Board Director Opportunity

Job Description

Playwrights’ Center

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Help Shape the Next Chapter of One of America’s Most Influential Arts Organizations

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For more than 50 years, the Playwrights’ Center has been one of the nation’s premier organizations dedicated to developing playwrights and advancing new dramatic work. From its home in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the Center has supported generations of playwrights and helped develop work that has reached major regional theaters, Broadway, television, streaming, and film.

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The Playwrights’ Center is entering an important period of organizational transformation. As we look toward the future, the Board of Directors is being intentional about bringing together experienced leaders who can help reimagine and strengthen key operational, financial, governance, and strategic components of the organization.

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This is an opportunity to join the Board at a particularly consequential moment. New directors will have the opportunity to help shape how the organization operates, grows, and fulfills its mission while contributing to the development of a strong, sustainable foundation designed to serve playwrights and the broader theater community for years to come.

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About the Opportunity

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This is a volunteer Board Director position for experienced professionals who are committed to active governance, strategic leadership, and meaningful engagement.

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Board Directors serve three-year terms and act as fiduciaries of the organization, working collaboratively with fellow directors and organizational leadership to provide oversight, strategic direction, financial stewardship, and long-term planning.

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This is an active governing board. Directors are expected to contribute not only their professional expertise and perspective, but also their time, networks, advocacy, and leadership in support of the

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Playwrights’ Center’s mission and long-term sustainability.

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Candidates residing in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Chicago, New York City, and Los Angeles metropolitan areas are especially encouraged to express interest, reflecting the Center’s Minnesota roots and national reach.

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The Leadership Opportunity

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The next chapter of the Playwrights’ Center will require thoughtful leaders who are comfortable navigating organizational change and helping translate an ambitious mission into a sustainable operating model.

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Incoming Board Directors will have the opportunity to contribute to work including:

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• Long-term organizational and strategic planning
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• Financial sustainability and responsible stewardship
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• Evaluation and evolution of organizational operations
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• Revenue diversification and fundraising strategy
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• Corporate partnerships and philanthropic development
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• National brand positioning and audience growth
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• Board development and governance
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• Organizational structure and leadership strategy
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• Expansion of PWC’s relationships across theater, entertainment, philanthropy, business, and the broader creative economy
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Our goal is not simply to fill open board seats. We are intentionally assembling a Board whose collective experience, networks, and leadership capabilities can help guide the organization through this period of transformation and position it for stability, relevance, and impact for years to come.

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We’re Seeking Leaders With Experience In

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We are particularly interested in seasoned professionals who bring both strong functional expertise and a demonstrated connection to theater, the performing arts, entertainment, creative industries, arts philanthropy, or mission-driven cultural organizations.

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Relevant experience may include:

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• Corporate sponsorships and strategic partnerships within arts, entertainment, media, or cultural organizations
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• Major gifts, philanthropy, fundraising, or advancement for nonprofit, arts, or cultural institutions
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• Strategic planning and organizational transformation within mission-driven or creative organizations
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• Business-model development and revenue diversification for nonprofits, arts organizations, or cultural institutions
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• Brand marketing and national brand development within arts, media, entertainment, or culture
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• Corporate banking, commercial lending, or financial services with nonprofit, arts, or cultural-sector experience
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• Finance, accounting, audit, investment, or financial governance for nonprofit or mission-driven organizations
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• Human resources, talent strategy, organizational development, or culture within creative or nonprofit environments
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• Sales, business development, or partnership leadership within media, entertainment, arts, or cultural organizations
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• Legal, nonprofit governance, or executive leadership
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• Organizational operations and change management within nonprofit, arts, entertainment, or cultural institutions
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• Theater, performing arts, film, television, streaming, publishing, or other creative industries
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• Entertainment industry leadership, including studios, production companies, talent agencies, streaming platforms, and related creative enterprises
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• Arts philanthropy, foundations, grantmaking, or cultural-sector investment
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• Commercial real estate, facilities, or institutional asset strategy
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Board and Nonprofit Leadership Experience Requirement

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Previous board experience or significant nonprofit executive leadership experience working directly with a governing board is required.

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Candidates should bring meaningful experience with nonprofit, corporate, civic, foundation, or comparable governance. This may include service as an elected or appointed Board Director, as well as experience serving in an ex officio board capacity through a nonprofit executive leadership role .

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We recognize that some accomplished nonprofit leaders develop substantial governance experience from the staff side of the boardroom. Current or former executive directors, CEOs, senior nonprofit leaders, and other executives who have partnered closely with boards on governance, strategic planning, fiduciary oversight, organizational development, and board-building are encouraged to apply.

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Candidates should demonstrate a strong understanding of the responsibilities associated with governance, fiduciary oversight, strategic decision-making, organizational stewardship, and the appropriate relationship between a governing board and organizational leadership.

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We are particularly interested in individuals whose previous board or nonprofit leadership experience reflects active participation, thoughtful governance, and meaningful contribution rather than honorary or passive involvement.

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Ideal Candidates

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Our strongest candidates will be seasoned executives, entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, philanthropists, investors, and creative-industry professionals who have demonstrated success guiding organizations through growth, transformation, complexity, or strategic change.

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A meaningful connection to theater, the performing arts, entertainment, arts nonprofits, cultural institutions, or the broader creative economy is strongly preferred. This may come through professional experience, board service, philanthropy, producing, artistic leadership, nonprofit leadership, or sustained engagement with the arts.

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Successful Board Directors will bring:

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• Sound judgment and strategic thinking
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• A collaborative and solutions-oriented leadership style
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• Comfort engaging with complex organizational and financial issues
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• A willingness to ask thoughtful and sometimes difficult questions
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• Strong professional networks and a willingness to make connections on behalf of PWC
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• Genuine enthusiasm for playwrights, storytelling, arts and culture
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• A commitment to active participation in the work of the Board
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Board Expectations

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Board service includes a meaningful commitment of time, expertise, advocacy, and financial support.

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Directors are expected to:

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• Serve a three-year Board term
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• Participate actively in Board meetings and decision-making
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• Serve on at least one Board committee or strategic initiative
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• Prepare for meetings and remain informed about the organization’s financial and operational performance
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• Attend and support key Playwrights’ Center events when possible
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• Participate in fundraising, donor cultivation, sponsorship development, and relationship-building efforts
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• Leverage professional expertise and networks in support of organizational priorities
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• Serve as an ambassador for the Playwrights’ Center within their professional and personal communities
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• Make an annual financial contribution to the organization at a level meaningful to the individual Board Director
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The Playwrights’ Center recognizes that financial capacity varies among individuals. The expectation is not that every director contributes the same amount, but that 100% of Board Directors participate financially and demonstrate personal philanthropic commitment to the mission.