Reports to
Co-Founder and Artistic Director
Works closely with
General Manager, Board of Directors
Status
Part-time Contract - 60% FTE (3 days a week)
Location
Hybrid
Compensation
$40,000 - $50,000 (for 60% FTE)
Start date
TBD: 10-12 weeks from posting date
About Coal Mine Theatre
Coal Mine Theatre, founded in 2015 by Diana Bentley and Ted Dykstra, is one of Toronto's most acclaimed theatres. It presents award-winning scripts from Canada and around the world in an intimate, flexible black-box space on the Danforth, with well-known and up-and-coming artists. Its shows often sell out and get extended runs, and it has earned 60 Dora Mavor Award nominations (13 wins) and 9 Toronto Theatre Critics Awards. Known for excellence, risk‐taking, and "mini theatre, massive talent," Coal Mine has grown quickly and is now building the people, systems, and practices to sustain its success. Fundraising has been led personally by Ted Dykstra, the Artistic Director. As Coal Mine's first dedicated fundraising role, the Development Officer will work closely with Ted to both raise funds and steward donors.
Position Summary
The Development Officer will assist in building and running a professional, donor‐centred fundraising program, including
- renewing and growing annual giving;
- supporting the Artistic Director in securing major gifts tied to enhanced programming and the strategic plan; and
- designing a stewardship plan that makes every donor feel valued and informed about the impact of their support. This is a hands‐on role for someone who loves the arts and who is as comfortable writing a thoughtful thank‐you note as sitting in a major donor meeting.
Key Responsibilities
1. Annual Giving (approx. 40%)
- Plan and run the annual giving program, including the annual appeal, season‐launch and year‐end campaigns, and Wall of Fame recognition levels
- Renewal:manage a donor renewal calendar and personalized renewal outreach, with particular attention to the loyal core of multi‐year donors
- Win‐back:design and run campaigns to re‐engage lapsed donors, referencing the productions and moments that first connected them to Coal Mine
- Acquisition:convert subscribers, ticket buyers, and neighbourhood patrons into first‐time donors through segmented, data‐informed appeals, and events such as the Salon, and in‐theatre and digital asks
- Write and coordinate appeal copy, email, and social media content in partnership with Marketing
- Work with the Artistic Director and the Board to set annual giving goals and track renewal rate, average gift, upgrade, and acquisition results, with quarterly reporting
2. Major Gifts (approx. 35%)
- Support the Artistic Director in identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and closing major gifts that advance enhanced programming and the priorities of the strategic plan
- Maintain a managed pipeline of major gift prospects using moves management, including prospect research, assigned solicitors, and solicitation plans
- Prepare briefing notes, proposals, and pledge agreements; attend donor meetings and calls alongside the Artistic Director and Board members as needed
