Development & Operations Manager, Judson Commons

Independent Contractor:  20 hours per week;  $4,800 a month

Contract will be for one year; possibility for renewal after 12 months.

Location: mostly remote; occasional in-person meetings and special events at Judson where presence is required. 

ABOUT JUDSON COMMONS:   Judson Commons is the new container for arts and justice-making housed within Judson Memorial Church. Every week, the spaces within Judson provide a home to a wide variety of meetings, gatherings, performances, events, and happenings. Our intent is to nurture the vital collaborations that sustain social justice movements, and to provide  a safe and uncensored environment for artists, activists, and audiences. Our signature arts program– Judson Arts Wednesdays– is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse artistic environment, providing a platform for underrepresented voices to be heard and audiences to witness stellar performances with no ticket fee. Every performance is accompanied by an hour-long, plant-based community meal. Our philosophy is that artists and audiences need to eat, literally, and enjoying abundant, free, fresh, lovingly-made food can nourish body and soul. When folks gather at table, a foundation of relationship creates an even more generative and generous environment for the artists presenting, one in which attendees engage directly with artists’ work, ask questions, and gain liberation.

Judson Commons is also the working name for a secular 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2019 (legal name: Friends of Judson). The organization was created to provide support—including fundraising, strategic advising, and outreach—to the secular arts and justice initiatives that are affiliated with and often housed within Judson Memorial Church.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Development & Operations Manager is a new position at Judson Commons/Friends of Judson, the 501c3 which was created in 2019  to support the arts and justice work housed within Judson Memorial Church. The contractor will be responsible for working closely with the Board Chair and Artistic Director to fundraise for Judson Commons. Key responsibilities include  a) setting up and managing the development database   b) supporting the Board and Artistic Director in identifying, cultivating and tracking all donor and funder opportunities c) setting up systems and processes that support that work  c) creating and executing external communications  d) special projects as needed.

This  is an exciting position for a self-starter who is adept at fundraising, loves data and operations, and has strong communication skills.  Coming in on the ground floor,  they will work closely with the Board Chair  to build the next chapter in Judson’s vibrant arts and justice programs, including identifying new opportunities for growth and sustainability. They will keep critical administrative and fundraising systems functioning properly and provide logistical support. This position is responsible for the set-up and ongoing maintenance of the development database; they will drive the establishment of organizational standards and processes for data management and partner with staff to track all fundraising activities for the organization. They will also drive the communications to donors and partners through digital platforms, and collaborate with the program teams on sharing exciting content and news, and work on special projects as needed. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Coordination of  all fundraising activities.
• Administration of fundraising database (CRM), includes fulfilling a lead role in setting up a new CRM and implementing processes and systems for accurate tracking of fundraising efforts from multiple sources.
• Maintain up-to-date and accurate donor data and donor prospect data.
• Manage gift processing from start-to-finish, including coding donations and importing donation data into the database.
• Set up Moves Management process with Board Chair and Artistic Director; regularly review and update on progress; collaborate on generating new ideas and opportunities.
• Conduct research on potential funders
• Manage all aspects of grants tracking and reporting
• Ensure timely processing of gift acknowledgement letters.
• Act as the primary team member in ongoing communications with the accounting firm handling our Quickbooks.
• Create and manage email, mailing, and donor constituent lists for fundraising campaigns and events as well as for broader external communications.
• Manage and create content for social media. 
• Liaise with various Judson Commons constituencies–Black Aesthetics co-creators, Mutual Aid team, and others as needed.
• Work on special projects, including the signature Judson Commons annual event with the Artistic Director and Board Chair.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2-3 years of professional experience.
• Alignment with mission
• Experience implementing and adapting development operations processes.
• Demonstrated experience managing and working in a database or CRM.
• Strong project management skills and proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Commitment to data integrity, attention to detail, accountability, and sensitivity to preserving confidentiality of donors and funding information.
• Strong writing and communication skills.
• Ability and willingness to work with a small, flexible team.
• Ability and willingness to manage multiple diverse tasks.
• Strong people skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft and Google Suite and ability to learn how to use and navigate third-party fundraising platforms, such as Benevity, GiveSmart, etc.