Director of Development and Communications

Job Description: Director of Development and Communications

Organizational Background

The Harmony Program is a not-for-profit organization that provides intensive after-school music instruction to children from economically disadvantaged communities in New York City and Long Island. The Harmony Program’s unique model taps the city's college- and graduate-level music students as teachers, training them to develop the talents of young people who would not ordinarily be exposed to music education.

The Harmony Program is inspired by Venezuela's national youth orchestra system, "El Sistema." Committed to improving society through music, El Sistema has gained international acclaim for the breadth of its reach, the quality of its musicians, and the power of its positive influence on the young lives it touches. In the spirit of El Sistema, the Harmony Program emphasizes the influence of music-making on social development, encourages learning through ensemble playing, fosters a supportive community for program participants and families, and requires of all involved a high degree of commitment to daily music study.

Jobs, Duties, Responsibilities

The full-time Director of Development and Communications will report to the Executive Director, manage one full-time Development Manager and one part-time Social Media Associate, and collaborate with other Harmony Program staff as needed. He/she will be a senior member of a close team of administrative staff, including four full-time and two part-time colleagues. The Director of Development and Communications will be responsible for the planning and execution of a comprehensive fundraising program to achieve the Harmony Program’s contributed income goal of $1.5 annually and oversee the organization’s messaging. The Director of Development’s daily priorities will include, but not be limited to, the following:

Work with the Harmony Program’s Executive Director to create an annual fundraising plan, including long-term goals and diversified strategies;  Manage and implement the plan to ensure that the organization’s annual development goals are met; Work closely with the Board of Directors to staff committee meetings, set annual and long-term goals for board growth and giving priorities, and work with the board on prospect moves management;  Ensure regular maintenance of donor database to best support all prospecting and fundraising practices, and reporting; Guide the Development Manager in her role researching and writing grant applications, maintaining a grants calendar, and preparing all interim and final reports for awarded grants, including city, state, and federal grants, as well as private foundations;  Ensure that systems and procedures are in place for donor cultivation and recognition, recording and acknowledgement of gifts, research and prospect management, and compliance with all grant requirements; Assist in the planning and management of annual fundraising gala, including donor cultivation and solicitation, event logistics and communications, and program details; Collaborate with administrative team on all special event details, including donations and attendance goals for annual gala, cultivation events, master classes, and performances; Develop and maintain close working relationships with the board of directors, the philanthropic community in New York City, individual and corporate donors, sponsors, and foundation administrators. Develop and oversee organizational communications calendar, including website content, quarterly newsletter, annual report (in consultation with other program staff), and manage part-time Social Media Associate.

Interested candidates should have the following qualifications:

Commitment to the mission of expanding access to music education, particularly within underserved communities; Minimum of 7 years of development experience, including prospect research and strong writing and editorial skills; Successful track record of securing significant gifts from individuals, foundations, and government sources; Ability to prioritize short- and long-term development goals for the organization; Effective time management and organizational skills, including the ability to address multiple priorities simultaneously; Strong strategic, analytical, and problem-solving skills; Excellent communication skills, both written and oral; Ability to lead and direct others; Ability to work efficiently, both independently and collaboratively; Polite, positive, and professional demeanor; Robust computer program knowledge, primarily Excel, Word and PowerPoint, and familiarity with Salesforce, or similar donor database program.

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: Starting at $100,000 with competitive benefits