Full-Time / Salary / Exempt
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER (HYBRID)

About Iron Crow Theatre

Iron Crow Theatre (ICT) is Baltimore’s award-winning, professional queer theatre. We produce queer theatre for a queer city, celebrating the renegade and unorthodox in all of us. We don’t seek to define queer for others, but rather hold space for those who identify themselves or their work as being queer or in support of the queer experience. For us, queer can manifest itself through aesthetic, thematic elements, gender identity, sexual orientation, and/or theatrical approach or convention.

Founded in 2009, Iron Crow Theatre has grown from a community theatre into one of Baltimore’s fastest-growing professional theatre companies. Over the past three years, the organization has ptripled its audience, more than tripled its operating budget, and established a groundbreaking partnership with the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center home of the historic Hippodrome Theatre in downtown Baltimore. This remarkable momentum is driving Iron Crow’s next chapter as it works toward becoming Baltimore’s only Equity-designated Small Professional Theatre.

Iron Crow Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with an annual operating budget exceeding $200,000. The Development Manager will join the company during a pivotal period of rapid growth and organizational advancement, serving as a key strategic partner to the Artistic Director and Managing Director in building the resources necessary to sustain and expand the organization’s impact.

Position Overview
Iron Crow Theatre seeks a dynamic, strategic, and relationship-driven fundraising professional to serve as our inaugural Development Manager. Reporting to the Managing Director and Producing Artistic Director, this individual will join the senior leadership team at a pivotal moment in the organization’s growth and help shape the future of one of Baltimore’s fastest-growing professional theatre companies.

Working closely with organizational leadership and the Board of Directors, the Development Manager will lead the planning, implementation, and management of a comprehensive fundraising program encompassing all sources of contributed revenue, including individual giving, foundation and government grants, corporate sponsorships, special events, and strategic partnerships. This mission-critical role is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, stewarding, and retaining donors while building the infrastructure necessary to support Iron Crow Theatre’s continued growth and long-term sustainability.

Key responsibilities include managing the organization’s donor database and gift records; conducting prospect research; writing, submitting, and reporting on grant applications; coordinating fundraising campaigns and events; supporting development budget planning; overseeing donor communications and stewardship efforts; and partnering with the Board of Directors to expand philanthropic support. The Development Manager will establish measurable fundraising goals, track progress toward revenue targets, and help position Iron Crow for its next phase of organizational advancement.

As Iron Crow’s first dedicated development professional, the successful candidate will have a unique opportunity to build systems, strengthen relationships, and create lasting impact within an ambitious and rapidly evolving organization. The ideal candidate is collaborative, entrepreneurial, highly organized, and excited to contribute beyond their core responsibilities when organizational needs arise.

Success in this role will be measured by growth in contributed revenue, donor retention, major gift cultivation, institutional funding, and the overall strength of Iron Crow Theatre's fundraising infrastructure.

Iron Crow Theatre supports a flexible and hybrid work environment. However, due to the nature of theatrical production and fundraising, evening and weekend availability, as well as periodic extended in-person hours, may be required during productions, special events, campaigns, and other key organizational initiatives.

This is a rare opportunity to build a fundraising program from the ground up while helping shape the future of one of Baltimore's most ambitious and rapidly growing theatre companies.

Responsibilities

85% DEVELOPMENT & FUNDRAISING

• Design, implement, and manage all fundraising activities for Iron Crow Theatre with the goal of generating $500,000 or more in annual contributed revenue through a combination of individual giving, corporate sponsorships, foundation and government grants, special events, and strategic partnerships;
• In partnership with the Managing Director and Producing Artistic Director, develop and execute annual and multi-year fundraising strategies with clear benchmarks, performance metrics, and revenue goals that support the organization’s continued growth and long-term sustainability;
• Research, identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors and prospects, with a particular focus on gifts of $5,000 and above;
• Research, write, submit, and manage grant applications, reports, and supporting documentation for foundation, corporate, and government funding opportunities;
• Maintain accurate donor and prospect records, gift tracking, acknowledgments, reporting, and donor management systems to ensure the highest standards of stewardship and accountability;
• Conduct prospect research and develop strategies for donor acquisition, retention, upgrades, and long-term engagement;
• Coordinate fundraising campaigns, donor benefit events, opening night receptions, special events, and other stewardship activities;
• Develop donor communications, fundraising appeals, sponsorship materials, annual reports, and other development collateral;
• Support and partner with the Board of Directors in fundraising activities, donor cultivation, relationship management, and strategic development initiatives;
• Create and maintain a comprehensive development calendar, including grant deadlines, campaign schedules, stewardship activities, reporting requirements, and fundraising events;
• Assist with development budget planning, revenue forecasting, and fundraising performance reporting;
• Evaluate and improve development systems, processes, and workflows to support donor communications, prospect research, gift processing, stewardship activities, and organizational efficiency;
• Collaborate with senior leadership to design and execute fundraising campaigns supporting organizational growth, artistic initiatives, strategic priorities, and the organization’s long-term vision; and
• Track and report fundraising performance against established goals and key metrics.

15% ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP & SUPPORT

• Serve as a member of Iron Crow Theatre’s leadership team and contribute to organizational planning, decision-making, and long-term strategic growth;
• Serve as an ambassador for Iron Crow Theatre by engaging with patrons, donors, artists, community stakeholders, and partner organizations at performances, events, and other public-facing activities;
• Collaborate across departments to ensure fundraising efforts align with organizational priorities, artistic programming, and audience development goals;
• Support performances, special events, donor functions, and other organizational initiatives as needed; and
• Embrace a collaborative, team-oriented approach and provide support in other areas of the organization when necessary to advance Iron Crow Theatre’s mission.

Preferred Skills & Experiences

• Bachelor's degree in arts administration, nonprofit management, business, communications, or a related field preferred; equivalent professional experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Minimum of three to five years of experience in fundraising and development, preferably within a cultural, arts, nonprofit, or LGBTQ+-focused organization;
• Demonstrated success securing contributed revenue through a combination of individual giving, major gifts, foundation and government grants, corporate sponsorships, and donor stewardship;
• Experience managing donor databases, gift tracking systems, prospect research, and development operations;
• Strong grant writing, reporting, and project management skills, with a demonstrated ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously;
• Passion for the arts, LGBTQ+ communities, and Iron Crow Theatre’s mission of amplifying queer stories, artists, and audiences;
• Exceptional relationship-building skills and the ability to engage effectively with donors, board members, artists, volunteers, staff, and community stakeholders;
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to think strategically, solve problems creatively, and work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment;
• Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal, and presentation skills;
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and a demonstrated ability to prioritize competing responsibilities;
• Knowledge of the arts and culture philanthropic landscape in the greater Baltimore region;
• Ability and willingness to work evenings and weekends as required for performances, special events, donor activities, and other organizational initiatives; and
• Strong digital literacy, including experience with donor databases/CRM systems, Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, and other fundraising technologies with the ability to learn new platforms quickly.