Director of Development

Kansas City Repertory Theatre
Director of Development
Kansas City, MO


About KCRep
Kansas City Repertory Theatre (KCRep), the professional theatre in residence at the University of Missouri–Kansas City, is one of the nation’s leading regional theatres. Founded in 1964, KCRep has earned a national reputation for producing bold, innovative work while remaining deeply rooted in the Kansas City community. Its mission is to inspire, entertain, and open minds by creating transformative theatre experiences for all.
Each performance season, KCRep presents a compelling range of productions at the Spencer Theatre and on the Copaken Stage, from adventurous new works and fresh takes on the classics to beloved traditions like A Christmas Carol.

With a vision to be a catalyst for a culturally vibrant, equitable, and thriving Kansas City, KCRep productions connect artists and audiences in a welcoming environment that fosters wonder, curiosity, and understanding.

KCRep’s premier arts engagement program, KCRep for All, brings performances of the same professional shows patrons see at KCRep, free of charge, to diverse and multi-generational audiences throughout the metro. The same stories traditional patrons see on its stages come to life in community centers, public libraries, and senior centers, allowing people who don’t currently engage with KCRep to experience a live performance free from the barriers of cost and geography.

Through student matinees and education programs, new play development, community partnerships, and robust engagement initiatives, KCRep champions the transformative power of storytelling, nurturing creativity and sparking connection both onstage and beyond.

This is a defining moment for KCRep, as the company is achieving a new level of forward momentum and considering the location and impact of its next home.

Audiences have been returning to experience the profound storytelling of live theatre, helping KCRep bring back pre-pandemic audiences and build new ones. Renewed engagement with communities across KC through programs and partnerships is strengthening relationships and achieving greater relevance. New leadership at the Board and executive level is bringing fresh perspectives on KCRep’s impact, value proposition, and sustainability. With this momentum, KCRep will prepare to launch an inspiring purpose-centered campaign that will position the organization to serve audiences for generations to come.


Position Summary

Reporting to Executive Director, Jeremy Dewey, and working closely with Artistic Director, Stuart Carden, the Director of Development will develop and execute a comprehensive fund development strategy from all constituents, including individuals, corporations, foundati ons, government sources, and other grant-making entities, for the growth and sustainability of the company.
This role works in collaboration with executive leadership, the Board of Directors, and the Theatre’s development team to realize KCRep’s mission to inspire, entertain, and open minds by creating transformative theatre experiences for all.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with executive leadership to articulate fundraising goals and subsequently design and execute strategic development campaigns that align with a business model set to evolve over the next 3-5 years
• Leverage institutional knowledge, relationships, and data to identify and build capacity for support across all sectors.
• Lead the development of compelling case statements, funding proposals, and impact reports that articulate KCRep’s mission, vision, and funding needs to current and prospective philanthropic partners.
• Work closely with the Executive Director, Artistic Director and Board leadership in identifying priority relationship portfolios and funding opportunities that maximize leadership’s productivity and potential.
• Build strong relationships with donors, foundations, corporations, and community partners, while cultivating new constituencies that will significantly expand KCRep’s base of support, including the stewardship of a personal portfolio of donors and prospects.
• Partner with the Board of Directors and Development Committee to strengthen their role in fundraising, preparing, and motivating members for cultivation and solicitation activities and work with the Executive Director to build a pipeline for Board recruitment.
• Provide strategic oversight for special events, including the annual gala, cultivation events, and sponsorship opportunities, in collaboration with staff and volunteer committees, to create engaging, philanthropic- and mission-centered experiences.
• Collaborate with the communications team to ensure unified branding, messaging, sponsor recognition, and donor materials, and oversee development-related publications, policies, and reports.
• Supervise the preparation of all grant proposals, reporting, and fundraising data management, while monitoring department budgets and financial reports.
• Mentor, manage, and grow a professional development team—currently composed of 4 full-time staff members and 3 outsourced consultants— ensuring clarity of purpose and ensuring work in progress is carried out within the context of KCRep’s strategic priorities.
• Serve as a member of the Leadership Team, bringing the perspective of philanthropy and cultivation to discussions of strategy and application.
• Represent KCRep in the community as an active and engaging ambassador, cultivating relationships with civic, business, and cultural leaders.

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Qualifications

The ideal candidate will be an accomplished fundraising leader with the vision, drive, and creativity to elevate KCRep’s development program. They will bring a proven track record of securing transformational gifts, building lasting donor relationships, and leading successful campaigns, including capital initiatives. A strong storyteller and strategic thinker, the Director of Development will inspire confidence in donors, staff, and volunteers alike while bringing clarity, direction, and enthusiasm to the work.

Key qualifications include:

• Fundraising Expertise: Demonstrated success in major gift solicitation, donor cultivation, and stewardship, with experience across individual, corporate, foundation, and government funding streams; proven successful capital campaign leadership preferred.
• Strategic Leadership: A visionary planner who can build and execute a comprehensive development plan within the greater context of a dynamic organization, leverage research and data to make informed decisions, balance immediate goals with long-term priorities, and bring new ideas and energy to fundraising initiatives.
• People Leadership: Experience mentoring and motivating a creative, collaborative, and accountable team of fundraising professionals; ability to engage board members, volunteers, and staff in fundraising efforts and support cross-organizational alignment; commitment to fostering a culture of philanthropy, inclusion, and partnership.
• Communication & Storytelling: Excellent written and verbal skills, with the ability to craft compelling cases for support and inspire diverse stakeholders; comfort serving as a public ambassador for KCRep.
• Personal Qualities: Energetic, resilient, creative, collaborative and personable, with gumption, humor, and the confidence to make bold asks while building authentic relationships.
• Background: At least five to seven years of progressive fundraising leadership, ideally in the arts or nonprofit sector; familiarity with the Kansas City philanthropic community and experience with Tessitura or similar donor databases are a plus.
• Values: Exemplifies our shared organizational values of empathy, inclusion, openness, collaboration, and innovation.

Above all, the successful candidate will be excited by the opportunity to shape the future of KCRep’s development program, lifting up the team, building momentum, and helping the organization realize its bold vision for Kansas City.

Compensation

Compensation for the Director of Development includes a base salary of $110,000 – $125,000 commensurate with experience and an excellent package of employee benefits.

To Apply

Interested applicants should send a resume and a statement of interest to Jonathan McIntosh, Partner with ThinkingAhead Executive Search via the ThinkingAhead website.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Jonathan McIntosh

Partner, ThinkingAhead Executive Search

615-391-2650

jmcintosh@thinkingahead.com

Since mid-2020, KCRep has engaged in a deliberate, strategic and heart-expanding process of educating and involving our board and staff in the important work of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Anti-Racism (IDEA). This work has had a profound impact on us personally and on our organization and we are excited to engage our broader community. There is significant work to be done as we make changes now and build a long-term culture of belonging and anti-racism for us at Kansas City Repertory Theatre. We are committed to being part of the solution that advances equity and creates a more inclusive KCRep and American Theatre, and we invite you all to join us in this on-going evolution.

ThinkingAhead Executive Search is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a work environment that supports, inspires and respects all individuals. Personnel processes are merit-based and applied without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, disability, national or ethnic ancestry, military service status, citizenship, or other protected characteristic. This applies to every aspect of employment including hiring, training, advancement and termination. The firm is committed to creating a just culture of diversity, equity and inclusion by practicing, within the company and the marketplace we serve, intentional strategies that serve marginalized individuals and groups.