The United Palace in Washington Heights is a dynamic intersection of arts, culture, and community in Manhattan’s 4th largest and most architecturally extravagant theatre. It is also the only theatre in Manhattan between the Apollo on 125th Street and the northern tip of the island at 220th Street. In 2024 the United Palace hosted 88 days of commercial activity, over 50 non-profit arts events, and dozens more activities for the community, welcoming 200,000 guests. It celebrated its 95th anniversary on February 22, 2025 with a Star Wars triple-feature, including interactive entertainment such as a Yoda impression contest, costume parade for guests, and a lightsaber duel. Besides seeking funding for its non-profit and operational activities, the United Palace also needs to identify philanthropic opportunities for much needed capital improvements to the 95-year-old NYC landmark.The Development Director will report directly to the CEO, who has been with the organization since 2012. Despite the theatre’s 95-year history the organization has the soul of a start-up since it has never had a dedicated development department. The Development Director will have the opportunity to launch the fundraising operation from scratch.
Key Responsibilities:
• Creates Development program with a start-up focus on Individual Major Donors + Foundations to first support programs, operations, capacity building—and later Capital + Reserves.
• Plans Development budget, annual goals, special events, and philanthropic messaging for institution-wide funding needs.
• Leads Major Donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Represents UP at donor meetings and persuasively pitches.
• Arranges meetings, events, site visits/tours of the venue.
• Promotes programming series, donor groups, and ways to give.
• Selects and launches donorbase to manage data and relationships.
• Creates queries and exports, create lists for mailings/invitations, and donor stewardship activities.
• Responsible for creation and personalization of major donor pitches.
Requirements/Qualifications:
• Capacity and eagerness to start a new development program to raise significant funds for Arts & Culture programs, General Operations, Reserves, and Capital expenses.
• 5-7 years fundraising experience in a 501c3 nonprofit, a must.
• Appreciation for the Performing Arts and solid fundraising experience in the cultural sector.
• Excellent oral and written presentation skills.
• Proven ability to pitch and close a major gift.
• Individual Giving fundraising experience, a must.
• Major Gifts fundraising experience, highly desirable.
• Foundation/Institutional Giving experience, highly desirable.
• Capital Campaign planning and management, a plus.
• Entrepreneurial, strategic, self-directed, creative.
• Ease with donorbase management systems. Fluent in at least one fundraising software system.
• Bachelor’s Degree. Master’s degree, a plus.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
The United Palace is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on any status or condition protected by applicable federal or state laws.
Compensation:
- The United Palace offers competitive compensation based on experience and a comprehensive benefits program. Salary rage $100K - $130K.
