Director of Development

Brooklyn Youth Chorus is seeking a full-time Director of Development to lead its development department during a time of growth and excitement in the organization’s thirty-year history. This individual will play a critical role in building the Chorus’s contributed income for long-term financial sustainability. The ideal candidate will be a strategic, creative, and innovative fundraiser with experience propelling growth via major giving and fundraising events. As a member of the lea­­dership team, the Director of Development will direct a comprehensive development strategy for Brooklyn Youth Chorus creating and implementing strategies for major giving, individual, institutional, governmental and corporate support.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

The Director of Development will report to the Chief Executive Officer, work in close collaboration with the  Founder & Artistic Director, and serve on the Chorus’s leadership team. The Director of Development will oversee the development team currently including a full-time Development Assistant, part-time Events Assistant, and Grant Writing Consultant.

ABOUT BROOKLYN YOUTH CHORUS

Brooklyn Youth Chorus is an award-winning city-wide music education and vocal performance program for children ages 7-18 of all levels of experience.  As a collective of young singers and vocal ensembles, Brooklyn Youth Chorus is reimagining choral music performance through artistic innovation, collaboration, and an incredibly versatile range and repertoire. The Chorus’s multi-level training program draws students from across the five boroughs and combines intensive voice training and musicianship study with exceptional performance experiences. Children of diverse backgrounds come to the Chorus to share their love singing, make new friends, and achieve and surpass their musical goals. Brooklyn Youth Chorus believes every voice matters and is committed to building and sustaining a diverse and inclusive community based on respect for each individual and an appreciation of our differences. To ensure access to all students, regardless of background or financial circumstances, the Chorus provides broad financial support for both chorus and elective music program tuition. Founded in 1992 by Artistic Director Dianne Berkun Menaker, Brooklyn Youth Chorus has served over 10,000 students over its thirty-year history with hundreds enrolling each year in its core after-school and public school outreach programs. Classes take place in Brooklyn at their Cobble Hill headquarters and neighborhood locations in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Carroll Gardens, and Brooklyn Heights.

www.brooklynyouthchorus.org

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Director of Development will:

Leadership & Strategic Planning:

Serve as an active, engaged member of the leadership team together with the Chief Executive Officer and Founder & Artistic Director. Collaborate with the leadership team on institutional strategic planning. Lead the creation and execution of a comprehensive development strategy to meet or exceed annual campaign goals approaching $1.5M by securing donations from individuals, foundations, government grants, and corporations via a combination of traditional and innovative methods and channels. Work with the leadership team to determine when additional targeted fundraising is necessary and viable and collaborate with staff and board to design, plan, and implement Special Campaigns and targeted funds (e.g., Anniversary Campaigns) to support institutional goals. Work collaboratively with, and in support of, staff and volunteers to cultivate and solicit donors.

Major & Individual Giving:

Collaborate with the Founder & Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer on major giving initiatives and prospects. Implement an effective annual appeal to meet steadily increasing targets. Develop and implement plans to identify, cultivate, and solicit new donors while retaining and growing existing donors at all levels. Lead and develop donor initiatives (e.g., member programs, alumni association, planned giving, etc.).

Event Fundraising:

Successfully plan and execute annual fundraising events, such as Brooklyn Youth Chorus’s Spring Gala, to meet or exceed revenue goals associated with each event and grow fundraising over time. Expand cultivation and stewardship activities, and create events designed to take maximum advantage of high profile performances, community events, and daily rehearsals. 

Institutional & Corporate Giving:

Manage Brooklyn Youth Chorus’s institutional donor program including overseeing the preparation of proposals and reports and communicating with institutional representatives. Work closely with Founder & Artistic Director, Chief Executive Officer, and Institutional Grantwriting Consultant to identify, cultivate, and solicit new foundation and government donors and to develop specific strategies and timelines to approach new prospects. Develop and implement strategies to secure new and increase existing corporate funding. 

Board:

Support the Founder & Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer to build an engaged board with an efficient and effective committee structure. Together with Founder & Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer, serve as liaison to the Board of Trustees, Development Committee and other key stakeholders. Collaborate with board and leadership team to design and execute major campaign initiatives to support special milestones, projects, and initiatives.

Additional Responsibilities:

Partner with the Director of Marketing & Communications to produce all development collateral including brochures, newsletters, programs, and mailings. Lead team to ensure proper accounting and acknowledgements for all fundraising pledges and income and to reconcile records in Salesforce donor database with the finance department.

QUALIFICATIONS

Belief in the mission and core values of Brooklyn Youth Chorus  A minimum of 7 years of relevant fundraising experience, at least 2 in a senior fundraising role A strong networker and relationship-builder with the ability to craft stories and communicate Brooklyn Youth Chorus’s vision  Experience developing, implementing, and growing successful fundraising strategies, for artistic and/or educational organizations  Demonstrated success in cultivating board members, attracting major donors, and securing large gifts Proven track record fundraising across a portfolio of individual, institutional, governmental, and corporate donors Special events experience producing both small- and large-scale fundraising events Comfort and competency with databases, Salesforce preferred Knowledge of and experience with New York City’s philanthropic arts, education, and arts education communities  Ability to drive multiple projects simultaneously through excellent time management and project management skills Background in the arts is preferred Bachelor’s degree or higher or commensurate experience 

COMPENSATION

$100,000-$110,000 commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits offered, including generous vacation package, medical, dental, and vision insurance.

EQUITY & INCLUSION

Brooklyn Youth Chorus is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in all areas including artistic and education programs and recruitment of choristers, volunteers, staff, and its Board of Trustees.

We stand for absolute respect for each individual; an appreciation and understanding of the broad spectrum of all our differences be they cultural, racial, religious, socio-economic, or based on sexual identity, gender, physical or intellectual ability; and the ability to experience bonds of friendship through the joy of music. We celebrate open-mindedness and critical thinking, and seek to create opportunities for students to explore and embrace these important values together. We recognize that a diverse community is an asset that must be continually cared for, preserved, and enhanced, with constant attention, for the benefit of all its members.

APPLICATION

Please send a resume, cover letter, and at least two professional references to resume@brooklynyouthchorus.org.  Resumes without cover letters will not be considered. Only qualified candidates will be contacted. No calls, please. EOE.