Development Manager

Job Description Founded in 1976 by award‑winning director Lou Bellamy, Penumbra is a nationally recognized organization housing Minnesota’s only black professional theatre company. Penumbra has earned tremendous accolades, producing over 200 plays, over 30 premieres, and has cultivated generations of artists of color. Through our powerful art, we open hearts, rehearse strategies for change, and dispel dehumanizing narratives of people of color. Today, Penumbra is evolving into its next life cycle: a performing arts campus and center for racial healing that nurtures Black artists, advances equity, and facilitates wellness for individuals and community. Our space centers the Black experience, learns from and supports people of color who are not black, and welcomes white individuals interested in building resiliency and competency for racial equity work. The Penumbra Center for Racial Healing stands in solidarity with and supports Indigenous communities upon whose land the work is located. The Development Manager will manage Penumbra’s efforts to connect donors, prospects, partners and key constituents to our mission. The position plays a critical role in helping meet annual fundraising goals, while supporting the strategic objectives of the organization. This is a full‑time, salaried position that reports to the Chief Operating Officer, working closely with other staff and consultants. Responsibilities Individual Giving Annual Fund Manage individual giving program, including planning and implementing mass cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship processes. Partner with executive leadership and marketing in the creation and implementation of donor communication materials including newsletters, appeals, impact reports, and other outward facing materials. Major Donors Support executive leadership in implementing a moves management system to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of major donors and prospects. Provide scheduling support and follow‑up prompting as needed. Create personalized stewardship touchpoints for major donors. Actively manage and build Penumbra’s prospective donor list, including researching and qualifying individuals using various online tools and resources. Develop prospect profiles and meeting briefing materials. Reporting Provide regular reports to executive leadership on fundraising campaigns, major gift activities, and long‑ and short‑term outcome metrics. Donor Events Plan and implement a robust program of events for Penumbra’s community of donors, prospects, partners, and key constituents, including opening nights, educational programs, board engagements, appreciation events, and fundraisers. Manage donor event income and expense budgets. Manage relationships with event vendors, caterers, etc. Lead logistical planning and communication with internal stakeholders. Serve as team leader for donor event staff and volunteers. Stay abreast of donor engagement trends and technologies related to donor experiences. Corporate Partnerships Assist executive leadership in implementing a comprehensive plan to engage corporations in sponsorships, employee giving, and volunteerism. Track and report on corporate engagement and funding metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of strategies. Support the development of tailored proposals and presentations for corporate partners. Coordinate with the marketing and programs departments to create opportunities for corporate involvement and recognition. Development Operations Maintain the highest standards of record‑keeping, maintenance, and reporting of development data in Penumbra’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software, including constituent and gift data, notes, call reports, action items for follow up, etc.; oversee coordination of data between CRM and multiple third‑party giving systems. Utilize data systems to run queries, create reports, and analyze donor data and trends. Ensure timely acknowledgement of donations; manage pledge paperwork and reminders. Capture key action items coming out of weekly development meetings with the COO. Serve as a liaison between development and other departments. Qualifications Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to effectively convey information internally and to passionately share Penumbra’s stories and opportunities externally. Strong attention to detail; excellent organizational and time management skills. Strong project management skills for short‑term and long‑term projects. Proficiency in using CRM or donor databases and ability to maintain electronic donor and prospect files. Strong skills in Microsoft Office suite (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word). Ability to compile statistics and measure program performance. Flexible, amiable, and compassionate. Eager to collaborate with a team. Curiosity; a desire to learn new skills and understand beyond one’s own lived experience. Bachelor’s Degree and 2‑5 years in non‑profit development, philanthropy, public relations, sales, customer relations, or equivalent experience. A broad understanding of theatre as well as social justice and racial equity work is preferred. Development Manager is an exempt, year‑round, full‑time position. Penumbra Theatre Company, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values a diverse and inclusive environment. Candidates must provide a resume, cover letter, and references from previous employers. All applicants are welcome. Job Details Salary Range: $50,000 - $60,000 Benefits: Yes Position Type: Full time Job Category: Manager #J-18808-Ljbffr