Dramatists Guild Foundation Appoints Meghan Gaur as Director of Development
Tom O’Connor Consulting Group (TOCG) is pleased to announce that Meghan Gaur (she/her) has been appointed Director of Development by Dramatists Guild Foundation (Rachel Routh, Executive Director; Evelyn So, Director of Operations & Finance) in New York City following our extensive national search led by Brenna Thomas, Search Consultant.
Meghan Gaur is a fundraising professional with over 15 years of experience supporting non-profit theater organizations in various capacities. As a Major Gifts Officer at Playwrights Horizons, she managed a donor portfolio in tandem with the director of development and staff to successfully raise $4M in annual contributed revenue. With The Shubert Foundation, the nation’s largest funder dedicated to unrestricted funding for non-profit theaters and dance companies, Meghan stewarded a portfolio of grantees and new applicants for annual grant funding. Most recently, as the Major Gifts Officer for Cohen Children’s Medical Center and Northwell Health Foundation, she successfully led a grateful patient program in coordination with chiefs of four pediatric divisions and high-level faculty members. Meghan holds a BA in Art History from The George Washington University and an MFA in Theatre Management and Producing from Columbia University’s School of the Arts. She serves as an advisory board member of the Parents Artists Advocacy League. She lives in Kew Gardens with her husband and two children.
"I am thrilled and honored to be joining the Dramatists Guild Foundation (DGF) as Director of Development,” says Meghan. “When I heard about the position, I knew it was for me. As someone who has always been drawn to new plays and musicals, to be part of an organization that supports the cornerstone of the American theater - the dramatists - is exciting to me. Knowing that my work helps to lift up writers so that all voices are heard and new stories are told is an honor. Under the inspired leadership of Rachel Routh and the Board of Directors, DGF has grown to be a vital service organization in the industry and I look forward to working together to build on this legacy as they look to the future."
“We are excited to welcome Meghan Gaur to the Dramatists Guild Foundation, where her robust experience as a fundraising professional over the past 15+ years will be instrumental in advancing our mission to provide direct support to dramatists at all stages of their careers,” said Rachel Routh, Executive Director. “One of the reasons we were so drawn to Meghan is that though her passion is for theater, she has a keenly developed, cross-industry skill set, having worked both within and outside of the theatrical community. We look forward to the vital impact that Meghan will make throughout our organization and community for years to come.”
Search Consultant Brenna Thomas, who led the search, shared “I couldn’t be happier to see Meghan Gaur start this role at Dramatists Guild Foundation. She will bring energy, determination, and a love for theater and those who create it, to the organization. I am equally excited for the leadership, staff, and Board of DGF to have this partner on their team, helping them take necessary next steps to advance their development efforts, which serve a critical need for our field.”
About Dramatists Guild Foundation
Dramatists Guild Foundation (DGF) is a national charity that fuels the future of American theater by supporting the writers who create it. DGF fosters playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists at all stages of their careers through mentorship programs; awards, grants and stipends; free space to create new works; and emergency aid to writers in need of immediate support. DGF distributed more than $3.5 million in immediate financial relief to writers during the nation-wide theatrical shutdown and continues to uplift writers and their careers through $1 million in annual support. Through continued conversations with writers about their needs in the ever-changing theatrical landscape, grants to support housing costs, mental wellness, transportation, natural disaster relief, and more have launched since 2020. By supporting and nurturing the creators of today, we protect the stories of tomorrow.
About Tom O’Connor Consulting Group
Tom O’Connor Consulting Group (TOCG) is a NYC-based consultancy that supports arts institutions and leaders with two integrated services: organizational strategy and executive search. Consulting specialties including marketing, strategy, assessment, and organizational development. Founded in 2015, TOCG is a fully remote company with team members spanning the country and the globe.
Select clients have included Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Carnegie Hall, Cincinnati Opera, Huntington Theatre Company, Lincoln Center Theater, The Metropolitan Opera, Next Chapter Podcasts, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, SPACE on Ryder Farm, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, and more.
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