Advancement Officer

GULFSHORE PLAYHOUSE SEEKS ADVANCEMENT OFFICER

Gulfshore Playhouse, one of the nation’s finest regional theatres, located in Naples, FL, is seeking a
seasoned, collaborative, and engaging Advancement Officer. Join us at this exciting time, as we prepare
to move into our new, state-of-the-art theatre, and usher in a new era of professional theatre in
Southwest Florida.

Gulfshore Playhouse has performed for the last eighteen years in an intimate 200-seat venue at the
Norris Center, a municipal building run by the City of Naples. The Playhouse is in the final phases of a
$72M capital campaign and is under construction with the Baker Theatre and Education Center, a
state-of-the-art facility, featuring a 362-seat mainstage with a Broadway-sized stage, a 125-seat flexible
studio theatre, rehearsal studios, classrooms, and rental spaces. This is an extraordinarily exciting time
for Gulfshore Playhouse, which is experiencing unprecedented growth, and the Advancement Officer will
join a highly successful development team.

Gulfshore Playhouse currently offers a diverse season of straight plays and small musicals ranging from
venerated classics and Broadway hits to contemporary works and world premieres. As we enter the new
Baker Theatre and Education Center, the offerings will increase both in number and size of the
productions. This will include everything from small, edgy dramas, to huge large-cast musicals, and
everything in between. As a member of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT) Gulfshore Playhouse is
passionately committed to producing high-quality, professional theatre that exceeds the expectations of
the cultured residents and visitors of Naples, FL, many of whom are regular theatre patrons in New York,
Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.

Status: Full-time, year-round position

Start Date: July 1, 2024

Representative Duties:
The Advancement Officer will report directly to the Chief Advancement Officer and will:
● Cultivate, solicit, and steward relationships with individual donors and external corporate and foundation
funders through visits, correspondence, and regular communication – for annual and campaign support.
● Work with the Advancement team to develop individualized strategies for individuals, corporate and
foundation prospects, and donors
● Conduct research to identify individual, corporate, and foundation prospects, for both the organization
as a whole and for specific programs and projects that align with the strategic direction of Gulfshore
Playhouse
● Conduct sponsorship solicitations of fundraising events

The ideal candidate will have a willingness to learn and ensure high-quality work in individual, corporate
and foundation relations. Excellent communication and organizational skills with attention to detail are
a must. Gulfshore Playhouse values hard work, kindness, generosity, passion, and grace-under-pressure.
The Advancement Officer will be expected to work extended hours when necessary to meet goals.
Weekend and evening hours are required including attendance at Opening Nights and show performances, Campaign events, other special events and/or meetings that may happen outside regular
hours.

EDUCATION:
A Bachelor’s degree required or equivalent record of professional achievement and qualifications with
demonstrated success.

EXPERIENCE:
● A minimum of five years of a proven track record of success in the development field
● Preferably at least three of those years will include experience working in corporate and foundation
fundraising and/or grant writing and grant management
● Demonstrated experience securing major gift commitments and developing relationships with individual
donors, corporations and foundations
● Experience preparing timely, accurate, and comprehensive written reports and presentations.
● Campaign experience a plus

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:
● Highly collaborative individual
● Strong interpersonal and communication skills –written and verbal – with internal and external
audiences
● Advanced written communications, analytical skills, collaboration, and project management skills
● Proven ability to effectively articulate clear and compelling messages
● Strong organizational and time management skills; must meet deadlines
● Ability to understand and utilize fundraising databases, software, and Internet search engines to identify funding prospects
● Excellent organizational, planning, tracking and follow-up skills
● Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced and highly collaborative environment with changing priorities and
limited resources

Salary is based on experience.

Gulfshore Playhouse is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse staff; we
strongly encourage people from underrepresented groups and diverse backgrounds to apply.
Gulfshore Playhouse offers benefits that increase along with tenure, including health, dental, and vision
insurance, a 403(b) retirement plan, and paid vacation and sick leave.
Our charter: https://www.gulfshoreplayhouse.org/charter/

Please send your cover letter, resume, and a list of references to jobs@gulfshoreplayhouse.org