Audience Development Director Jobs in Nebraska (NOW HIRING)

OMAHA COMMUNITY PLAYHOUSE

Development Director

ABOUT THE ROLE

Omaha Community Playhouse (OCP) enhances quality of life through live theatre, arts education, and community engagement — serving approximately 14,000 patrons and over 700 volunteers each year. We are dedicated to enriching the lives of audiences and participants through entertainment, thought-provoking stories, and first-hand involvement.

OCP seeks a dynamic, strategic, and accomplished fundraising leader to serve as a key thought partner to the Executive Director and OCP leadership team. While fundraising is the primary focus of this position, the Development Director is not solely responsible for securing philanthropic support — fundraising is a shared organizational responsibility, embraced by the Executive Director, Board members, staff, volunteers, and community advocates.

The Development Director will lead and coordinate these collective efforts, fostering a culture of philanthropy across the organization while building meaningful relationships with donors, foundations, corporations, and community partners. A significant fundraising priority is advancing investment in OCP's facilities, technology, and infrastructure to better serve the community, enhance artistic excellence, and improve operational effectiveness.

This is a full-time, exempt position that reports to the Executive Director.

FUNDRAISING STRATEGY & DONOR CULTIVATION

Required

• Create effective short-term and long-term development plans for the cultivation and solicitation of gifts and pledges.
• Identify and research prospective new donors.
• Cultivate donors and prospective donors through visits, phone calls, events, publications, and other touchpoints.
• Solicit charitable gifts and oversee appropriate forms of donor gratitude and recognition.
• Solicit and secure in-kind gifts and partnerships.
• Build and strengthen corporate and foundation relations, ensuring sponsors are properly recognized and receive all appropriate benefits of sponsorship.
• Create new sponsorship opportunities based on the season's shows, the needs of the organization, and other factors.
• Ensure appropriate donor stewardship of all gifts, especially designated gifts.

CAMPAIGNS & DONOR EVENTS

Required

• Lead the fundraising efforts on a major capital campaign.
• Create and execute a planned giving campaign.
• Oversee grant proposals, follow-ups, reports, letters, case statements, and action plans.
• Design, plan, and execute donor events, including an annual gala, to raise funds and to cultivate and thank donors.
• Generate content and oversee the facilitation of appeals.
• Work closely with marketing to create captivating appeals and campaigns that reflect the significant work of OCP.

TEAM & ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP

Required

• Coordinate and organize all fundraising branches of OCP, working closely with artistic staff, the Board of Trustees, the Foundation Board, and the Executive Director to ensure optimum results.
• Supervise the development staff and maintain ultimate responsibility for the Development Department's activities, including gift processing, grant writing, database updates, and other development coordinator duties as needed.
• Serve as the staff liaison for the Board of Trustees Development Committee.
• Act as the conduit for all information regarding fundraising for Omaha Community Playhouse, ensuring thoughtful and cohesive cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of all relationships on behalf of OCP.
• Maintain an open working relationship with all those associated with OCP.
• Participate in promoting OCP by attending and/or presenting at meetings, lunches, or events, and by assisting regularly with curtain speeches, marketing promotions and materials, and other publicity activities.

DATA, SYSTEMS & COMPLIANCE

Required

• Analyze trends in OCP's development results to guide year-to-year budgeting for contributed income, and monitor progress against budgeted revenue throughout the season.
• Work with the development coordinator to effectively utilize Tessitura, OCP's ticketing and donor software, for tracking contact with patrons and stakeholders.
• Serve as the point person for Development-related Tessitura issues and updates, and ensure the training of all appropriate Development Tessitura users in accordance with Ticket Omaha regulations.
• Keep accurate records of all meetings, strategies, requests, follow-ups, and results in Tessitura; maintain a Development Office calendar of all requests, grants, and deadlines.
• Oversee compliance efforts.
• Other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Required

• Prior development experience, preferably in a leadership role.
• Superb communication and relationship-building skills to effectively represent OCP in personal and written contexts, internally and externally.
• Familiarity with state and federal laws pertaining to fundraising and tax benefits.
• A valid driver's license and the ability to travel within the community.

Nice to Have

• Knowledge of Tessitura software.
• Grant writing skills.
• Experience working on a capital campaign.

CHARACTERISTICS & QUALITIES

Required

• High attention to detail, extremely organized, and able to meet deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• A high level of integrity in every interaction.
• Ability to master fundraising software and maintain accurate donor records and correspondence, while understanding and protecting the confidentiality of donor information.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Availability for some night and weekend work.
• Deep commitment to inclusivity — contributing to an environment where everyone feels a true sense of belonging.
• Shared values with OCP, including: inclusivity, artistic and educational impact, excellence, stewardship, and community.

WHAT WE OFFER

Compensation

The base salary for this position ranges from $70,000-$90,000. We consider a variety of factors when formulating an offer including, but not limited to, the role and responsibilities, work experience, education/training, skills, and demonstrated expertise.

Benefits include paid vacation, holidays, sick leave, 403-B retirement plan, and short-term disability.

If you're reading this and thinking this is exactly the work I want to be doing, we want to hear from you.

HOW TO APPLY

Omaha Community Playhouse would like applicants to submit a cover letter and resume in the same .pdf to NEXT Recruitment & Consulting no later than September 14, 2026.

Omaha Community Playhouse is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and artists.