Vice President of Development

About The Opportunity

Film at Lincoln Center (FLC), producer of the annual New York Film Festival and a year‑round hub for film lovers, seeks a Vice President of Development to usher in a new chapter of growth and stability. The ideal candidate will articulate philanthropy plans, set vision, advance staff success, steward donor relationships, and collaborate with the Board and staff. With an ambitious capital campaign on the horizon, FLC requires expertise in campaign planning, strong New York City philanthropic connections, and a passion for film.

Founded in 1969 as The Film Society of Lincoln Center, FLC celebrates cinema as an essential art form. It presents festivals, retrospectives, new releases, and restorations year‑round in state‑of‑the‑art theaters at New York’s Lincoln Center. FLC also publishes Film Comment, runs FLC Academies, and offers educational programs for students and educators.

The Vice President of Development will lead a comprehensive annual fundraising program, including a major capital campaign aimed at improving several of the organization’s facilities. The role includes advising the President, staff, and Board on fundraising strategy and implementing new and existing initiatives.

• Lead the organization’s core fundraising activities and articulate the goals of capital, endowment, and other campaigns.
• Act as strategic thought partner to the President and senior staff, nurturing relationships for the organization’s benefit.
• Encourage a culture of philanthropy that engages the Board, staff, and donor community, keeping advancement and strategic plans front of mind.
• Integrate fundraising activities across departments and align philanthropic priorities with programmatic needs.
• Develop, cultivate, and enhance relationships among Lincoln Center campus and the arts and film communities.
• Oversee the Development department, guiding the team to achieve clear fundraising targets.
• Provide strategic and creative leadership in raising approximately $11 million in annual contributed revenue from individuals, foundations, government grants, and special events.
• Build a fundraising program based on best practices and emerging trends in revenue generation and donor relations.
• Lead and communicate the overall development strategy to achieve annual and campaign‑specific goals.
• Cultivate, grow, and steward the development team’s achievement of contributed revenue goals for multiple funding sources.
• Identify, cultivate, and secure new funding sources.
• Maintain an individual portfolio of high‑capacity donors, soliciting six‑ and seven‑figure gifts for programmatic needs and campaigns.
• Partner with Special Events and Production teams to oversee planning and execution of the annual gala.
• Plan, organize, and manage a comprehensive capital campaign for the renewal of the Walter Reade Theater and other needs.
• Build and nurture relationships with private foundations and government agencies to increase institutional support.
• Collaborate with the Vice President of Partnerships, Advertising, Marketing and Communications to ensure revenue source teams support one another.
• Build productive relationships across the Board, understand engagement challenges, and develop Board prospects for large‑scale initiatives.
• Act as liaison to the Board Advancement Committee and Board Nominating and Governance Committee, advancing fundraising and development needs.
• Develop an ongoing pipeline for Board prospects and prospective donors for capital and endowment campaigns and planned giving.
• Work with the Director of Special Events to curate elevated events for Board members, high‑level donors, and prospects.

• 10+ years senior‑level fundraising experience, preferably in the arts, with a proven track record of securing six‑ and seven‑figure gifts and managing all stages of the major gifts cycle.
• Passion for film and commitment to FLC’s mission and future.
• Experience preparing for and leading a major capital campaign.
• Strategic thinker comfortable in a leadership role and adept at relationship‑building.
• Forward‑thinking, resourceful, open to collaboration across…