Grants Manager
Job Description
Position Summary
TheatreSquared seeks an experienced and motivated Grants Manager to lead and advance the organization's comprehensive grants program while supporting the continued growth of one of the nation's fastest-growing regional theatres. Reporting to the Director of Development, the Grants Manager is a key member of the Development team and serves as TheatreSquared's primary grants professional. This role is pivotal in identifying, securing, stewarding, and growing philanthropic support through foundation, corporate, and government funding while helping strengthen the organization's overall fundraising strategy and long-term sustainability.
This is a full-time position with an expectation of regular on-site presence. The Grants Manager is generally expected to work in the office a minimum of four (4) days each week. TheatreSquared may approve one regularly scheduled remote workday each week when operational needs allow; however, these arrangements are subject to approval by the Director of Development and may be adjusted as organizational needs require. While this position offers limited flexibility to work remotely on approved days, it is primarily an in-office, collaborative role that works closely with members of the Development team, executive leadership, Finance, Marketing, and other departments across the organization.
Because grant development, donor cultivation, fundraising events, and community engagement are core responsibilities of this role, the Grants Manager is expected to maintain a full-time workload and remain reasonably available for evening and weekend activities, donor meetings, fundraising events, opening nights, and other time-sensitive organizational needs as they arise.
Key Responsibilities
- Grant Strategy & Execution: Lead and manage all aspects of TheatreSquared's comprehensive grants program, including prospect research, funding strategy, proposal development, grant writing, submission, reporting, compliance, and stewardship. Identify new funding opportunities and develop strategies that align with TheatreSquared's mission, organizational priorities, and long-term fundraising goals.
- Grant Writing & Stewardship: Prepare compelling grant proposals, letters of inquiry, reports, budgets, and supporting documentation for private foundations, corporations, and government agencies. Cultivate and steward relationships with current and prospective funders while serving as the organization's primary point of contact for grant-related communications.
- Major Gifts Advancement: Support the advancement of TheatreSquared's major gift program by identifying and researching prospective donors, preparing donor briefings, coordinating meaningful next steps, and helping organize cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies. Working closely with the Director of Development, Executive Director, Executive Artistic Director, and other organizational leaders, help ensure major gift prospects continue moving through the fundraising pipeline with purpose and intentionality.
- Collaborate Cross-Departmentally: Work closely with Finance, Marketing, executive leadership, and other departments to gather information, develop grant budgets, document organizational outcomes, prepare reports, and communicate TheatreSquared's impact to funders and donors. Collaborate with members of the Board of Directors, as appropriate, to support fundraising initiatives and grant opportunities.
- Development Team Support: While grants management is the primary responsibility of this position, every member of the Development team is expected to support the department's overall fundraising efforts and collaborate across projects and initiatives to advance TheatreSquared's mission. Assist with donor communications, fundraising materials, stewardship efforts, development events, and other departmental priorities while contributing to the overall success of the organization. Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Development or executive leadership.
- Data Management & Reporting: Maintain the integrity of grant records, reporting schedules, budgets, proposal calendars, and donor information within TheatreSquared's fundraising systems. Ensure deadlines are consistently met, reporting requirements are fulfilled, and accurate documentation is maintained across all grant activity.
Qualifications
- Minimum of three (3) to five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in grant writing, grants management, fundraising, or nonprofit development, with a demonstrated record of successfully securing foundation, corporate, and/or government funding.
- Demonstrated success managing the full lifecycle of grants, including prospect research, proposal development, budget coordination, reporting, compliance, and stewardship.
- Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to develop compelling proposals and communicate effectively with funders, donors, organizational leadership, and community stakeholders.
- Excellent organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain exceptional attention to detail in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
- Experience cultivating relationships with foundations, corporate partners, government agencies, donors, and community stakeholders while maintaining the highest level of professionalism, integrity, and discretion.
- Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams, executive leadership, and members of the Board of Directors.
- Strategic thinker with the ability to identify funding opportunities, develop effective grant strategies, and contribute to the continued growth of TheatreSquared's fundraising efforts.
- Familiarity with fundraising software, donor management systems, grant tracking systems, and Microsoft Office or Google Workspace applications. Experience with Tessitura, Spektrix, or comparable fundraising CRM platforms is preferred.
- A genuine passion for live, professional theatre and a commitment to TheatreSquared's mission.
Compensation & Benefits
This is a full-time, exempt position offering a competitive salary commensurate with experience. TheatreSquared provides a comprehensive benefits package, including health and dental insurance, paid time off, paid parental leave, professional development allowance, employer-sponsored long-term and short-term disability, employer-sponsored term life insurance, and a voluntary 401(k) plan.
TheatreSquared is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and celebrates diversity in all its forms. Qualified candidates of all backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.
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TheatreSquared is Northwest Arkansas's professional, non-profit theatre, recognized nationally for its bold new plays, intimate setting, and transformative community impact. Welcoming more than 80,000 patrons annually to over 350 performances and events, TheatreSquared is the largest theatre in the state and a proud champion of storytelling that uplifts, challenges, and connects. With a commitment to arts education, the company reaches thousands of students and educators across Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. Honored with the 2022 Obie Award and praised by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and NPR, TheatreSquared continues to grow as a home for both innovative new works and world-class productions, rooted in the belief that theatre, done well and with passion, can truly transform lives and communities.
