About The National Association of Theatre Owners Cinema FoundationThe National Association of Theatre Owners Cinema Foundation (“The Foundation”) is the only charitable foundation dedicated to promoting the essential cinema exhibition industry by developing future diverse workforces and growing moviegoing communities through research, education, and philanthropy.
The Cinema Foundation is directly tied to the National Association of Theatre Owners (“NATO”) and its mission to advance the moviegoing experience.
The Cinema Foundation expands on NATO’s mission and NATO’s success by adding new participants including technology companies, food and beverage leaders, members of the creative community and other individuals and companies that share in our mission.Our focus areas are: Cinema Careers, Education and Diversity: Promoting the industry as a great place to work via recruitment campaigns, training programs, and opportunities for career growth Moviegoing Promotion and Creative Community Involvement: Building on relationships with the creative community to grow audiences Center for Innovation and Technology: Partnering with technology companies and other hospitality and entertainment companies on the future of cinemas Industry Data and Research: Dedicating resources to funding useful data and research studies to help NATO’s efforts Industry Charities: Working with existing industry charities to expand their impact Organized in October 2021, The Foundation is in its early stages of development.
The Foundation has a seven-member board made up of exhibition industry leaders from the theatrical and vendor supplier communities, that is currently responsible for oversight of The Foundation’s strategy, operations and action.The Opportunity – Role of Executive DirectorThe Foundation is now seeking a dynamic, entrepreneurial leader to help drive the organization’s strategy, further develop its core communications and programming, build out critical systems and operations, and lead its fundraising and development efforts across all current and potential sources.
This creative leader would also build The Foundation’s capacity to support and sustain The Foundation’s work and operations, leading a team of consultants, vendors, and, over time, part-time and full-time employees.This opportunity is ideal for someone who thrives on building and innovating and is comfortable with both designing and leading an organization – its goals, priorities, operations, capacity, and structuring – based primarily upon a proven framework and board conversations amidst a tremendous amount of unknown.
The inaugural Executive Director will have the support of a deeply engaged, all-volunteer board of directors as well as members of NATO’s staff.
The Executive Director will work closely with The Foundation’s President who is also NATO’s Executive Vice President & General Counsel.The Executive Director will step into an organization that has experienced positive fundraising success with over $2 million pledged for 2022 and enters the 2022 fiscal year in a strong financial position with a fast-growing donor base.
However, in an operating environment with many unknowns and a short organizational history, the inaugural Executive Director will be challenged to solidify the organization’s reputation and fundraising to grow this innovative community foundation to long-term financial sustainability with a five-year fundraising goal of $27 million.Responsibilities include:Organizational Leadership Implement and refine organizational strategy envisioned by the Foundation’s Executive Board and by NATO’s Executive Board Develop and coordinate both long
– and short-term strategic plans Lead and grow the team by nurturing an effective organizational workforce, culture, and morale, including recruiting and developing team members Facilitate strong outcomes across the organization by preparing for and following up on critical meetings and generally creating the conditions for success across internal teams Ensure that team members are aligned and coordinated in achieving each of their respective objectives, actively collaborating to achieve organization-wide goals Troubleshoot and strategize to address operational, program, and project challenges Build and maintain effective relationships with thought leaders, strategic partners, and key networks; leverage relationships to advance The Foundation’s work Monitor and report on organizational goals, outcomes, and strategic progressProgrammatic Leadership and Execution Collaborate with team members to provide oversight for all programs Create programmatic goals with well-defined metrics Develop partnerships with other organizations and businesses to maximize grant-making and programmatic resources Provide organizing support to the donor base and nurture volunteer leadership Develop a deep understanding of supporting organizations, and how they can operate effectively within the law and support initiatives that advance The Foundation’s public policy goalsGovernance and Board Relationship Build and maintain a strong partnership with The Foundation’s board by clearly communicating initiatives, successes, and opportunities Work with the President to prepare for all board meetings (both NATO and Foundation) and ensure they are sequenced for maximum integration and impact Attend and lead relevant sections of Foundation board meetings Ensure that The Foundation’s volunteer committees are meeting regularly, communicating with each other, and productively engaging their members to maximize volunteer activities that build on organizational prioritiesCommunications Leadership and External Relations Communicate the organization’s mission to donors, volunteers and the overall community. Develop a system and relevant committee(s) to build and maintain strong relationships with external stakeholders, and the systems for tracking them Work with team members to create and maintain collateral, website, and presentations to further The Foundation’s missions and objectives.Fundraising Advance and implement a comprehensive development strategy Identify and cultivate new funding streams Develop and oversee all major grant proposals; coordinate grant reporting requirements Work with development team member(s) and the board to plan and execute all fundraisers and special events Represent The Foundation effectively with donors, partners, and other stakeholdersFinancial Management Support the CFO and financial team to manage finances by aligning revenue and expenses with strategic priorities Audit support and reporting under the supervision of the CFO Monitor The Foundation’s financial position, including revenue and expendituresOperations Support Oversee effective administration of The Foundation’s operations Oversee design and building of organizational processes and systems throughout The Foundation to increase capacityKey Qualifications: Dedication and enthusiasm for NATO and The Cinema Foundation’s missions Bachelors degree required 10+ years of nonprofit experience with 5+ strategic nonprofit leadership and operational experience Excellent communication and presentation skills Ability to develop, manage, and improve systems and processes Track record of effectively leading and scaling a performance
– and outcomes-based organization and staff; ability to point to specific examples of having developed and operationalized strategies that have taken an organization to the next stage of growth Commitment to quality programs and data-driven program evaluation Past success working with a Board of Directors with the ability to cultivate existing board member relationships High level strategic thinking and planning.
Ability to envision and convey the organization’s strategic future to the staff, board, volunteers and donors. Active fundraising experience with annual budgets of $5m+.
Excellent donor relations skills and understanding of the funding community and previous success in establishing relationships with individuals and organizations of influence including funders, partner agencies and volunteers.Personal Attributes Thrives while leading in ambiguous situations Strong written and verbal communication skills; a persuasive communicator with excellent interpersonal and multidisciplinary project skills Action-oriented, entrepreneurial, adaptable, and innovative approach to business planning Ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people