Miranda Family Fellowship - Development

The Miranda Family Fellowship at The Public Theater offers full-time, paid training opportunities to recent graduates from the CUNY system for a duration of seven months. Made possible by the leadership support and partnership of The Miranda Family Fund, generous support from Arts Midwest’s Shakespeare in American Communities and supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, this program ensures that each Fellow is ingrained within a specific Public Theater department related to their chosen discipline, providing them with robust professional development and network-building opportunities to help launch their careers.

Candidates from historically underrepresented communities are highly encouraged to apply*.

The 2027 Public Theater Miranda Family Fellowship includes:

• A structured, full-time, training opportunity at The Public Theater where Fellows will be assigned day-to-day tasks/long-term projects in support of and in collaboration with their department
• Mentorship by an experienced staff member of The Public Theater
• Seminars, workshops, and additional networking opportunities designed to increase understanding of The Public’s operations and programming, guide professional development, and connect to the larger performing arts community
• A salary of $30,000 disbursed bi-weekly at an hourly rate over the seven-month fellowship period
• This is a full-time, non-exempt position under the Fair Labor Standards Act with an hourly rate of $25, which is annualized at $52,000. The Overtime Rate is $50.00
• Access to healthcare benefits and pre-tax transit

In addition to the invaluable training The Public Theater will provide, Fellows will be required to participate in the larger Miranda Family Fellowship program, focused on providing targeted, practical long-term career preparation. Under the Management Track, Fellows will participate in quarterly video modules and workshops alongside other Management Fellows in their first year, followed by monthly 1-1 coaching sessions in their second year. A member of the Miranda Family Fellowship team will participate in interviews for candidates alongside department supervisors.

The departments available for the 2027 Fellowship include: Development, Casting, General Management

The Public Theater portion of the Fellowship will take place Monday, February 1, 2027 – Friday, August 27, 2027.
The Miranda Family Fellowship portion of the program will commence on Monday, January 4, 2027, and conclude at the end of December 2029. Fellows will be expected to participate in orientation and intake interviews in January 2027 prior to their first day at The Public Theater.

Applications must include:

• A completed application through The Public Theater website, at thepublic.nyc/careers
• 1-page cover letter that details:

• Why you want to work at The Public Theater in your selected department
• What preexisting and/or foundational skills you would bring into the role
• What you hope to learn during the fellowship and how it applies to your long-term professional goals
• Optional: Some applicants may have a background, identity or interest that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this resonates with you, then please feel free to share with us.

• 1-2 page professional résumé
• Contact information for 3 references (at least 2 references should be professional and/or academic)

Applicants must:

• Have a Bachelor's degree conferred within the City University of New York system between December 2025 - December 2026.
• Must possess U.S. work authorization upon date of hire for the length of the fellowship
• Not be currently enrolled in a graduate degree or training program during the fellowship
• Be available to work up to 40 hours a week in their assigned department (please note: some departments may require periodic evening and/or weekend availability) for the duration of the fellowship
• Attend Miranda Family Fellow events, meetings, and workshops as required by the program

The deadline for completed applications is 11:59pm on Tuesday, December 1.
All applicants will be notified of their application status no later than December 31, 2026.

Please reach out to Becca Kenigsberg at rkenigsberg@publictheater.org if you have any questions.

Employment with The Public Theater is “at will” meaning either you or The Public Theater can terminate your employment at any time for any reason, with or without cause and with or without notice. Fellows must meet The Public Theater’s policies and complete their seven-month term in order to remain a Miranda Family Fellow.

*The Public is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants from populations underrepresented in the theater field are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, familial status, sexual orientation, national origin, ability, age, or veteran status.

The Public's commitment to diversity is broadly conceived. It includes, but is not limited to:

• Underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds
• First-generation college students
• Women and gender expansive people
• LGBTQIA+ communities
• People with disabilities
• Others whose backgrounds and experiences would diversify the field of theater

Development Fellowship Description

The Public Theater is thrilled to offer an exciting fellowship opportunity within the Development Department that spans across Individual Giving, Institutional Giving, and Special Events. The Development Fellow will work with the Individual giving team to support fundraising strategy, research, and donor relations. They will also assist our Institutional team in projects such as: grant research, proposal writing, and prospecting for new funding opportunities. Additionally, the Development Fellow will help our Special Events team plan and execute fundraising events, ranging from intimate receptions to large-scale galas. The Fellow will gain hands-on experience in nonprofit arts administration and work closely with industry professionals.

Departmental Responsibilities can include:

• Providing onsite support at select Development Events by checking in guests at donor receptions and dinners, opening nights, galas, and benefits (Special Events)
• Monitoring development inboxes, managing ticket requests in the Partners, Supporters, and Trustee inboxes, and collecting RSVPs in the events and opening night inboxes, ensuring timely and professional responses to all inquiries. (Individual Giving + Special Events)
• Reviewing and sending welcome communications to new members (Individual Giving)
• Researching donor prospects and current donors to inform fundraising strategies and giving plans (Major Gifts + Individual Giving)
• Record donor-related activity in Tessitura, including Frontline Fundraiser actions, donor responses, portfolio changes, and other pertinent information (Individual Giving + DevOps)
• Drafting and refining template language for grant applications (Institutional Giving)
• Drafting, reviewing, and sending stewardship communications to members (Individual Giving)
• Tessitura data organization and clean up, while supporting the system’s upgrade process scheduled for Spring 2027 (Development Operations)
• Submitting gift forms for annual fund and capital campaign contributions from Trustees and major donors (Major Gifts)
• Provide other administrative logistical support / other duties as assigned
  

Fellowship Professional Development/Training

• Attend weekly Fellow meetings with Public Theater staff members
• Attend monthly professional development workshops, as well as additionally scheduled networking and/or training events
• Full participation in professional development activities assigned by both The Public and The Miranda Family Fellowship
• Meet monthly with assigned Public Theater mentor
• Attend all Miranda Family Fellow events and meetings as required by the program
  

What We're Looking For:

• Strong interest in understanding what makes non-profit theaters run, especially a historic large institution
• Curiosity about philanthropy, donor relations, foundations, and patron programs
• Desire to strengthen interpersonal skills to interact professionally with donors, artists, and vendors
• Ability to manage competing priorities and communicate workload or deadline concerns proactively
• Excitement to work collaborative with teams across the organization
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion
• Attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines
• Strong time management and communication skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, and interest to learn new programs and systems
• Ability to collaborate with teams across the organization
• Must be able to work occasional evenings