Fanwood Resident Appointed Vice President of Development for State Theatre NJ

The following information was provided by State Theatre NJ.

Following a six-month national search, State Theatre President & CEO Mark W. Jones announced today the appointment of Anna Marie Gewirtz of Fanwood, former Director of Individual Giving at Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, as the new Vice President of Development for the State Theatre in New Brunswick, NJ. Gewirtz assumes her duties today, February 11, 2013.

“In my 30+ years as an arts manager, I have never encountered a more qualified, bright, and impressive development officer,” said Mark W. Jones, State Theatre President & CEO. “The entire staff and I are thrilled that Anna Marie will be joining us.”

“I know all the trustees join me in welcoming Anna Marie to her new position,” said Warren R. Zimmerman, chairman of the State Theatre Board of Trustees. “Anna Marie’s extensive experience and knowledge makes her a key addition to the State Theatre team.”

As State Theatre Vice President of Development, Gewirtz will play a vital role in developing a strategic fundraising plan, as well as actively soliciting funds that will impact the growth of the State Theatre over the next five years. Working closely with the President & CEO and the Board of Trustees, Gewirtz will work on growing the annual fund and helping to create and execute a comprehensive endowment and capital campaign. She will manage a small and proactive staff to achieve fundraising goals and broaden the base of support for the State Theatre. 

Since February 2010, Anna Marie Gewirtz has served as Director of Individual Giving at Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ.  She was responsible for overseeing cultivation and solicitation activities for their major gifts program, annual fund and Women's Leadership Council. She has worked in non-profits for 15 years, has over 9 years of experience in fundraising and was recently awarded with a CFRE (certified fund raising executive) credential. Previously, she served as an Associate Director at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and was responsible for leading a team that raised over $3 million per year. She also served as a project lead for international tours of Alvin Ailey, including the Citigroup-sponsored tour of Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, and Bloomberg’s sponsorship of a two-week tour in London, managing a variety of client events, educational outreach, and regional press conferences. 

Previously, she served as Director of Marketing and Development at Caucus Educational Corporation, managing the fundraising for a $2.1 million annual budget. Prior to that, she worked at the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, launching a new program to introduce young professionals to the symphony, and at New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on the Planet Hip Hop / Alternate Routes program. 

She has served as a trustee of the Rutgers Business School Alumni Association since 2006, where she is currently Chair of the Nominations Committee, and is a former trustee of Discovery Charter School in Newark, NJ. She is a 2012 graduate of Leadership New Jersey and a 2008 graduate of Leadership Newark. She received an MBA from Rutgers Business School in marketing and nonprofit arts administration, a Bachelors in Music and Political Science from Rutgers College, and graduated from Juilliard Pre-College.

Additional information is available by contacting Kelly Blithe at 732-247-7200, ext. 542 or kblithe@StateTheatreNJ.org,

The State Theatre is a premier nonprofit venue for the performing arts and entertainment. The theater exists to enrich people’s lives, contribute to a vital urban environment, and build future audiences by presenting the finest performing artists and entertainers and fostering lifetime appreciation for the performing arts through education. The State Theatre’s programs are made possible, in part, by funding from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and contributions from numerous corporations, foundations, and individuals. The Heldrich is the official hotel of the State Theatre. Magic 98.3 is the official radio station of the State Theatre. The Star-Ledger is the official newspaper of the State Theatre.