Director of Development

ABOUT SEATTLE JAZZED

Seattle JazzED believes that any student who wants to play music should get to play. Building on the legacy and values of jazz, Seattle JazzED increases access in the music room, celebrates student expression, and builds lasting connections rooted in community.

We are a small but mighty team working closely together to provide high quality jazz music education to everyone, regardless of their musical ability or their ability to pay. We do this through programming offered on a pay-what-you-can model as well as maintaining an instrument lending library to provide instruments and supplies for any who needs them.

Our pay-what-you-can tuition model is supported by a mix of program revenue, our committed community of generous donors, corporate sponsorships, and grants. We are looking for a team player equally adept at strategizing and rolling up their sleeves to do the work in order to maintain a funding mix that makes this work possible.

OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUITY 

 Seattle JazzED believes that achievement of our core mission - to provide ALL students with exceptional music education - requires an organization-wide commitment to dismantle systemic racism, sexism, and economic inequality by keeping issues of equity centered in our work. We strive to understand, support, and reflect the communities that we serve. We are committed to teaching students as they come to us. 

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Director of Development leads the organization's efforts to increase awareness, engagement, and financial support to ensure access to JazzED’s music education programs. Our organization is at an inflection point, creating a growth opportunity for a dynamic and experienced leader to have a significant impact on the future of our organization.

You will be responsible for sustaining and growing an engaged community of individual and corporate supporters through communications, events, and relationship management. Reporting to the Executive Director, you will be a key member of the organization’s leadership team, serving as both a role model for staff and thought partner for the ED. You will not supervise any direct reports but will be expected to help manage temporary and part-time staff as well as contractors in association with outreach and performance events.

Our office is located in South Lake Union and staff are in the office at least two days a week on Tuesday and Wednesdays. Our flexible hybrid office culture allows our staff to balance their personal and professional needs and commitments. The nature of this position requires occasional evening and weekend work. Because we are a small staff, there is an expectation that all staff pitch in for events like concerts, community events, and the annual gala fundraiser.

The anticipated start date for this position is July 2025.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Fundraising - 75%

• In partnership with the Executive Director, develop and execute strategies to meet the organization’s annual fundraising goal through a mix of individual giving, events, grants, and sponsorships.
• Use donor segmentation and data analytics to inform cultivation, stewardship, and campaign strategy.
• Create and implement an annual fundraising plan focused on expanding JazzED’s community of champions to build a diversified portfolio of major donors, institutional funders and corporate partners.
• Develop and maintain a donor pipeline, with a focus on identifying and cultivating new major gift prospects annually.
• Coordinate with our grant consultants to support completion of grant applications as well as ensure timely and accurate tracking, reporting, and acknowledgement of grants and contributions.
• Lead a team comprised of staff and contractors to plan fundraising and outreach events, including our annual gala.
• Fundraising related administration including donor database records maintenance, providing timely donor acknowledgments and accurate tax receipts, and coordination with the accountant and Operations Director to ensure accurate reconciliation of fundraising income.
• Develop an annual development calendar and progress dashboard, and report quarterly on key performance indicators such as donor retention, average gift size, new donor acquisition, etc.

Communications - 15%

• Work together with the Communications Manager to develop and implement outreach and marketing plans that enhance donor engagement and support fundraising efforts.
• Implement timely and compelling donor communications to ensure supporters are engaged at regular intervals throughout the year.

Organizational Leadership - 10%

• Participate in strategic programmatic and fundraising planning in support of the organization’s mission and vision.
• Regularly attend staff meetings, retreats, planning sessions, and program events throughout the year to ensure understanding of JazzED’s work in the community.
• Regularly engage and activate JazzED’s board of directors for major events and fundraising campaigns by providing talking points, training, and individualized donor engagement strategies.

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in fundraising, nonprofit management, communications, marketing, or a related field
• 5-7 years of nonprofit fundraising, development, or related experience with a track record of securing major gifts and managing fundraising campaigns
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills; ability to maintain a positive, professional, and service-oriented demeanor toward a variety of donors, funders, sponsors and other stakeholders
• Demonstrated experience planning large fundraising events such as a gala
• Expertise in corporate partnership development
• Strong organizational and project management abilities and meticulous attention to detail; Skilled at prioritizing and balancing multiple work streams
• Demonstrated commitment to collaboration and teamwork, particularly in a hybrid work environment
• Proficient in, or able to quickly adapt to using, Microsoft collaboration and productivity tools including Excel, SharePoint, and Teams
• Familiarity with donor management software (Little Green Light) and digital marketing tools
• Passion for JazzED’s mission and commitment to making music education accessible to all youth regardless of their abilities or ability to pay
• Be legally authorized to work in the U.S and upon hire, must be able to pass a background check