Chief Development Officer
Description
Chief Development Officer
Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts, October 2025
Reports to: Executive Director
Location: New York City (Fall/Winter/Spring) | Sag Harbor, NY (Summer – housing provided)
About Bay Street Theater
Bay Street Theater is a year-round, not-for-profit LORT C professional theater and community cultural center in Sag Harbor, New York. Since 1991, we have been recognized as “one of the country’s pre-eminent regional theatres” (CBS Sunday Morning), producing world premieres, developing new works, and creating transformative theater experiences. Our 299-seat theater serves as a cultural beacon on the East End of Long Island, offering a Mainstage Series, new works development, extensive education programming, and meaningful community partnerships.
The Opportunity
Bay Street Theater seeks an experienced and dynamic Chief Development Officer to lead our development efforts and serve as a key member of the senior management team. This leadership position offers significant growth potential and the opportunity to shape the fundraising strategy of a prestigious regional theater at a pivotal moment in its evolution.
Working closely with the Executive Director, Artistic Director, Deputy Director, and Board of Trustees, you will drive revenue growth, deepen donor relationships, and build sustainable funding streams to support our $5-6 million annual budget and ambitious artistic vision.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
– Develop and execute a comprehensive advancement strategy, with particular focus on major gifts ($25,000+)
– Create a robust individual giving program, identifying prospects and moving donors through the cultivation pipeline
– Build year-round giving campaigns including membership, special events (Gala, cultivation events), and annual appeals
– Mentor and lead the development team (Director of Sponsorships, Associate Director of Development)
Donor Relations & Major Gifts
– Personally manage a portfolio of major donor prospects and current supporters
– Partner with the Executive Director on principal gift strategies and solicitations
– Identify and re-engage lapsed donors while upgrading current supporters
– Cultivate meaningful relationships between donors and Bay Street’s mission and impact
Institutional Giving
– Oversee foundation and corporate giving strategies
– Guide grant applications and reporting (working with staff and contract grant writer)
– Identify new funding opportunities from foundations, corporations, and government sources
Development Operations
– Oversee management of Tessitura CRM system, ensuring data integrity and strategic reporting
– Oversee gift processing, donor acknowledgment, and stewardship communications
– Create financial projections and track fundraising metrics
– Ensure proper donor recognition across all platforms (Donor Wall, Playbill, website, etc.)
Special Events
– Lead planning and execution of high-level donor cultivation events
– Collaborate across departments to create memorable donor experiences
Qualifications
Required:
– Minimum 7-10 years of development experience with at least 5 years in management
– Proven track record of securing major gifts and building donor relationships
– Experience managing and mentoring development teams
– Strong analytical skills with ability to balance data-driven strategy and compelling storytelling
– Proficiency with donor CRM systems (Tessitura experience strongly preferred)
– Excellent written and verbal communication skills
– Ability to work collaboratively across departments in a small, mission-driven organization
– Willingness to be based in Sag Harbor during summer season (May-September) and flexibility for day trips to the East End or NYC for meetings and cultivation activities year-round
Preferred:
– Higher education degree
– Experience with endowment or capital campaign fundraising
– Established relationships with individual donors, foundations, or corporate funders
– Knowledge of and passion for theater and the arts
Why Bay Street Theater?
Impact: Shape the fundraising strategy of a nationally recognized regional theater
– Growth: Significant opportunity for professional advancement within the organization
– Location: Hybrid between NYC and the beautiful East End of Long Island (summer housing provided)
– Culture: Join a collaborative, passionate team dedicated to artistic excellence and community engagement
– Mission: Support groundbreaking new works, transformative education programs, and meaningful community partnerships
Additional Information About Bay Street Theater
Mainstage Productions: Our cornerstone is a summer season (May-September) featuring 3-4 fully staged Equity productions, typically including one new work, one classic, and a musical. We’ve produced over two dozen world premieres since 1992, with productions moving to Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regional theaters nationwide.
New Works Development: Our annual Title Wave: New Works Festival provides playwrights with professional directors, actors, dramaturgical support, and staged readings before live audiences.
Education Programs:
– Literature Live! brings curriculum-based classics to life for school groups (free for all students)
– Writing the Wave creative writing competition for teens
– Theater Camps for youth during school breaks and summer
– Adult education classes in acting, playwriting, improvisation, and more
Community Partnerships: We provide our stage to organizations without physical spaces, including Hamptons Doc Fest, Shinnecock Nation, Black Film Festival, Butterfly Effect Project, OLA, East End Special Players, and others.
Our Facility: A 14,000 sq ft building featuring a 299-seat theater with 3/4 thrust stage, lobby with bar, box office, production offices, costume shop, and dressing rooms.
To Apply
Submit your cover letter and resume as one PDF to hr@baystreet.org with the subject line: Chief Development Officer
Bay Street Theater & the Sag Harbor Center for the Arts is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive team.
Please no phone calls.
