Vice President of Development - Film at Lincoln Center

Vice President of Development
Position Profile

About the Opportunity 

Film at Lincoln Center (FLC), producer of the annual New York Film Festival and year-round hub for film lovers–viewers, creators, and learners alike–seeks a Vice President of Development to usher in a new chapter of growth and stability for this iconic organization. With the installation of a new President last year and an experienced circle of senior leaders in place, this is a fantastic opportunity for a skilled, energetic, and collaborative leader to make a deep impact. The successful candidate will arrive ready to articulate plans and set a vision for philanthropy for the years ahead, advance the success of the staff members in place, steward relationships with generous donors, and collaborate with the firmly-committed Board and staff. With an ambitious capital campaign on the horizon, FLC will be looking for someone with knowledge of campaign planning, connections within New York City philanthropic circles, and a love of film.  

The Vice President of Development will report to the President and will play a key role in addressing institutional opportunities, challenges, and priorities. They will manage a team of five with two direct reports, the Director of Donor Engagement and the Manager of Foundations and Grants. Enthusiastic about the full breadth of the organization’s programming, this leader will have the opportunity to bolster current successes, like the growing membership program, and bring new ideas to the organization, which will ultimately expand FLC’s community of supporters. A talented communicator, the Vice President of Development will work closely with the Board of Directors to strengthen their commitments, generate new members, and drive progress forward. Finally, the Vice President of Development serves as a member of the FLC senior leadership team, and works collaboratively across all departments and across Lincoln Center’s campus to amplify the accomplishments of the organization and advance fundraising opportunities.

About Film at Lincoln Center

Film at Lincoln Center was founded as The Film Society of Lincoln Center in 1969 to celebrate American and international cinema, recognize and support new filmmakers, and enhance awareness, accessibility and understanding of the art for a diverse film-going audience. As part of our 50th anniversary, they rebranded as Film at Lincoln Center to modernize and dismantle the elite perception of the organization. 
 
FLC is a nonprofit organization that celebrates cinema as an essential art form and fosters a vibrant home for film culture to thrive, presenting premier film festivals, retrospectives, new releases, and restorations year-round in state-of-the-art theaters at New York’s City's Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. FLC offers audiences the opportunity to discover works from established and emerging directors from around the world with a passionate community of film lovers at marquee events, including the New York Film Festival (NYFF) and New Directors/New Films (ND/NF).  

FLC is committed to preserving the excitement of the theatrical experience for all audiences, advancing high-quality film journalism through the publication of Film Comment, cultivating the next generation of film industry professionals through our FLC Academies, introducing arthouse cinema as a teaching tool to the students and educators of New York City, and enriching the lives of all who engage with our programs.

Job Description

The Vice President of Development will lead a comprehensive annual fundraising program for FLC, which will include an upcoming major capital campaign, aimed at improving several of the organization’s facilities. They will ensure department effectiveness in meeting annual fundraising goals and build stronger fundraising plans to support the year-round mission and programs. Passionate and knowledgeable about the work of the organization, the Vice President of Development will be responsible for advising the President, FLC Staff, and Board of Directors on fundraising and for the implementation of new and existing strategies.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Oversight

• Lead the organization’s core fundraising activities, articulating the goals of Film at Lincoln Center’s capital, endowment, and other fundraising campaigns. 
• Act as a strategic thought partner to the President and collaborative resource to the senior staff; proactively nurturing and developing these relationships for the betterment of the organization.
• Encourage a culture of philanthropy that engages the Board, staff, and the donor community for Film at Lincoln Center, keeping the advancement of the organization and strategic plans front of mind.  
• Integrate fundraising activities across departments and align philanthropic priorities with the messaging and programmatic needs of Film at Lincoln Center.
• Develop, cultivate, and enhance Film at Lincoln Center’s relationships among the Lincoln Center campus and throughout the arts and film communities.
• Oversee the Development department, providing guidance and direction to the team in their efforts to achieve clear fundraising targets.

Fundraising & Donor Engagement

• Provide strategic and creative leadership in raising approximately $11 million in annual contributed revenue through individuals, foundations, government grants, and special events, meeting the organization’s short-term needs for all of its programming and aligning efforts with FLC’s long-term goals for the future. 
• Build a fundraising program based on best practices in fundraising, incorporating new and emerging trends and obstacles, and relevant developments in revenue generation and donor relations.
• Lead and communicate the overall development strategy to achieve annual and campaign-specific goals, incorporating plans and progress reports into the organization’s ongoing conversations.   
• Cultivate, grow, and steward the development team’s achievement of contributed revenue goals for individual, foundation, and government funding and special events.
• Lead the organization in identifying, cultivating, and securing new funding sources.
• Maintain and manage an individual portfolio of high-capacity donors, soliciting six and seven-figure gifts for annual programmatic needs, endowment and capital campaigns, special events (including the New York Film Festival and the Chaplin Award Gala), and other ad-hoc special fundraising initiatives. 
• Join forces with the Special Events and Production team to oversee the planning and execution of the annual gala; engaging the Board, FLC leadership, and the development team in a successful and memorable event. 
• Plan, organize, and manage a comprehensive capital campaign for the renewal of the Walter Reade Theater and other organizational needs.
• In partnership with the Manager of Foundations and Grants, build new and nurture existing relationships with private foundations and government agencies, to increase FLC’s support from institutional partners.
• Serve as a sounding Board and collaborator to the Vice President of Partnerships and Advertising and the Vice President of Marketing and Communications, to ensure the organization’s various revenue source teams are working in support of one another.

Board Engagement

• Build productive and collaborative relationships across the Board, in order to gain a clear understanding of strong engagement or challenges and needs for the Board’s next chapter.  
• Act as the primary liaison to the Board Advancement Committee and the Board Nominating and Governance Committee in order to advance cultivation, fundraising-related, and Board development needs and activities.
• Develop an ongoing comprehensive pipeline for Board prospects and prospective donors for large-scale fundraising initiatives, including capital and endowment campaigns and a planned giving circle.
• In conjunction with the Director of Special Events, curate highly elevated events with industry talent for Board members, high-level donors, and prospects.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of senior-level fundraising experience, preferably in the arts sector, with a demonstrated track record of securing six and seven-figure gifts from individuals or institutions and the proven ability to manage all stages of the major gifts cycle.
• A passion for film and Film at Lincoln Center’s mission and future.
• Experience in preparing for and leading a major capital campaign.
• Strategic thinker, comfortable being in a leadership role, and adept at relationship-building.
• Forward-thinking and resourceful, open and ready to collaborate across departments and hierarchical structures.  
• Proficiency in developing fundraising collateral, proposals, donor correspondence, and related fundraising materials.
• Skill in engaging, managing, and motivating a Board of Directors.
• Strong management and organizational skills, with an ability to set priorities and drive results.
• A demonstrated commitment to continuing education for personal and team-wide professional development, in order to keep abreast of the latest trends in the arts field and nonprofit sector. 
• Excellent communication skills, including public speaking and written communications.
• Proclivity to cultivate a broad and diverse professional network across all sectors. 
• Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends.

Compensation

The salary for this position is $220,000-230,000. Film at Lincoln Center provides comprehensive benefits, including providing health, dental, vision, long and short-term disability, accident, critical illness, and company-paid life insurance. Employees have access to a 403b plan and match, a flexible spending account, and generous paid time off.  
 
FLC is committed to equal opportunity for all job applicants and employees. It is our intention to hire, develop, and promote qualified individuals regardless of race, color, creed, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, disability, military or veteran status, citizenship status marital status, genetic predisposition, carrier status or any other characteristics protected by applicable Federal, State or local law. Although our employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications and abilities, except as any such determinations are restricted by any of our collective bargaining agreements, we are committed to building a diverse workforce via more expansive recruitment methods and considerations that grow the diversity of our new hires.

Application Instructions

The Vice President of Development search is being conducted on behalf of Film at Lincoln Center by TOC Arts Partners, a national consultancy aligning strategies, structures, and leadership toward a thriving cultural sector. The search is being led by Senior Strategist Brenna Thomas, in consultation with and support from the TOC Arts Partners search team.

To apply, visit the online application and submit your materials. Your cover letter should include any training or experience relevant to the job profile that you would like to highlight, why you consider yourself a good fit for this opportunity, and anything else you’d like us to know about your qualifications that may not be present in your resume. 

For general questions or nominations of prospective candidates, please contact searchteam@tocartspartners.com. We kindly request no phone calls.

Specific questions about the position may be directed to:

Brenna Thomas
Senior Strategist
brenna@tocartspartners.com 

Applications will be accepted until this role is filled. We encourage you to apply by April 10, 2026, for priority consideration. Interviews may begin at any time, and we encourage you to apply as early as possible for best consideration. Please note that applying before the priority deadline does not guarantee an interview, and all applicants will receive a response regarding the consideration and status of their candidacy. 

Not sure you meet 100% of our qualifications? Research shows that cis men apply for jobs when they fulfill an average of 60% of the criteria, while others tend only to apply if they meet every requirement. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. 

We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. So, whether you're returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or taking the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar.