Development Director (Well-Being for Creatives)

• Remote
• 5–10 Hours/Week

Volunteer (Path to Paid Role)

About Connection is Magic

Connection is Magic is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and podcast that serves as a “Lighthouse for Creatives,” providing support to creatives both inside and outside the entertainment industry. Hosted by Samson Shulman, a former Interscope Records executive turned therapist, the podcast has surpassed 8 million channel views on YouTube and ranks in the top 5% most globally shared on Spotify, reaching listeners in 66 countries.

The podcast has featured notable guests including Jack Black, G-Eazy, Clancy (Tyler, The Creator’s Manager), Kathryn Frazier (The Weeknd’s Publicist), LaRussell, Katonya Breaux (Frank Ocean’s Mom), Coodie & Chike (directors of the Netflix documentary “Jeen-yuhs”), and Brock Korsan (Kendrick Lamar’s A&R).

Society isn’t built to support creatives—yet creativity is essential to being fully alive. The creative path is one of the most courageous: you’re often ridiculed before you’re praised, starved before you’re fed, and alone before you’re seen. CIM was born from Samson’s own “dark night of the soul”—a battle with Lyme Disease, a near-death experience, and severe career burnout working at Interscope Records, The Tonight Show, and in artist management.

We’re now expanding beyond the podcast into multiple new initiatives—a 1-on-1 therapy fund for struggling artists, virtual support groups, and wellness events in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, and beyond—and we need help raising the funds to bring it all to life.

The Opportunity

We’re looking for a passionate, resourceful volunteer to help us secure the funding that will power our next chapter. This is a ground-floor opportunity to shape the fundraising strategy of a fast-growing nonprofit with serious cultural momentum. If you believe in the healing power of creativity and want to make a tangible impact, we’d love to hear from you.

This role has a clear path to becoming a paid position as funding grows.

What You’ll Do

• Grant Research: Research and identify grant opportunities from foundations, government agencies, and corporate sponsors aligned with mental health, the arts, and creative communities.
• Grant Writing: Draft compelling grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and funding applications that tell the CIM story with clarity and heart.
• Fundraising Strategy: Help develop and execute a broader fundraising strategy, including individual donor outreach, crowdfunding campaigns, and corporate sponsorship packages.
• Pipeline Management: Build and maintain a pipeline of funding prospects, tracking deadlines, submissions, and follow-ups.
• Donor Communications: Partner with the founder and team to craft donor communications, impact reports, and pitch materials.

Who You Are

• You have experience in grant writing, fundraising, nonprofit development, or a strong desire to build these skills.
• You’re a compelling writer who can translate mission and impact into language that moves people to give.
• You’re organized, self-directed, and comfortable working remotely with a small, passionate team.
• You care deeply about mental health, the arts, or both—and you understand the unique challenges creatives face.
• You’re excited by the idea of getting in early with a growing organization and helping shape its future.

Nice to Have (But Not Required)

• Experience with nonprofit CRMs or fundraising platforms (e.g., Bloomerang, DonorPerfect, GoFundMe Charity).
• Familiarity with foundation databases like Candid, GrantWatch, or Instrumentl.
• Background in or connection to arts, entertainment, or music industries.
• Experience writing for or working within 501(c)(3) organizations.

What You’ll Get

• A meaningful role with a nonprofit making a real difference in artists’ lives.
• Direct collaboration with the founder—your voice will shape strategy, not just execute it.
• Hands-on fundraising and grant writing experience with a culturally relevant, growing organization.
• A clear path to a paid position as CIM scales.
• The chance to be part of a community that believes connection is magic and creativity is essential.

How to Apply

Send your cover letter and resume to cleo@connectionismagic.com. In your cover letter, tell us why this mission resonates with you. If you have any writing samples (grant proposals, fundraising copy, or anything that shows your voice), we’d love to see them—but they’re not required.

Whether you’re making music, films, paintings, or building something innovative, the emotional rollercoaster can be isolating and intense. We’re here to remind you: you’re not alone… even when the world hasn’t caught up yet.