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Development  Director

We believe that diverse teams make the strongest teams, and we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.

 

EMPLOYMENT CLASSIFICATION:

Full Time. Salaried, Benefits eligible. At-will employment. 

NOTE: Open to part time or job sharing options - salary and benefits altered if part time. Please note in cover letter if this is your preference.

 

LOCATION:

Offices at Plexpod Westport Building, Kansas City, MO. Remote work is flexible. Meetings and site visits occur across the metro. 

 

REPORTS TO:

Executive Artistic Director

 

ROLE DESCRIPTION:

Mesner Puppet Theater’s ideal Development Director candidate is an empathetic and fun loving leader, excited to cultivate and steward a community of donors, partners, and funders with a shared vision of the importance of arts for the very young. This role will report to the Executive Artistic Director and will collaborate with the board and program staff to achieve strategic and financial goals. 

 

DUTIES Include but aren’t limited to: 

  • Develop and implement an annual fundraising plan

  • Oversee contract grants manager who writes approximately 20 grants per year

  • Participate in grant prospecting, writing, research, and foundation stewardship

  • Work in partnership with Executive Artistic Director with schools and community partners to secure joint funding opportunities

  • Develop and implement a corporate sponsorship plan

  • Research, cultivate, and solicit new individual donors and steward current donors

  • Ensure timely and appropriate donor recognition and management of donor data

  • Collaborate with Executive Artistic Director to engage the board in fundraising efforts

  • Develop and lead future fundraising events with support of volunteer committee

  • Prepare reports and generate website copy, digital media, print materials that assist with communicating the organization’s impact

  • Serve as a representative of the organization at networking events, speaking engagements, etc.

  • Manage development department budget and contribute to organization budget planning

  • Other duties as assigned that support the financial health and infrastructure of the organization

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KEY SKILLS:

  • Fundraising

  • Relationship building

  • Long term planning

  • Budgeting

  • Writing

  • Project Management

  • Data management and interpretation

  • Experience with Fundraising Software

  • Confidence in using Google Drive and either Canva or Adobe Suite

 

QUALITIES:

  • Interest in supporting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts.

  • Creative problem solver

  • Sense of humor

  • Strives for healthy work/life boundaries

  • Deadline driven

  • Collaborative

  • Resilient

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor’s degree

  • 3+ years as a dedicated fundraising professional with proven track record of increased funding.

  • Valid Driver’s License.

 

SCHEDULE:

40-45 hours per week M-F. Occasional nights and weekends. 
 

SALARY:

Starting Salary: $60,000

 

BENEFITS:

Health, Vision, and Dental Benefits Eligible

Simple IRA Retirement Plan - 3% match

Professional Development Opportunities

Generous Personal Days and Holidays

Flexible Schedule and Location

 

START DATE:

Flexible
 

HOW TO APPLY:

Email cover letter and resume to Meghann Henry, Executive Artistic Director, at meghann@mesnerpuppets.org. Interviews will be held by appointment. Position open until filled.


 

ABOUT MESNER PUPPET THEATER:

Mesner Puppet Theater’s mission is to  “inspire play and cultive connections through puppetry”. After 35 years of producing mainstage puppetry productions and facilitating camps and afterschool programs, Mesner Puppet Theater is experiencing an artistic and educational renaissance. We are pivoting to use our current staff’s expertise in puppetry, arts integration, and early childhood development to impact our youngest community members through partnerships with schools, libraries, and arts centers. The MPT team currently includes: 5 Full Time and 5 Part Time Staff and numerous contractors, interns and volunteers with a current annual budget of $750,000.


 

Learn more at www.mesnerpuppets.org

 

Mesner Puppet Theater provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

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