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Development Manager (Full Time)

NewFest, New York’s leading LGBTQ+ film and media organization, is seeking a full-time Development Manager to help drive the organization’s financial growth and expand its profile.

Founded in 1988, NewFest is New York’s largest presenter of LGBTQ+ film & media and the largest convener of queer audiences in the city. NewFest’s mission is to give voice and visibility to the wide scope of LGBTQ+ experiences through year-round film screenings and events, including the annual New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival. NewFest creates spaces and conversations that have the capacity to open minds, shift cultural bias, and create positive change. We are dedicated to bringing together filmmakers and audiences to strengthen a community that encompasses the full range of LGBTQ+ representations.

The Development Manager reports to the Executive Director, and manages corporate sponsorship, individual giving, institutional giving, and Board relations, with responsibilities applicable to year-round programs and expanding in scale in support of the annual New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival each October.

Responsibilities:

• Maintain a thorough understanding of NewFest programming to identify synergies between sponsor or grant priorities and NewFest’s mission
• Work with the Executive Director and Director of Programming to brainstorm and define new programs and initiatives that serve NewFest’s community while contributing to the organization’s longevity and financial sustainability
• Manage design of all fundraising collateral
• Research and identify new institutional, government, and corporate funding opportunities
• Attend monthly Board meetings and select Board committee meetings

Corporate Sponsorship

• Work collaboratively with the Executive Director to pursue new sponsors for the annual Festival and year-round programs, including youth initiatives, Black Filmmakers Initiative, and sponsored screenings
• Conduct in-depth research on potential sponsors, develop sponsor outreach strategy, design sponsorship proposals and contracts, and conduct negotiations
• Maintain relationships with corporate and media sponsors and oversee contract deliverable execution, event invitations, and annual contract renewal conversations
• Work with the Communications Manager to organize and execute certain sponsor deliverables, including social posts, logo placements, eblast mentions, etc.
• Represent NewFest at networking events in pursuit of sponsor or partner cultivation

Individual Giving

• Work with Executive Director to design and execute fundraising campaigns and events
• Identify and cultivate donor prospects from existing audience base
• Maintain relationships with major donors through white-glove customer service, exclusive event invitations and personal rapport

Institutional Giving

• Work with Grants Writer to apply for and manage tasks related to annual and one-time grants, including writing narratives, preparing budgets and meeting crucial deadlines
• Research funding opportunities throughout the year

Desired Skills:

• Strategic thinker who is highly organized and focused
• Strong writing to effectively communicate NewFest’s mission to donors/sponsors and in grant applications
• Ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively with other members of the NewFest team
• Public speaking
• Strong negotiating instincts
• Strong professional and interpersonal communication skills
• Social skills, enthusiasm for working with people
• Ambitious and approachable, able to send cold emails pursuing sponsors with confidence
• Deep belief in the importance of NewFest’s mission to educate and empower LGBTQ+ and ally audiences through queer film

The successful candidate will be creative, curious, flexible, and persistent. The candidate will be a person of the highest integrity and ethical standards. The candidate will be able to accept a work schedule that includes events on evenings and weekends.

Compensation, including benefits, is commensurate with qualifications and experience.

NewFest is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in all facets of the organization and welcomes recommendations, nominations, and applications from all qualified candidates.

Please prepare a cover letter that describes your specific interest in NewFest and outlines your qualifications for the position, and submit with a resume and contact information for three professional references. All applications will be treated as confidential and references will not be contacted without the candidate’s knowledge and agreement.

Programming and Production Coordinator (Part Time)

NewFest, New York’s leading LGBTQ+ film and media organization, is seeking a part-time Programming and Production Coordinator to help support the organization’s year-round programs.

Founded in 1988, NewFest is New York’s largest presenter of LGBTQ+ film & media and the largest convener of queer audiences in the city. NewFest’s mission is to give voice and visibility to the wide scope of LGBTQ+ experiences through year-round film screenings and events, including the annual New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival. NewFest creates spaces and conversations that have the capacity to open minds, shift cultural bias, and create positive change. We are dedicated to bringing together filmmakers and audiences to strengthen a community that encompasses the full range of LGBTQ+ representations.

The Programming & Production Coordinator will report directly to the Director of Programming, and work in conjunction with the rest of the year-round team to ensure the timely creation, input, and delivery of the listed duties and responsibilities.

Responsibilities:

• Provide programmatic and organizational support for NewFest’s year-round in-person and virtual programming initiatives and events (NewFest Presents, repertory programming, NewFest Pride, NewFest Filmmaker Grants and Initiatives, Education Screening Programs, Partner/Sponsor Screenings, etc)
• Work with NewFest staff to coordinate relevant programming needs (assets, talent coordination, run of show distribution, exhibition files, etc) for NewFest’s year-round programming and events
• Communicate with NewFest staff, venues and/or event producer to coordinate programming deliverables and ensure all has been provided and prepped
• Support management of Filmmaker Grant initiatives, screening committees, and relevant deadlines
• Collaborate on curation and coordination of Education Screening Events
• Research films, filmmakers, distributors, festivals, as well as relevant upcoming LGBTQ-centric media content
• Organize, work within, and manage year-round Programming databases and tracking sheets
• Communicate with sales agents, publicists, filmmakers, and distributors to solicit screeners, and acquire and organize all marketing and exhibition materials
• Participate in reviewing films and submissions for year-round programming, grants, and presentations, as well as Festival Screening Committee selection process
• Assist in the creation and organization of year-round programming assets, including capsules and selection of promotional stills
• Assist in securing and coordinating talent and relevant production needs (travel, print traffic, etc) for NewFest’s year-round programming and events
• Participate in strategic planning, including developing and meeting audience attendance goals
• Collaborate on outreach to, and engagement of, relevant community organizations and potential partners
• Help promote NewFest, its events and programs by articulating the mission and guiding principles of NewFest
• Prepare and present engaging film introductions and Q&A for select year-round events
• Develop and maintain relationships with key film community professionals, including film talent, studios, publicists, producers, agents and managers, etc.
• Other duties as assigned

Part-Time Work Schedule:

2 – 3 days a week, with a combination of in-office and remote work

NewFest is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in all facets of the organization and welcomes recommendations, nominations, and applications from all qualified candidates.

Compensation is commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Please prepare a cover letter that describes your specific interest in NewFest and outlines your qualifications for the position, and submit with a resume and contact information for three professional references. All applications will be treated as confidential and references will not be contacted without the candidate’s knowledge and agreement.

Please apply by Wednesday, December 29, 2021