Chief Development Officer

CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

LINCOLN CENTER THEATER

New York, New York

OVERVIEW

LCT’s mission is to bring exceptional theater to life. Building on a legacy of artistic excellence, LCT strives to expand what is possible: to make the magic of theatre more palpable, empowering visionary artists and extending the invitation for the community to join in celebrating the power of live performance. This upcoming season embodies this mission-driven work and is the second under the leadership of Kewsong Lee Artistic Director Lear deBessonet, Managing Director Mike Schleifer, Executive Producer Bartlett Sher, Stacey and Eric Mindich Producer Nicole Kastrinos, and LCT3 Artistic Director and Producer Maria Manuela Goyanes.

Established in its current form in 1985 under the leadership of Chairman John V. Lindsay, Director Gregory Mosher, and Executive Producer Bernard Gersten, Lincoln Center Theater (“LCT”) has been named "the pre-eminent theater in the country" by The New York Times. LCT is one of the leading nonprofit theaters in the country and one of 11 autonomous constituents of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and like its neighbors, the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Ballet, New York Philharmonic, among others, operates as an independent 501(c)(3) with its own Board of Directors, artistic management, administrative staff, and fundraising operation. LCT and its outstanding productions have received many of the highest accolades, including 4 Tony Awards for LCT’s production of Ragtime and 56 total award nominations for the 2025-2026 season alone.

With three theaters on site, LCT produces a regular annual program of new plays and musicals as well as cherished revivals in the 1,050-seat Tony-eligible Vivian Beaumont Theater, the 299-seat Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, and from time to time, in rented Broadway venues. Its third theater is LCT3, a bold initiative devoted to producing work by the next generation of artists and engaging new audiences. Created in 2008, LCT3’s productions are presented at the 112-seat Claire Tow Theater, which opened in June 2012 on the Beaumont complex rooftop.

LCT's Education and Community Engagement Department invites New Yorkers of all ages to discover the imaginative, healing, and community-building possibilities of theater through free and broadly accessible programming in our public spaces, as well as in schools and communities across our city. This past year, LCT transformed the Vivian Beaumont lobby into a vibrant gathering place through pilot meetings called “LincUps,” and LCT opened its doors to experiences that invite participation as much as attendance: mornings of conversation and connection over coffee, opportunities for audiences to raise their voices in song alongside artists from our stages, joyful intergenerational events for young people and their families, collective actions that respond to the needs of our communities, and celebrations created in partnership with organizations across New York City.

Additionally, LCT's Education team works with thousands of New York City Public School students to develop an increased appreciation of the performing arts and encourage them to discover resonance between the arts and their life experiences. Established in 1990 as Open Stages, LCT Education is comprised of four key programs: the High School Program, The LEAD Project, The Shakespeare Program and the Songwriting in The Schools Program. Beyond this initiative, LCT's education programs provide in-school teaching artist residencies at 41 schools and student matinees for nearly 5,000 New York City public middle and high school students and teachers each year. Meanwhile, our community engagement initiatives extend into neighborhoods across all five boroughs through partnerships with libraries and community organizations.

LCT has also made great strides to broaden and diversify its audiences. The LincTix program (for individuals between the ages of 21 and 35) currently has 81,000 active members who obtain markedly reduced fee seats. LCT also incentivizes people with disabilities to attend productions by offering amenities at no charge such as induction loops in its three venues and GalaPro and I-Caption technologies.

Lincoln Center Theater is a LORT A+ member, operates on an annual budget of approximately $60 million and a core endowment of $100+ million, employs 60 full-time staff. LCT operates under contract in a performing arts facility on the Lincoln Center campus that consists of rehearsal studios, offices, dressing rooms, and production and support facilities. The Board of Directors of Lincoln Center Theater is comprised of up to 55 members (currently 52) elected for three-year terms and meets

quarterly.

To learn more about Lincoln Center Theater, please visit https://www.lct.org/.

LCT VALUES

LCT is dedicated to fostering a theater representative of all the populations we serve. We are proactively committed to better serve artists, staff, crews, audiences, and broader communities through our organization's values. We welcome applicants who are in alignment with our organization's values of empathy, dignity, and care.

POSITION SUMMARY

Lincoln Center Theater (LCT) seeks a visionary, strategic, and highly accomplished Chief Development Officer (CDO) to lead and advance a comprehensive fundraising program in support of one of the nation’s premier nonprofit theater institutions at a moment of great momentum and transformation. Reporting dually to the Artistic Director and Managing Director, the CDO will serve as a key member of the senior leadership team, a strategic partner in shaping the overall direction of the Theater, and a primary liaison to the Board of Directors.

The CDO will envision and execute ambitious fundraising strategies that sustain and grow LCT’s contributed revenue across all streams, including major gifts, individual giving, institutional support, special events, planned giving, and campaigns. Working in close partnership with leadership across the organization, including marketing and earned revenue teams, the CDO will help drive a coordinated approach to maximizing total institutional revenue and audience engagement. This leader will also partner closely with the Board of Directors to strengthen philanthropic engagement and expand the Theater’s community of supporters.

This is a rare opportunity for an exceptional advancement leader to help shape the future of a world-class theater institution and to play a central role in advancing both its artistic ambition and long-term financial sustainability.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement a comprehensive, multi-year fundraising strategy aligned with LCT’s artistic vision and institutional priorities.
• Serve as an integral member of the senior leadership team and a key participant in institutional strategic planning and decision-making.
• Partner closely with the Artistic Director and Managing Director to articulate compelling cases for support that reflect LCT’s mission and programmatic excellence.
• Collaborate with marketing and earned revenue leadership to align contributed and earned revenue strategies, supporting audience growth and maximizing overall revenue.
• Serve as a senior ambassador for LCT, representing the organization to donors, foundations, corporations, cultural and civic leaders.
• Balance excellence in traditional, relationship-driven fundraising with an entrepreneurial mindset—bringing curiosity, innovation, and openness to new models of philanthropy, audience engagement, and revenue generation.

Board Relations and Engagement

• Collaborate with the 55-member Board of Directors to enhance fundraising capacity, deepen engagement, and support a strong culture of philanthropy.
• Partner with leadership to identify potential new board members.
• Staff and partner with Board leadership, including development-related committees.
• Coordinate Board committee assignments in partnership with institutional leadership.

Fundraising and Revenue Generation

• Lead all development activities, including major gifts, annual fund, institutional giving (foundation, government, corporate), special events, and planned giving.
• Personally manage a portfolio of top donors and prospects, with a focus on securing transformational leadership gifts at the seven, eight, and nine-figure level.
• Oversee and grow a high-performing development operation to achieve ambitious annual and long-term contributed revenue goals.
• Plan and execute significant capital and endowment campaigns.

Donor and Institutional Relations

• Build and sustain long-term relationships with individual donors, trustees, foundation leaders, and corporate partners.
• Ensure best-in-class stewardship practices and donor communications reflective of the prestige and artistic excellence of LCT.
• Strengthen partnerships within the Lincoln Center campus and with peer cultural institutions.

Team Leadership and Operations

• Lead, mentor, and develop a 15-person fundraising team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and high performance.
• Oversee development operations, including prospect research, analytics, reporting, and CRM systems, leveraging data and emerging tools to inform strategy and strengthen donor engagement.
• Establish clear metrics, benchmarks, and reporting systems to track progress and ensure transparency and continuous improvement.

Skills and Qualifications

• Minimum of 10–15 years of progressive leadership experience in fundraising, with a distinguished record of success at the senior level.
• Demonstrated success securing transformational gifts at the seven, eight, and nine-figure level.
• Experience working effectively with large, engaged boards.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills consistent with representing a leading cultural institution, including a polished personal presentation aligned with the expectations of top-tier donors and stakeholders.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to execute at a high level in a fast-paced, artistically driven environment.
• Deep appreciation for the performing arts and commitment to LCT’s mission.
• Strong ties to New York City, including residency and a demonstrated, in-depth understanding of the NYC fundraising and funding landscape required.

Leadership Competencies

• Visionary, collaborative, and results-oriented leadership style.
• High emotional intelligence, discretion, and sound judgment.
• Ability to inspire confidence among donors, trustees, artists, and colleagues.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and management capabilities.
• Commitment to excellence, integrity, and inclusion.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

This is a full-time, exempt, salaried position with an annual salary range of $375,000 - $420,000/annual. Lincoln Center Theater provides comprehensive benefits including: Paid Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance, 403(b) and Employer Match, and Paid Time Off. 

APPLICATIONS & INQURIES 

Please apply here: https://lct.bamboohr.com/careers/65

Please note only candidates who submit a resume, cover letter will be considered.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, affectional preference, gender identity or expression, sexual and reproductive health decisions, pregnancy, disability, genetic predisposition, age, military or veteran status, marital or familial status, or any other protected characteristic, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.