Annual Giving Manager

Kansas City Repertory Theatre
Department: Development
Reports to: Director of Development
Status: Full-time, Exempt
Salary: $55,000-$60,000 annually + benefits
 
The Opportunity
Kansas City Repertory Theatre is seeking an Annual Giving Manager to join our Development team and help build the next generation of KCRep supporters.
This is a fundraising position for someone ready to take the next step in their development career. If you’ve spent the last year or two working in a development shop and find yourself ready for more ownership, more donor contact, and more opportunity to make asks and manage relationships of your own, this position was designed with you in mind.
The Annual Giving Manager is responsible for strengthening KCRep’s pipeline of individual supporters by welcoming new donors, retaining and upgrading current donors, re-engaging those whose giving has lapsed, and helping individuals deepen their relationship with KCRep over time.
You’ll manage your own portfolio of annual donors and prospects, participate directly in cultivation and solicitation, and help execute annual giving campaigns throughout the season. Working closely with the Director of Development, you’ll also identify donors with the interest and capacity for deeper engagement and help build the pipeline toward major giving.
This is an opportunity to take genuine ownership of a meaningful part of KCRep’s contributed revenue program while developing your skills as a relationship-based fundraiser.
 
What You’ll Do
Build donor relationships.
Manage a portfolio of annual donors and prospects, developing relationships through personal outreach, meetings, theatre experiences, stewardship, and solicitation.
Keep donors connected.
Lead renewal, upgrade, and re-engagement efforts for assigned donor segments, helping supporters understand the impact of their giving and giving them compelling reasons to remain involved.
Grow the pipeline.
Pay attention to who’s leaning in. Identify donors and audience members with potential for deeper engagement, develop cultivation strategies with the Director of Development, and help move promising relationships toward increased investment.
Help drive annual giving.
Work with the Director of Development and Development team to execute annual fundraising campaigns, including donor segmentation, messaging, appeals, digital outreach, and follow-up.
Make asks.
Personally solicit gifts and build relationships with people who care deeply about KCRep and Kansas City. You do not need to arrive as an experienced major-gift solicitor, but you should be ready and eager to have conversations about giving.
Create excellent donor experiences.
Partner with Development colleagues on stewardship, Opening Nights, donor events, and other opportunities that bring supporters closer to KCRep’s artists, work, and impact.
Use information well.
Maintain accurate records of donor relationships and activity in Tessitura and use donor data to inform thoughtful next steps. (Previous Tessitura experience is helpful but not required.)
 
Who We’re Looking For
This is a growth opportunity, but it is not an entry-level introduction to fundraising. The successful candidate will already understand the fundamentals of a professional development operation and be ready to apply that experience with increasing independence.
We’re looking for someone who:

• Has at least 1–2 years of professional experience in nonprofit fundraising or development, with direct exposure to individual giving, annual giving, donor relations, or stewardship
• Understands the basic rhythms and responsibilities of a development office and is ready for greater ownership
• Genuinely enjoys talking with people, learning what matters to them, and building relationships over time
• Is comfortable with the idea of asking for money and interested in developing their skills as a solicitor
• Writes and communicates clearly, warmly, and persuasively
• Can manage multiple relationships, deadlines, and follow-ups without losing sight of the person behind the donor record
• Is curious about donor behavior and interested in learning how annual donors become major donors
• Brings initiative, sound judgment, attention to detail, and follow-through
• Works collaboratively while taking responsibility for their own work and results

 
We’re particularly interested in candidates who have already had hands-on experience with several of the following:

• Annual or individual giving campaigns
• Donor stewardship, renewals, or upgrades
• Working in a donor CRM or fundraising database
• Preparing donor communications or appeals
• Supporting donor cultivation or solicitation
• Tracking donor activity, moves, or next steps
• Supporting donor events or engagement opportunities

 
You don’t need to have held responsibility in all of these activities before, and you don’t need to have previously managed a donor portfolio. But you should come to this role with enough experience inside a development program to understand how these pieces work together.
Experience with Tessitura is helpful but not required. Experience working in theatre or the arts is welcome but not essential.
 
About KCRep
Kansas City Repertory Theatre has been bringing artists and audiences together for more than 60 years. As Kansas City’s professional regional theatre, KCRep creates transformative experiences that entertain, challenge, inspire, and open minds while contributing to a culturally vibrant and thriving Kansas City.
Our Development team builds the relationships and resources that make that work possible. We work across individual and major giving, corporate partnerships, institutional support, donor engagement, and long-term advancement strategy, with a shared belief that strong fundraising begins with strong relationships.
The Annual Giving Manager reports to the Director of Development and works collaboratively with colleagues across Development and throughout KCRep.
 
Compensation & Benefits
This is a full-time position with an annual salary of $55,000–$60,000, commensurate with experience, plus KCRep’s employee benefits package.
Kansas City Repertory Theatre is an equal opportunity employer.
Salary plus comprehensive benefit package including but not limited to health, dental, vision, and retirement savings plans as well as generous company paid holidays and PTO policy. 
 
To Apply
Visit opportunities.kcrep.org. Please submit a resume, a brief cover letter telling us about your interest in the position and what you’re ready to take on next in your fundraising career, and three professional references.
 
Review of applications begins immediately and will continue until position is filled. Submission of an application authorizes KCRep to conduct reference checks and review available public information on candidate. Employment may be contingent upon background and reference checks in accordance with Kansas City Repertory Theatre policies.