Jonathan Kitt

Jonathan Kitt joins South Orange Performing Arts Center as their new Director of Development in April 2023, bringing with him over a decade of experience fundraising for cultural organizations.

Jonathan most recently served as Development Director for Firelight Media, a Harlem-based artist support organization that benefits an international roster of BIPOC documentary filmmakers. In this role, he led the organization’s fundraising activity during a period of tremendous organizational and programmatic growth, including the launch of the NEH-funded SPARK Fund.

Prior to his time at Firelight Media, Jonathan worked as a fundraiser at The WNET Group — the public television provider for NYC, Long Island, and New Jersey. Before that, he held Development positions at several NYC-based arts organizations including Creative Capital, MAPP International Productions, and The Public Theater.

Raised in Bloomfield, Connecticut, Jonathan’s connection to the arts developed early in life. He sang in the First Cathedral Youth Mass Choir as a child and continued singing in choral ensembles throughout high school and college, including with Essence of Joy – a touring Penn State-based ensemble that performs and promotes Afro-diasporan choral music under the direction of Dr. Anthony Leach. He has also sung with the Arch Street Presbyterian Church Choir under the direction of Dr. J. Donald Dumpson. Jonathan’s love of the arts also extends to musical theatre. Prior to moving into cultural administration, Jonathan worked as a professional actor, including appearing in productions of RENT, Aida, and Baby, and he has served as a vocalist on Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS’ Carols for a Cure.

Jonathan is an active member of the Arts Administrators of Color Network (AAC) and has served on the Board of the Upper Room AIDS Ministry (URAM) at Harlem United, and the Gala Committee of the Shaker Museum – Mount Lebanon.

Jonathan holds a B.A. from The Pennsylvania State University and an M.S. from Drexel University and believes in the power of the arts to connect communities and spark important conversations. He is an avid alpine skier and lives in Harlem with his partner and their dog.