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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 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 LGBTQ+ audiences in New York City. NewFest’s mission is to give voice and visibility to the full scope of the LGBTQ+ experience 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. NewFest is dedicated to bringing together filmmakers and audiences to strengthen a community that encompasses the wide range of LGBTQ+ representations.

The Development Manager reports to the Executive Director, and manages corporate sponsorship, civic grants, major gifts, 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. The Development Manager also oversees Special Events for the organization. 

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

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 Associate 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

Major Gifts and Individual Giving

• Work with Executive Director to design and execute fundraising campaigns and events
• Maintain relationships with major donors through white-glove customer service, exclusive event invitations and personal rapport

Special Events

• Produce and manage NewFest in-person and virtual fundraising and other special events, including sponsored screenings, by coordinating with venues, digital platforms, vendors, sponsors and NewFest staff

Institutional Giving

• 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 Coordinator (Part Time to Full Time)

The Programming Coordinator will work in conjunction with the Director of Programming, Festival Producer, Executive Director, and Programming Department to ensure the timely creation, input, and delivery of the following:

Year-Round / Pre-Festival Planning

• Provide programmatic and organizational support for NewFest’s year-round programming (NewFest Pride, NewFest Presents, repertory programming, etc) and events
• Participate in the Festival Screening Committee selection process, and serve as primary liaison between Director of Programming and Festival Screening Committee
• Organize and work within databases, tracking sheets, and FilmFreeway submissions portal
• Research films, filmmakers, film festivals, as well as relevant upcoming LGBTQ-centric media content
• Communicate with sales agents, filmmakers, and distributors to solicit screeners
• Participate in reviewing both features, episodics, and shorts
• Help promote NewFest, its events and programs by articulating the mission and guiding principles of NewFest to the international film community
• To the best of your ability, make introductions to help grow NewFest (prospective Board members, sponsors, jurors, founding members, honorees, etc.)
• Develop and maintain relationships with key film community professionals, including film talent, studios, publicists, producers, agents and managers, etc., in New York, Los Angeles and throughout the world

Pre-Festival Program Launch

• Assist in securing and organizing films for the 33rd Annual New York LGBTQ Film Festival (Oct. 2021)
• Assist in securing and program panels, comprised of actors, directors, etc. on intriguing topics for our audiences
• Collaborate on securing and managing festival’s jurors, PreSelection Committee members, and honorees
• Provide filmmaker outreach and coordination (pre, during and post event)
• Coordinate with filmmakers to acquire and organize all marketing and exhibition materials
• Assist in the writing of capsules and selection of promotional stills
• Organize all programming assets of the print and online program
• Collaborate on outreach to, and engagement of, relevant community organizations and potential partners
• Coordinate with programming team, designer and Web Consultant to guarantee all elements of the festival program has been uploaded, proofed, and ready to launch when the festival program is announced
• Work with Programming interns, Print Traffic Coordinator, and other staff

Post-Festival Program Launch / During the Festival

• Participate in strategic planning, including developing and meeting audience attendance goals
• Create program intro cards, etc, and provide general support of the programming team
• Prepare engaging film introductions and Q&A for selected films at the Festival
• Provide a post-festival wrap report
• Other duties as assigned

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. Queer, trans and/or BIPOC folks encouraged to apply!

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.