Boston Ballet
Director of Individual Giving

Boston, MA
October 2008

Boston Ballet is one of the four premier ballet companies in the United States and among the leading dance organizations in the world. Known for its high artistic quality and dedication to excellence, the Ballet presents fully staged performances of classical and contemporary works during its eight-month season, including its annual production of The Nutcracker. Boston Ballet School, one of the premiere dance academies in the United States, develops dancers for tomorrow and provides critical revenue to the organization today.

Reporting to the Director of Development, the Director of Individual Giving (DIG) will be a senior manager in a department of 15 development professionals. The DIG will build and direct the individual giving program and manage six major gifts and annual giving staff members. In collaboration with the Director of Development, the DIG will also create and implement fundraising policies, procedures and metrics and manage an upcoming major comprehensive campaign timed to conclude with the Company's 50th Anniversary in 2013.

This is a wonderful opportunity for an experienced major gifts professional who is entrepreneurial, seeks to build a program and has strong management, planning and relationship-building skills. Candidates should have experience in soliciting seven-figure gifts and have played an important role in a major capital campaign.

About Boston Ballet

Boston Ballet, founded in 1963 by E. Virginia Williams, was the first professional repertory ballet company in New England. Under its current Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen's exceptional leadership, the Company presents productions of the highest caliber and offers a great variety of repertoire. Its offices and studios are housed in Boston's historic South End, in one of the largest and best-equipped dance facilities in the country. Designed by renowned architect Graham Gund, this five-story, 60,000-square-foot building is an important hub for dance in New England . Currently performing at the Citi Performing Arts Center/Wang Theatre and The Opera House, the Company will consolidate its entire performance season at The Opera House in the Fall of 2009.

Throughout its history, Boston Ballet has been a pioneer. In 1979, the Ballet opened the Nervi Festival in Italy and in 1980 was the first American dance company to perform in the People's Republic of China. The Company made its London debut in 1981 and presented Don Quixote on Broadway in 1983 with Rudolf Nureyev, after touring with Nureyev and this production throughout the United States, Mexico, France, and Italy. The Company collaborated with choreographer Mark Morris for the first time in 1986 and the following year was the first ballet company to perform at the prestigious BESSIE Dance and Performance award ceremony at City Center in New York. In May 1990, the Ballet staged a new production of Swan Lake that included dancers from The Kirov Ballet and The Bolshoi Ballet. This historic production attracted widespread attention and brought Boston Ballet to the forefront of international dance companys. In January 1990, the Company made its debut at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and in July 1991, toured throughout Spain . Last summer, the Company conducted its first international tour in 15 years, returning to Spain for a six-week visit. The current season has concluded with performances at the Spoleto Arts Festival ( Charleston, SC) and The Kennedy Center. In late August, the Company will appear in two cities in South Korea.

More than a performance company alone, Boston Ballet is a multi-faceted organization with a commitment to education and community outreach. The Boston Ballet Center for Dance Education operates one of the largest affiliated schools in the country. With three greater Boston studio locations and a fourth under construction, Boston Ballet School serves more than 3,000 students each year. The Center also oversees a range of initiatives – Citydance, Taking Steps, Adaptive Dance -- that provide thousands of youngsters with the chance to participate in dance classes each year. Through Share the Magic, the Company's subsidized ticket program, as many as 6,000 children will attend Boston Ballet performances in the coming season.

The Opportunity

The Director of Individual Giving will report to Steven L. Solomon, Director of Development, and be second-in-command in a development department of 15. He/She will supervise a staff of six annual fund and major gifts professionals. The DIG will develop and implement strategies to broaden the individual giving program and maximize contributed annual and major giving support toward an overall department goal of $10M. This position offers a strategic and entrepreneurial fundraising professional the opportunity to use his/her planning, building, supervisory and financial management skills. Key to these efforts will be the following activities and attributes:

The Responsibilities

• Create and implement fundraising policies, procedures and metrics.
• Supervise a staff of six fundraising professionals.
• Strengthen the individual giving program for long-term sustainability.
• Cultivate current donor relationships, develop new ones and expand the donor base.
• Manage the day-to-day activities of an upcoming comprehensive campaign that will support the Ballet's new productions and special initiatives, as well as increased endowment.
• Manage a small portfolio of major gift prospects that will expand after program building blocks have been established.

The Qualifications

Candidates should possess 8 to 10 years of development experience that includes significant annual fund management and gift solicitations at the seven-figure level. Experience as a key player in a significant comprehensive campaign is also important. Candidates should be flexible, creative, entrepreneurial and strategic, as well as excellent planners and managers. Previous supervisory experience is essential. While experience working in the arts is not required, an appreciation and understanding of Boston Ballet 's mission and the ability to effectively communicate that mission is highly preferred.

Please email cover letter and resume in confidence to:

bostonballet@developmentguild.com
Elizabeth Gell, SPHR
Senior Consultant
Development Guild/DDI
233 Harvard Street, Suite 107
Brookline, MA 02446-5017

For more information about Boston Ballet, please visit bostonballet.com