Director of Development

About DREAM!

Dare to Revitalize Education through Arts & Mediation (DREAM!) was founded by Bronx-native Aisha Norris, who grew up in an arts-based youth program that helped her escape violence, graduate from high school, and attend college. She created DREAM! to transform learning environments from punitive to restorative, building safer schools and communities.

DREAM!’s mission is to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline by helping students, educators, families, and underserved communities acquire the practical skills and confidence they need to resolve conflicts creatively and productively. Far too often, behavioral infractions lead to classroom removals, suspensions, and arrests, derailing students for life. The results are staggering. In New York City alone, students missed over 300,000 days of school in just one year due to suspensions.

In nearly a decade, DREAM! has reached over 5,500 students, school staff, safety agents, and families in high-suspension schools, reducing suspensions by 51%. DREAM!’s youth-centered approach integrates Social-Emotional Learning and the Arts with proven Restorative Practices, keeping students in school and out of the criminal justice system.

About the Opportunity

Reporting to and in partnership with the Executive Director (ED), the Development Director will develop and execute a strategic fundraising plan that will play a crucial role in elevating DREAM! to the next level. This is a new, full-time position created at a time when DREAM! is being recognized as a leader in the field. Working with a highly-engaged Board of Directors and senior leadership team, the role will be visible internally and externally. The ideal candidate is a strategic and critical thinker who can identify challenges and opportunities and develop creative solutions to meet our fundraising goals and long-term expansion plans.

Role & Responsibilities:

• Develop, steward, and cultivate relationships with potential and existing donors to grow the portfolio and meet the organization’s financial goals. The current budget is $735k.
• Research and identify new prospects and develop strategies to approach funders.
• Work closely with the Board to identify prospects and help cultivate them into major donors.
• Help build the Board to expand the donor base and raise the organization’s profile.
• Oversee a communications consultant to align messaging with fundraising needs.
• Oversee a grant-writing consultant to assist in the timely submission of proposals and reports.
• Write proposals, grants, and reports, meeting funder requirements with the support of the grant-writing consultant.
• Organize and oversee site visits with prospects and donors.
• Plan and execute special events, small gatherings, community events, and social media campaigns to deepen engagement with donors.
• Oversee the annual appeals process, including mailed and digital appeals.
• Create personalized donor acknowledgment letters from the ED and/or Board on a timely basis.
• Create and implement development systems and operations to support growing fundraising efforts.
• Collaborate with the Finance Manager to monitor and analyze fundraising data to evaluate results and adjust strategies as needed.
• Provide monthly revenue and progress reports to the Board and Executive Leadership.

Marketing and Communications:

• Collaborate closely with the Communications Consultant to develop compelling donor communications and marketing materials to promote initiatives and programs.
• Collaborate with Communications Consultant to leverage social media and other platforms in support of donor and community engagement.
• Work with the Communications Consultant and others to raise the profile of the organization and its founder.

Essential Qualifications:

• Minimum of 5 years experience in non-profit development/fundraising.
• Proven track record in securing major gifts and grants.
• Exceptional interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Experience in digital marketing/fundraising preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree required.

Skills and Approach to Work:

• Integrity, credibility, and a commitment to DREAM!’s mission.
• Excellent time management skills, attention to detail, and the ability to handle multiple projects and competing deadlines.
• Collaborative team player with the ED, Program Director, Evaluation and Finance teams, and Board of Directors in strategic planning and organizational development.
• Strong relationship-building skills, leading to trust and credibility across all employees and the donor base.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and an ability to perform well under pressure.
• Demonstrated problem-solving ability, a willingness to ask for help, and a commitment to working with a team.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Outlook.
• Familiarity with fundraising CRM platforms.

Compensation:

The annual salary for this position is $100,000–$105,000, with competitive benefits and a performance-based bonus.