Director of Development

About Jazz Power Initiative

Jazz Power Initiative is an Uptown New York City–based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization specializing in jazz music and theater education for youth and adults, while producing community concerts and cultural programs involving music and dance.

Our programming is intergenerational by design, bringing professional artists, teaching artists, and young people together across youth education, adult education, and community performance. Founded in 2003, JPI serves 5000 youth and adults each year with low and no cost programming. JPI’s work has been recognized with the Uptown Arts Stroll Award from the Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance (2024) and is supported by the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, the Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation, and The Miranda Family Fund, among many others.

The Opportunity

Jazz Power Initiative is seeking an experienced, strategic, and relationship-driven fundraising professional to join our team as Director of Development.

JPI is a growing, $1 million jazz arts organization Uptown in a period of senior leadership transition. This is an opportunity to join our dynamic team and work directly with our founder, the Board, staff, and consultants to lead the organization’s next stage of growth.

Reporting to the Managing and Artistic Director, the Director of Development serves as the organization’s lead fundraising professional, responsible for all contributed revenue streams, including grants, sponsorships, individual giving, special events, and donor stewardship. The Director of Development leads stewardship of more than 100 donors and manages a grants portfolio from concept to completion for 30+ current government and institutional funders.

The ideal candidate is a skilled grant writer and relationship-builder who can develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy, engage the Board and senior leadership, and help strengthen JPI’s financial sustainability.

What You'll Do

• Lead organizational fundraising strategy and set annual contributed revenue goals, including forecasts, tracking systems, and performance metrics.
• Serve as lead grant writer for government, foundation, and corporate proposals; manage grant calendars and funding pipelines, and maintain relationships with institutional funders.
• Manage post-award grant fulfillment, including tracking deliverables and reporting deadlines, coordinating program data with staff, and reviewing and submitting interim and final reports.
• Develop donor cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation strategies for individual and major gifts, and oversee donor acknowledgment and retention.
• Manage individual-led fundraising, including the staff-led end-of-year fundraiser.
• Develop sponsorship packages, secure corporate support, and oversee sponsorship fulfillment and reporting.
• Support board-led and other fundraising events, and manage annual and year-end campaigns and donor cultivation events.
• Support Board fundraising activities and committees, and prepare fundraising reports and dashboards for leadership and the Board.
• Administer DonorPerfect and maintain accurate development records and reporting.
• Identify and pursue new funding opportunities and strategic partnerships, and supervise the Development Coordinator and development consultants and contractors as assigned.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Minimum five years of nonprofit fundraising experience.
• Demonstrated success securing grants of $50,000 or more.
• Experience managing fundraising events and campaigns.
• Strong writing, communication, and relationship management skills.
• Experience with donor CRM systems (e.g., DonorPerfect or similar).

Compensation & Benefits

This is a full-time, exempt position with an annual salary of $90,000–$110,000, commensurate with experience. This range is salary only and does not include benefits.

Benefits include:

• Health stipend, paid in addition to salary: $400 per month for single employees; $700 per month for employees who are married and/or have children
• 120 hours of Vacation and Well-Being paid time off
• 10 paid holidays

Work Environment

This position works from JPI’s Uptown Manhattan office, with potential for a hybrid schedule. The role includes regular participation in meetings, donor and community events, and Board activities. Evening and weekend work may be required to support performances, fundraising events, and donor engagement.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter for consideration. Include the word "JazzPowerON" on your letter and/or reply to your question. Applicants who need a reasonable accommodation during the hiring process may contact eli@jazzpower.org.

Jazz Power Initiative is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

• Health stipend, paid in addition to salary: $400 per month for single employees; $700 per month for employees who are married and/or have children
• 120 hours of Vacation and Well-Being paid time off
• 10 paid holidays