrates efficient time management and prioritizes workload; demonstrates regular and consistent attendance and punctuality; meets productivity standards; participates in ACCA events as needed or required; and completes other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, SKILLS and ABILITIES –

• Minimum three years of successful fundraising experience; preferably 5+ years major-gift fundraising experience with increasing responsibility within a complex arts and cultural institution
• Demonstrated experience in leading, mentoring and coaching staff; preferably with 2+ years leading a successful fundraising team at a non-profit organization of similar size and scope
• Proven ability to build strong relationships with a high level of trust and integrity; comfortable with initiating contact with current donors, friendly and outgoing
• Proactive, results-oriented, team contributor who is inspired by shared goals and accomplishments
• Flexibility and willingness to change fundraising tactics and strategies to achieve stated program goals
• Excellent oral communication skills that are effective with a diverse range of audiences including board members, volunteers, internal staff, donors, and all constituencies
• Excellent writing and proofreading skills and ability to write proposals, correspondence and reports independently
• Detail oriented, well organized, focused and goal oriented, with a high level of initiative and energy as well as problem solving skills
• Ability to work well both independently and on a team
• Proficiency with donor database software platforms (i.e. Raiser’s Edge, Audience View, Bloomerang)
• Willingness and ability to travel
• Supportive of the mission of Aurora Civic Center Authority
• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit a cover letter and resume using the online job application at https://paramountaurora.com/opportunities/. Please note that a cover letter must accompany the resume for consideration.

Or mail/drop off to: Aurora Civic Center Authority, ATTN: Patty Stefanski, 8 East Galena Blvd., Suite 230, Aurora, IL 60506

ACCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment, and applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability status, marital or familial status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.  ACCA encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, women, LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities, veterans, and others who are eager to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community.