Deep End Talent Strategies · 18 hours ago
Sponsorship & Donor Experience Associate
Indianapolis, IN
Full-time
Onsite
Mid, Senior Level
$55K/yr - $60K/yr
7+ years expDeep End Talent Strategies is representing The Cabaret, a nationally acclaimed premier home for intimate cabaret. They are seeking a Sponsorship & Donor Experience Associate to lead guest services and support donor engagement, ensuring every audience member and donor experiences The Cabaret’s signature Radical Hospitality.
Human Resources
Responsibilities
Lead, elevate, and refine all box office and guest services operations to ensure every patron and donor experiences seamless service, warm engagement, and The Cabaret’s signature Radical Hospitality
Serve as the organization’s primary front‑facing guest services representative, modeling hospitality standards that center empathy, responsiveness, professionalism, and belonging
Oversee comprehensive ticketing operations—including website user experience, phone services, seating maps, holds, sales, and performance‑night execution—ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and a polished guest experience
Recruit, train, schedule, and supervise volunteers and FOH support staff, cultivating a culture of teamwork, care, accountability, and values‑driven excellence
Provide real‑time problem‑solving and conflict resolution during performances, proactively anticipating and addressing guest needs
Maintain welcoming, aesthetically aligned lobby and reception spaces that reflect The Cabaret’s high‑touch, white‑glove service standards
Lead ongoing Radical Hospitality and 'surprise and delight' initiatives by auditing guest, donor, and volunteer touchpoints and identifying opportunities to elevate experiences across the patron journey
Collaborate with leadership to embed hospitality standards into onboarding, training, evaluation tools, and FOH volunteer protocols, aligning operational systems with organizational values
Support venue‑planning and operational readiness by identifying environmental improvements, including signage, accessibility, audience flow, and ambiance that enhance the guest experience
Support donor hospitality at performances by coordinating seating, benefit fulfillment, special requests, and personalized, donor‑centered communications
Partner with the CAO to strengthen donor relationships through thoughtful stewardship touchpoints and meaningful, individualized interactions
Ensure accuracy across donor ticketing, acknowledgments, listings, and recognition, maintaining consistency with advancement practices and stewardship expectations
Act as a key administrative partner in donor engagement by recording interactions, tracking follow‑up, and supporting acknowledgment and stewardship workflows
Apply a development‑minded lens to all audience communication and service, supporting donor cultivation and retention
Use CRM data to personalize audience and donor experiences, manage preferences, and contribute to long‑term relationship‑building strategies
Oversee all ticketing setup, maintenance, reporting, and reconciliation, ensuring accuracy and timely delivery of information to leadership for planning and analysis
Produce timely sales, attendance, and performance‑level reports that support strategic decision‑making and cross‑departmental insight
Manage donations processed through the ticketing system and ensure accurate donor tracking
Play a leadership role in the organization’s transition to an integrated CRM system, merging patron and donor data to support a unified experience and enhanced organizational insight
Support implementation of new CRM, ticketing, workflow, and reporting systems that increase operational efficiency, strengthen data governance, and advance strategic‑plan objectives
Partner with the CAO to standardize processes, documentation, and data protocols that reinforce accuracy, alignment, and cross‑team collaboration
Utilize Monday.com and related tools to support transparent workflows, timelines, and accountability
Lead the development and implementation of audience surveys, collecting data that measures audience growth, satisfaction, and alignment with The Cabaret’s commitment to Radical Hospitality, inclusion, and belonging
Collaborate with Marketing to design and execute outreach‑driven strategies and promotional campaigns to authentically invite and engage new audiences in mutually meaningful ways
Develop, steward, and grow group sales relationships with community partners, corporations, and affinity organizations, supporting expanded reach and community connection
Analyze data dashboards, CRM insights, and audience feedback to identify trends and inform audience development strategies, service enhancements, and new opportunities
Partner with the Artistic team to coordinate ticketing and front of house support for educational programs, community partnerships, student engagement opportunities, and outreach activities
Serve as an active member of the Advancement and cross‑departmental teams, contributing to planning conversations and institutional alignment
Maintain organized, efficient, and welcoming administrative and box office environments
Serve as the primary liaison with phone, voicemail, and communication service providers
Support Advancement initiatives and organization‑wide priorities as needed
Participate in biweekly donor moves‑management meetings and biannual SMART‑goal evaluations as part of institutional rhythms that support strategic accountability
Contribute to cross‑training efforts across Advancement, FOH, and Box Office to increase organizational resilience and operational flexibility
Support staff culture that nurtures internal leadership, collaboration, and values‑driven excellence
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience
7+ years of progressively responsible experience in guest services, advancement, hospitality management, guest experience, theatre administration, or related fields
Demonstrated success supervising staff or volunteers, managing high‑density service environments, and coordinating complex operational systems
Exceptional interpersonal and relationship‑building skills, with the ability to warmly and effectively engage audience members, donors, sponsors, and VIP guests
Ticketing software experience and expertise
Strong belief in The Cabaret's mission, vision, and values, with a passion for the performing arts
Excellent communication skills—clear, empathetic, and aligned with The Cabaret's values
Strong organizational habits with sharp attention to detail, the ability to manage multiple priorities, and a commitment to accuracy in a performance‑driven setting
Comfort working evenings and weekends during performance periods
Commitment to cultural equity, inclusion, and belonging
Preferred
Experience with Office 365/Outlook
Experience with CRM/database management (The Cabaret currently uses Bloomerang)
Understanding of philanthropic practices and the donor stewardship cycle
Strong hospitality instincts and a desire to genuinely “Deliver the WOW.”
Benefits
A competitive total compensation package
Flexibility
Well-being
Balance
Planned flex time during high-intensity performance periods
Company
Deep End Talent Strategies
At Deep End Talent Strategies, we partner with growing organizations for HR, Training, and Payroll to attract, develop, and retain top talent.
2-10 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageLeadership Team
Cori Norton
Human Resources Business Partner
Shawna (Rubeck) Lake, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Founder & Principal Consultant
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