Mission and Vision

Through the joyful art and practice of social dances, Dancing Classrooms cultivates engaged learners, collaborative leaders, and inclusive spaces. We envision a world that values social dance as foundational to every child’s well-being and joy, celebrates the beauty of diversity, and amplifies our shared humanity.

Organizational Overview:

Made famous by the acclaimed 2005 documentary “Mad Hot Ballroom,” DC has been an arts education leader for almost 30 years. We provide more dance instruction than any other nonprofit partner in NYC, serving over 15,000 students in 150 schools each year; predominantly in low-income communities. Since its founding, DC has danced with over 650,000 children globally and currently supports 10 affiliates across the U.S.

With a portfolio of standards-based K-12 grade in- and after-school residencies, we use social and partner dance to teach children the soft and “power” skills that will help them succeed in school and life such as collaboration, focus, listening, and perseverance. DC’s programs are gender inclusive, culturally responsive, and accessible to Students With Disabilities (both physical and neurological).

Emerging from the pandemic years, DC is uniquely positioned to meet the moment with a research-backed methodology that supports children’s social-emotional learning skills and mental health. With freshly articulated vision, mission, and values statements and a new strategic plan in place, we are eager to build a highly motivated and effective development team to scale our programs to impact 50% more children over the next three years.

Reporting to and in partnership with the Executive Director (ED), the Development Director (Director) will oversee all development efforts and establish a new internal fundraising team for the organization. The Director is a creative, strategic and experienced fundraising professional, responsible for raising $1.2 million in 2023-24 and steadily increasing contributed revenue over the next three years through a combination of individual/major giving, grants, and events. The Director oversees a Development Manager and collaborates closely with the Communications Coordinator, Finance Manager, and programs team.

Key Roles include:

Diversifying and Expanding the Donor Base

Analyze the current donor makeup and set goals to further diversify (cultural and racial diversity, age, sector, and other demographics) and grow our individual donor pool. Through powerful, authentic and creative campaigns and events, develop individual donor strategies, along with materials, to renew and upgrade current donor gifts and lay the groundwork for a new generation of supporters.

Increasing Major Giving

Develop a robust and measurable program for the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major donors to support Dancing Classrooms’ post-COVID future and build its endowment. Participate in each step of the major donor pipeline including: identification; qualification through research; cultivation approach; briefing; request for support (in collaboration with the Executive Director); and prompt follow up, stewardship, and recognition.

Overseeing Institutional Giving Efforts and Development Infrastructure

Working closely with the Development Manager to maintain current relationships and cultivate new foundation, government and corporate prospects. Continually updating and strengthening DC’s written grant materials and institutional giving strategy to reflect DC’s unique position in the dance, arts education and youth development spaces.

Supporting the Board of Trustees

Guide the efforts of the Develop Committee of the Board and support the ED to inform, leverage, and grow the Board of Trustees as needed.

Requirements and Qualifications:

• 5+ years of fundraising experience with a demonstrated record of significantly increasing individual and major giving, producing successful events,
• Passionate about dance education, youth development, and/or social-emotional learning to help young people realize their potential
• Excellent writing skills
• Excellent interpersonal communication and relationship building skills
• A strategic thinker, matching efforts to outcomes
• Excellent knowledge of fundraising best practices and always looking to learn more
• Facility using donor databases, preferably Salesforce, to strategically engage donors
• A joyful and compassionate team player with a commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA)
• Must be comfortable working remotely, with regular in-person meetings in Manhattan and site visits at schools across the NYC Metro area.

Schedule, Hours of Work:

40 hours a week (typically M-F, 9am-5pm), 5 days a week, remotely, with in-person meetings and site visits scheduled at least 2-5 times per month. Flex desk and meeting space is available for use in our midtown Manhattan subleased office as needed. On occasion, and leading up to fundraising events or meetings, staff members are expected to be available at times they are not usually scheduled to be online, including evenings and weekends. Schedules are subject to change.

Compensation:

$100,000-125,000, commensurate with experience, and a benefits package including health care coverage, commuter benefits, and generous paid time off.

Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter detailing your experience and expertise in the aforementioned qualifications no later than June 30, 2023. Please send application materials to jobs@dancingclassrooms.org, with the subject line “Development Director.”