Application Guide

How to Apply for Development Strategy Partner (Part-time Contractor)

at UrbanTheater Company

🏢 About UrbanTheater Company

UrbanTheater Company is a cultural hub rooted in Humboldt Park that amplifies the voices of the Puerto Rican diaspora and BIPOC communities through storytelling, mentorship, and education. Working here means contributing to a mission-driven organization that preserves cultural identity and incubates new artistic work, with a strong community focus and a collaborative, values-aligned environment.

About This Role

As a Development Strategy Partner, you will assess current fundraising efforts, identify gaps and opportunities, and help shape a clear, focused development strategy. Your work will directly impact the organization's ability to secure funding and sustain its mission, advising leadership on where to focus limited resources while building pipelines for foundation, corporate, and individual giving.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve reviewing UTC's existing grant calendar and donor database to identify gaps, then meeting remotely with the Development Coordinator to discuss upcoming priorities. You might spend time researching new foundation or corporate prospects, drafting a funding strategy memo for leadership, and providing feedback on a grant narrative to ensure it aligns with the organization's voice.

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🎯 Who UrbanTheater Company Is Looking For

  • Has 5-15+ years in nonprofit development or fundraising strategy, with proven experience across foundation, corporate, and individual giving.
  • Demonstrates strong strategic thinking to quickly identify gaps and opportunities, and a track record of building or expanding funding pipelines.
  • Comfortable operating in small, evolving organizations, balancing structure with flexibility, and working independently with limited oversight.
  • Collaborative and values-aligned, with a deep appreciation for BIPOC and Puerto Rican diaspora communities and the arts.

📝 Tips for Applying to UrbanTheater Company

1

Tailor your resume to highlight experience with multiple funding streams (foundation, corporate, individual) and specific examples of building or expanding pipelines.

2

In your cover letter, explicitly connect your strategic thinking to the organization's mission and community focus, showing you understand their unique cultural context.

3

Research UrbanTheater Company's current programs and recent grants to demonstrate your initiative in understanding their funding history.

4

Highlight any experience with small, evolving organizations and your ability to adapt and provide structure without being rigid.

5

Emphasize your ability to work independently as a contractor, with examples of self-directed projects and outcomes.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your passion for amplifying BIPOC and Puerto Rican diaspora voices through the arts, and alignment with the company's mission.", 'Specific examples of how you have assessed development efforts and identified strategic opportunities in past roles.', 'Your experience with foundation, corporate, and individual giving, and how you have built or expanded funding pipelines.', 'Your comfort with a part-time, remote contractor role and ability to provide high-level strategic guidance without day-to-day management.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review UrbanTheater Company's website and social media to understand their current programs, events, and community impact.
  • → Look up their recent grants and funding history via public databases or news articles to identify potential gaps.
  • → Research the Humboldt Park community and the Puerto Rican diaspora to better understand the cultural context UTC operates in.
  • → Check if UTC has any current corporate partners or sponsors listed, and think about how you could expand those relationships.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through how you would assess UTC's current development efforts and identify gaps in their funding streams.
2 Describe a time you built a funding pipeline from scratch or significantly expanded one. What was your approach?
3 How would you advise leadership on prioritizing limited time and resources across different fundraising activities?
4 What experience do you have with corporate philanthropy, and how would you approach identifying new corporate partners for UTC?
5 How do you stay organized and communicate effectively when working remotely as a part-time contractor with a small team?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't reference UTC's specific mission or community focus.
  • Overemphasizing large-scale institutional experience without showing adaptability to a small, evolving organization.
  • Failing to demonstrate strategic thinking by focusing only on tactical fundraising tasks rather than overall strategy.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to UrbanTheater Company!

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