Overview

Director of Development

 

About Drama Club:

Drama Club is an innovative and growing non-profit organization that provides theater training and mentor relationships to youth who have directly or indirectly experienced the criminal justice system. Drama Club’s mission is to consistently care for youth who are incarcerated and court-involved by creating space for them to thrive, using improv as their guide.

 

Position: Director of Development

 

Reports to: Executive Director

 

Position Summary:

Drama Club is seeking an experienced and motivated Director of Development, who is strong in stewardship, to lead our fundraising and development efforts.. Reporting to, and in partnership with, the Executive Director, the Director of Development will lead, manage and implement an annual and multi-year fundraising plan to support our annual operating budget, and will identify the strategic partnerships, tools, and messages that will ensure success of those plans. In addition, they will be the advocate for Drama Club’s mission to a variety of stakeholders, including foundation, corporate, and individual donors and prospects. A new position in the organization, this is an exciting opportunity for the Director to build the development department.

 

Key Responsibilities:

 

Donor Cultivation and Stewardship (50%)

●      Build and steward a pipeline of individual and major donors, including identifying prospects, cultivating relationships, and making direct solicitation, in partnership with the ED and Board members.

●      Strengthen the commitment of current donors through individual meetings, site visits, phone calls, office visits, special mailings, and other relationship-building correspondence and activities.

●      Cultivate a culture of philanthropy among all staff, board members, and donors.

●      Plan and coordinate donor recognition events and activities.

 

Strategic Fundraising Planning (15%)

●      Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy to support Drama Club’s mission and goals.

●      Set annual fundraising goals and create a roadmap to achieve them.

●      Identify new funding opportunities and innovative approaches to diversify revenue streams

 

Campaigns and Special Events (15%)

●      Plan and execute annual fundraising campaigns, including end-of-year appeals, capital campaigns, and online giving initiatives.

●      Organize and manage special events, including fundraisers, galas, and community outreach events, to raise funds and increase visibility for Drama Club.

●      Collaborate with the communications team to develop marketing materials and campaigns that support fundraising efforts.

 

Data Management and Reporting: (10%)

●      Oversee the maintenance of the donor database, ensuring accurate and up-to-date records of all donations and interactions.

●      Track and analyze fundraising data to measure progress towards goals and inform strategic decisions.

●      Ensure grant compliance and reporting requirements.

●      Prepare regular reports for the Executive Director and Board of Directors on fundraising activities and outcomes.

 

Team Leadership and Collaboration: (10%)

●      Lead and mentor the development team, providing guidance, support, and professional development opportunities.

●      Collaborate with program staff to align fundraising efforts with programmatic needs and priorities.

●      Work closely with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to engage them in fundraising efforts and cultivate their networks for potential donors.

 

 

Development money raised last year: $1.1 million

Development goal this year: $1.6 million

Total organization budget this year: $1.4 million

Anticipated organization budget next year: $1.6 million

Anticipated organization budget in two years: 1.75 million

 

Qualifications:

●      Minimum of 7 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising and development, with a proven track record of success reaching annual revenue goals.

●      Demonstrated experience in donor cultivation, and campaign management.

●      Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling messages for diverse audiences.

●      Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.

●      Proficiency in donor management software and fundraising technology.

●      Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

●      Passion for Drama Club’s mission and values, with a commitment to youth empowerment and social justice.

 

Compensation

Annual salary range of $90,000 – $110,000 is commensurate with experience.  The benefits package includes 11 paid public holidays, up to 4 weeks of accrued vacation time, and the accrual of sick days. Health benefits and a 401(k) plan are provided.

 

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter detailing their qualifications and commitment to Drama Club’s mission to josie@dramaclub.org.  Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

 

Drama Club is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds, particularly those with lived experiences related to our mission.

 

Drama Club is dedicated to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and diverse environment where all individuals feel valued and respected. We believe that diversity enriches our organization and enhances our ability to serve our community. We are committed to dismantling systemic barriers, promoting fairness, and ensuring that everyone, especially those from marginalized communities, has the opportunity to thrive. Our goal is to create a culture of belonging where every voice is heard and everyone can participate fully and authentically.

About Drama Club, Inc.

Drama Club's mission is to consistently care for youth who are incarcerated or court involved providing space for them to thrive, using improv as their guide. Drama Club has been providing weekly workshops in Crossroads Juvenile Center since 2013, Horizon Juvenile Center since 2014, Robert N. Davoren Center at Rikers Island since 2014, and Rose M. Singer Center at Rikers Island since 2016. In partnership with the nonprofit The Door in lower Manhattan, Drama Club has been providing weekly workshops for youth in reentry and systems-involved youth since 2017. In 2023, Drama Club expanded programming to 2 Passages Academies (DOE schools for adjudicated youth), the Bedford Stuyvesant NeON site for youth on probation, an Exodus Transitional Center in Harlem for youth in reentry, and with Build the Block a gun violence prevention organization in Bay Ridge and Brownsville as part of their Summer Youth Employment Program.

We work at the intersection of systemic racism and poverty with a core population of incarcerated and justice-involved youth that are 96% persons of color, aged 13-25 from neighborhoods across New York City that suffer from government and corporate underinvestment, and a scarcity of arts programming.

Last year, Drama Club provided 375 workshops serving 630 youth with a total attendance of 2676. The workshops culminated in 14 performances attended by audiences of 700.