Development Director

Gifted Music School seeks a strategic and creative Development Director to join our passionate and committed team. This is an excellent opportunity to lead a fundraising strategy in a well-established and highly-respected organization to continue the aggressive growth of recent years. The ideal candidate will work to develop a cutting-edge fundraising plan with innovative ideas that include short and long-term fundraising goals, targeting individual donors, corporations and foundations. They will be directly responsible for raising the necessary funding to sustain and grow the current $1.3 million operating budget, to enhance the school’s ability to achieve its ambitious goals.

The Development Director will report directly to the Executive Director, and work in close collaboration with the Finance Director and other members of the leadership team. The Development Director’s role will encompass a wide range of responsibilities including leading the schoolwide effort of meeting
contributed revenue goals ($850,000), crafting innovative fundraising strategies, nurturing donor relationships, and aligning development efforts with the school’s mission and core values.

Specific responsibilities for the Development Director will include, but are not limited to:

● Collaborating with the Executive Director and Board Development Committee to establish and
achieve annual fundraising goals and objectives.
● Producing and implementing an innovative, goal-driven multi-year development plan that grows
the annual fund, major gifts, planned gifts, and endowment in optimal ways.
● Overseeing all aspects of the school’s annual fundraising programs (i.e. major gifts, events,
grants, annual campaign, membership program, corporate giving, planned giving, etc.)
● Identifying, cultivating, and securing philanthropic support from individuals, corporations,
foundations, and government sources.
● Spearheading initiatives to engage and attract new audiences and donors, working towards a
stronger community presence and wider impact.
● Lead the development and submission of grant proposals and reports, coordinating with the
Business Manager to craft compelling narratives and budgets.
● Overseeing the accuracy and maintenance of the school’s donor CRM database, ensuring the
accurate recording of donor information and gift acknowledgments.
● Analyzing data and past giving history to enhance strategic fundraising and discover new
development opportunities.
● Preparing and managing the development department’s budget, ensuring the effective
utilization of resources.
● Supervising and mobilizing the work of other development staff, including volunteers; providing
mentorship and guidance, fostering a cohesive and goal-oriented team environment.
● Maintaining a comprehensive grants calendar to ensure timely submissions and reporting.
● Working with the Executive Director to inspire board members to achieve and exceed goals.
● Developing personalized strategies for donor engagement, including organizing exclusive
events, galas, and house concerts.
● Recruiting corporate, foundation and individual event sponsors, and to moving sponsors to
increased levels of commitment over time.
● Fostering partnerships with other cultural and educational institutions, working towards mutual
goals and community enrichment.
● Representing Gifted Music School at various forums, acting as an ambassador for the school’s
mission and values.
● Engaged presence and leadership at donor events; attendance (as needed) at board meetings
and other related organizational processes.
● Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

This hybrid role offers both remote and in-person work opportunities. The salary range for this full-time, exempt position is $51,000 to $73,000, dependent on experience. Additionally, Gifted Music School provides benefits such as health and dental coverage, tuition reduction, paid vacation and holidays, etc.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Bachelor’s degree in business administration, philanthropic studies, non-profit management, arts administration, or a related field.
2. A minimum of 3-5 years of proven experience in non-profit fundraising, preferably within the arts and culture or education sectors.
3. Exceptional organizational and communication skills; fluency in written and spoken English is required to effectively convey information to the school’s diverse stakeholders.
4. Demonstrated ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined above.

Preferences

In particular, we are looking for candidates with:
● Strong knowledge of laws relating to donations, financial planning, and IRS regulations (CFRE certification is highly desirable) and awareness of local and national fundraising trends.
● Proficiency with CRM databases and fundraising software (experience with platforms like ClickUp and Network for Good is a plus), as well as Google Workspace Apps and Adobe Creative Cloud Apps.
● The ability to cultivate and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders, including board members, donors, and corporations.
● Resilient, “can-do” attitude with the ability to inspire and motivate others.
● A deep commitment to the arts and a high level of personal and professional integrity and maturity.
Knowledge of Gifted Music School’s policies, procedures, and systems is preferred but not required.

Procedure

Step 1) Qualified applicants should upload the following materials to, and complete our online application form at www.giftedmusicschool.org/employment-application-form.
1. Cover Letter
2. Resume
3. Writing Sample
4. Contact information for 2-3 professional references
Step 2) Upon reviewing your application, the search committee may invite you to interview and/or provide additional materials. This position may also require the successful completion of a criminal background check.