Gerard Search is pleased to partner with Arts Club Theatre Company in the search for an Associate Director of Development. This is a compelling opportunity for a relationship-driven fundraiser to play a key role in advancing one of Canada’s most dynamic cultural organizations. The Associate Director will deepen engagement with a growing community of donors whose support fuels the Arts Club’s work on stage, in education, and in the development of new work.

About Arts Club Theatre Company

Arts Club Theatre Company is Canada’s largest year-round not-for-profit theatre company, with more than 650 productions staged. The organization operates on the unceded, ancestral, and traditional shared lands of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

As British Columbia’s largest non-profit cultural employer, Arts Club engages over 500 artists, staff, and crew annually to produce up to 20 productions. More than 2,500 individuals participate in its education and professional development programs each year, and over 250,000 patrons are drawn to its venues, contributing significantly to the vibrancy of surrounding communities. Arts Club is known for being inventive, ambitious, and deeply connected to its community, creating powerful, intimate artistic experiences that bring people to life.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Director of Fund Development, the Associate Director of Development is a senior, donor-facing role responsible for managing and growing a portfolio of major donors and prospects.

This role will:

• Lead major gift fundraising across annual and campaign priorities.
• Build and deepen relationships with individual donors and foundations.
• Contribute to a strong, organization-wide culture of philanthropy.

Key Responsibilities

Major Gifts & Portfolio Management

• Manage and grow a portfolio of major donors and prospects ($10,000 to six-figure gifts).
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors to achieve annual and campaign goals.
• Develop tailored cultivation and solicitation strategies, proposals, and cases for support.
• Partner with senior leadership, board members, and volunteers in donor engagement and solicitations.
• Clearly articulate Arts Club’s priorities and funding opportunities.

Foundations

• Research, identify, and cultivate relationships with private and family foundations.
• Prepare compelling proposals and reports aligned with funder priorities.

Donor Engagement & Stewardship

• Design and implement personalized stewardship strategies, including recognition and impact reporting.
• Lead and support donor events and experiences (e.g., opening nights, appreciation events).
• Represent Arts Club at performances and community events.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Work collaboratively across the organization to align messaging and donor experience.
• Contribute to campaign strategy, pipeline development, and major gift execution.
• Build external relationships to enhance visibility and philanthropic support.

Operations & Administration

• Maintain accurate donor records and activity tracking in Tessitura.
• Prepare donor briefings, proposals, agreements, and reports.
• Monitor progress toward fundraising goals and report on performance.
• Contribute to departmental planning and strategy.
• Stay current on fundraising trends and best practices.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a thoughtful, strategic fundraiser who brings a strong track record in major gifts and a genuine passion for relationship-building.

Skills & Experience

• 5–7 years of progressive fundraising experience, including managing a major gifts portfolio.
• Demonstrated success securing gifts of $10,000+; experience with six-figure gifts is an asset.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills, with the ability to engage and inspire donors.
• Excellent writing and storytelling abilities.
• Experience working with CRM systems and data-informed fundraising strategies.
• Highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
• Experience in the non-profit and/or arts sector is an asset.
• Membership in, or eligibility for, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) is an asset.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: $80,000–$84,000.
• Comprehensive benefits package (health, dental, life, AD&D, LTD).
• 15 vacation days, plus sick and personal days.
• Additional paid closures (including Easter Monday, Christmas Eve, Boxing Day).
• Complimentary tickets and access to artistic programming.

Additional Information

• Full-time position (Monday–Friday, with some evenings/weekends required).
• Hybrid work environment (up to 2 days/week from home, where feasible).
• Local travel required.

Equity & Accessibility

Arts Club Theatre Company is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion, and encourages applications from individuals from underrepresented communities.

Accommodations are available throughout the recruitment process. Applications may be submitted in alternative formats to support accessibility.

This recruitment is being led by Gerard Search on behalf of Arts Club Theatre Company.

Application deadline: We are accepting rolling applications until the position is filled.

Check the status of the search process here