Development Director

The Aspen Leadership Group is proud to partner with Harmony Program in the search for a Development Director.

Reporting to the Founder and Executive Director, the Development Director will be responsible for the planning and execution of a comprehensive fundraising program to achieve the Harmony Program’s contributed income goal of $1.89 million annually in addition to overseeing the organization’s messaging and social media.

At the Harmony Program, music changes lives every day. Through collective music making, children from underserved communities explore new avenues and realize their full potential. Harmony's specially trained teachers guide students from beginner group instruction to orchestral performance, building life skills and community from a shared love of music. It partners with schools and community centers to create intensive community-based programs that teach children to read music, play orchestral instruments, sing, and perform in ensembles. Its instruction follows an established curriculum, and it regularly assesses and evaluates all of its programs to ensure high-quality learning experiences for all.

The Harmony Program began as a pilot program in the New York City Mayor’s Office in 2003 and was incorporated as an independent non-profit organization the following year. In 2008, Harmony established an institutional partnership with the City University of New York, and was re-launched in its current model with an emphasis on intensive instruction, ensemble performance, and teacher training. The Harmony Program was founded by Anne Fitzgibbon, who studied and worked with Venezuela’s national youth orchestra system, El Sistema, on a year-long Fulbright Fellowship.

Harmony has adapted the model and philosophy of El Sistema to the unique needs of its communities, and every day it creates supportive environments for learning, instills life skills through music making, and encourages cooperation and responsibility through ensemble training. Since 2008, it has collaborated with neighborhood schools, community-based organizations, cultural institutions, and universities. These partnerships continue to strengthen its capacity to deliver music education to children who might not otherwise discover the joy and many benefits of making music.

Harmony's students are in elementary and middle school and begin the Harmony Program with little to no prior experience studying music. Each student receives a free instrument, comprehensive instruction, books, supplies, and tickets to concerts and cultural events throughout New York City.

Its teachers are professional musicians with a passion for community development. Harmony provides its teachers with pre-service training, ongoing professional development, and a curriculum to guide their instruction. In addition to classroom experience and training, its teachers receive competitive hourly stipends for their work.

A bachelor's degree and at least seven years of development experience are required for this position. All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and résumé. Cover letters should be responsive to the mission of Harmony Program as well as the responsibilities and qualifications stated in the position prospectus.

The salary range for this position is $135,000 to $150,000 annually.

To apply for this position, visit: https://opportunities.aspenleadershipgroup.com/opportunities/1246.