Director of Development

Overview

Focus:
Major Gifts, Corporate Sales, & Board Activation

Compensation: $75,000 Retainer ($6,250/month) + Performance Bonuses

Type:
Contract (Average 25 Hours/Week)

Reports to:

Executive Director (Strategic Partner to Head of External Affairs)

The New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) is North America’s leading platform for Asian cinema. They are a high-energy, $1M organization fueled by a passionate audience and dedicated volunteer leadership. They are seeking a Director of Development to take the reins of our revenue operations. We are looking for a Commercial Hunter and a Strategic Activator who can build a major gifts engine and unlock the latent potential in our Board networks.

Your goal is to professionalize our revenue operations to prepare for a Full-Time Leadership Role in Year 2.

• Direct Revenue:
  Personally identify and close Corporate Sponsor ships and Major Gifts.
• Board Leverage:
  Act as the “Campaign Manager” for our Board of Directors, making it easy for them to open doors.

The New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) is North America’s leading platform dedicated to discovering, championing, and presenting new Asian cinema from Asia and its diasporas. Presented at Film at Lincoln Center and venues across NYC, NYAFF is internationally recognized for its curatorial rigor and early discovery, and has hosted a “who’s who” of Asian cinema, including Jackie Chan, Lisa Lu, Shōgun’s Tadanobu Asano, and Squid Game’s Lee Byung-hun and Lee Jung-jae.

Now in its 25th edition, NYAFF continues to ensure that new Asian and Asian American stories are seen, shared, and celebrated.

• Board Activation (30% – The Leverage):
  Senior Board “Concierge” — drive Board fundraising activity by researching Board members’ networks, identifying the top three prospects for each member, and drafting specific emails and talking points to help them open doors.
• Associate Board
  
  Coaching:
  
  Continue development of our Year 2 Associate Board by providing structure, training, and fundraising confidence to help them grow into a functional junior fundraising body.
• Accountability:
  Track Board “Give/Get” progress and ensure follow-up occurs on every lead provided.
• Individual Major Gifts (40% – The Primary Engine):
  The “Patron” Portfolio — identify and cultivate a personal portfolio of 25–40 high-net-worth individuals from our audience data, moving them from ticket buyers to patrons ($1,000–$5,000+).
• Direct Solicitation:
  Proactively leverage existing VIP lists to schedule discovery meetings without waiting for Board introductions.
• The “Red Carpet” Club:
  Launch and manage a high-touch membership tier for donors seeking access to talent, premieres, and private dinners.
• Corporate Sponsorship (30% – Direct Sales):
  Asset Packaging — repackage festival assets (screen time, parties, awards) into clear, market-ready sponsorship tiers ($5,000–$25,000).
• The “Hunter” Approach:
  Lead direct outreach to aligned brands (Liquor, Travel, Streaming, Lifestyle), managing negotiations and closing deals directly.

• Bachelor’s degree required. Masters or higher preferred.
• 8 or more years experience in significant fundraising required.
• Managing Up:
  Experience supporting a Board of Directors, with the ability to drive action from busy Board members without nagging.
• The Closer:
  Comfort and confidence in directly asking for financial support, without reliance on committees during pitches.
• Builder Mindset:
  Experience transforming early-stage fundraising programs through professional systems such as CRM setup, pipelines, and stewardship plans.
• Cultural Fluency: A passion for the NYAFF brand (edgy, global, fun) and the ability to sell that “cool” to donors.

Base Retainer: $6,250 per month ($75,000 annualized)

Performance Bonuses:

• $1,000 bonus at Month 3 for completing CRM setup and a “Top 25” prospect list
• $5,000 retention bonus at Month 12
• Conversion Option:
  Automatic eligibility for full-time conversion ($115,000 package) upon reaching $150,000 in new revenue

Please submit a resume and a brief cover note answering: “Describe a time you successfully ‘activated’ a Board member to help you close a gift. What specifically did you do to make it easy for them?”

NYAFF job application submission: (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)./2jLhtZ6DCuyyupeHA