Institutional Giving Manager
Department: Fundraising
Position: Full Time Non-Exempt
Location: Hybrid. New York City, In Person at Ensemble Studio Theatre 2-3 days a week
Estimated Start Date: September 15, 2026
Compensation: $60k annually (pro-rated based on start date)
Benefits: Health insurance (beginning after 30 days of employment), PTO, and sick time
Ensemble Studio Theatre (EST), an acclaimed, award-winning nonprofit developmental theatre in Hell’s Kitchen, seeks a creative and self-driven Institutional Giving Manager to join our team. EST develops and produces original, provocative and authentic new plays, discovering and nurturing new voices and supporting artists throughout their creative lives. EST is a dynamic community committed to a collaborative process and to inclusion across all aspects of identity. We acknowledge and work to end systemic marginalization and oppression at all levels of the organization. We believe that this extraordinary support and commitment to inclusivity are essential to yield extraordinary work. EST supports and is made up of a vibrant, 600-member Ensemble and a wider artistic community.
EST’s Equity and Justice Work Since 2013, EST has engaged in a deepening process of transformation toward becoming an inclusive and anti-racist organization. As a historically predominantly White institution, in 2020 we commissioned an independent study by Rebecca KellyG to delve deeply into every aspect of our operations and identify white supremacist practices and assumptions. Our goal is to create a more holistic, inclusive, intentional and healthier work environment, including ongoing training in anti-racist practices. For more information, please visit EnsembleStudioTheatre.org/artequityjustice.
INSTITUTIONAL GIVING MANAGER JOB PROFILE
The Institutional Giving Manager plays a key role in securing and stewarding institutional support for Ensemble Studio Theatre's mission through foundation, corporate, and government funding. Working closely with the Development Director, the Institutional Giving Manager oversees the full lifecycle of institutional grants from prospect research and proposal development to stewardship and reporting, while helping execute and refine the organization's institutional giving strategy.
The Institutional Giving Manager oversees a portfolio of approximately 40 annual institutional funding opportunities, cultivating relationships with existing funders while identifying and pursuing new sources of support. This position works collaboratively across departments to gather programmatic and financial information, develop compelling proposals and reports, and communicate the impact of EST's artistic and educational programs.
The successful candidate is a strategic and detail-oriented fundraiser with excellent written and verbal communication skills. They are a collaborative colleague who enjoys building relationships, managing complex projects, and translating artistic work into compelling cases for support. They are curious, proactive, and passionate about theatre and the vital role the arts play in strengthening communities.
The Institutional Giving Manager’s core responsibilities will include:
Manage the full lifecycle of institutional grants, including foundation, corporate, and government funding opportunities.
Maintain the institutional giving calendar, ensuring all proposal, report, and stewardship deadlines are met.
Develop compelling grant proposals, letters of inquiry, sponsorship proposals, and reports that clearly communicate EST's mission, programs, and organizational impact.
Research and identify prospective institutional funders to expand support for annual operations, special initiatives, and capital projects.
Cultivate and steward relationships with institutional funders through meetings, site visits, events, ticket requests, and ongoing communications.
Collaborate with program, finance, artistic, and administrative staff to gather information, develop project budgets, and prepare accurate and persuasive funding requests and reports.
Work with Development Director to ensure proper reporting of grant expenditures and disbursements of restricted funds.
Maintain accurate institutional donor records in Patron Manager/Salesforce, including gift entry, proposal tracking, reporting schedules, and acknowledgments.
Develop and maintain proposal boilerplate and organizational messaging for institutional audiences.
Monitor trends in institutional philanthropy and recommend strategies to strengthen EST's institutional fundraising program.
Support major fundraising campaigns and events throughout the year.
Job Structure
This is a full-time role. The Institutional Giving Manager will work in office 2-3 days each week and may work remotely as agreed-upon with their supervisor and based on the programming calendar. Occasional off-hours for special events will be required several times each year.
The successful candidate will be employed at will.
QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum of three years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, institutional giving, or grant writing.
Demonstrated success securing and managing foundation, corporate, and/or government grants, including awards in the five-figure range.
Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with the ability to develop persuasive proposals and clear, concise reports.
Experience preparing or interpreting budgets and financial information for grant applications and reports.
Strong organizational, project management, and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously.
Experience with fundraising databases; Patron Manager/Salesforce experience strongly preferred.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Excel, and Outlook plus Google Docs, Sheets, etc..
Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across departments.
Interest in the performing arts; experience working in theatre or another cultural nonprofit is strongly preferred.
We recognize that no one person will encompass all of the experience and qualities that we are seeking, and encourage and welcome applications from candidates with varied backgrounds and different applications of skills. Applicants from historically excluded communities are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, familial status, sexual orientation, national origin, ability, age, or veteran status.
TO APPLY
Applications will be accepted through Wednesday, August 19 at 12pm ET. Please follow these instructions:
Send the following in one PDF document:
Cover letter (1 page max)
Resume (1-2 pages max)
Grant writing sample (can be anonymized as necessary).
File name should be saved as “LAST NAME, FIRST NAME - Institutional Giving Manager”
Please submit your PDF on this form. If you experience any issues, please contact the email address listed on the form.