Director of Foundations

The mission of Jazz at Lincoln Center, Inc. (“JALC”) is to entertain, enrich and expand a global community for jazz through performance, education, and advocacy. From college students to young stars, from working professionals to celebrated masters, we present quality jazz for an ever-increasing audience in an unprecedented range of activities and a variety of venues. We are dedicated to lifting audiences and bringing people together with substance and with integrity. JALC has created a dynamic platform where our key constituents – jazz artists (beginner to grizzled veteran), fans (casual listeners to advanced scholars), educators (local band leaders to leading artist-educators) and advocates (local community advocates to important national promoters) – can meet, engage, learn, and work towards common objectives.

The Opportunity

The Director of Foundations will drive revenue growth through effective grant-making, cultivating and stewarding strong foundation relationships. This role is critical to supporting our annual programs and special initiatives, ensuring that JALC is able to fulfill its mission.

In this dynamic position, the successful candidate will maximize revenue from foundations. They will steward and grow relationships with current and prospective funders overseeing all aspects of grant proposal writing, grants management, and donor relations. They will work closely with our program and data evaluation teams to craft compelling, data-driven narratives that highlight the successes of our programs. Partnering with the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Advancement Officer, and Chief Financial Officer and the Institutional Relations team, you will develop and implement strategies to unlock new sources of local and national funding.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising and Development Leadership

• Establish and grow partnerships with local, regional, and national foundations, driving financial support for Jazz at Lincoln Center.
• Identify new foundation prospects and develop tailored cultivation strategies for potential partners.
• Serve as the main point of contact for a portfolio of foundation partners, managing engagement and satisfaction to ensure long-term relationships.
• Implement formal stewardship plans for each foundation partner, ensuring partnership goals are met.

Grant Development and Writing

• Identify and cultivate new foundation prospects, solicit financial support, and steward strong partnerships to achieve the programmatic and strategic goals of Jazz at Lincoln Center.
• Manage the grant writing and reporting calendar to ensure timely submissions and accurate records in Tessitura.
• Develop and submit grant proposals aligned with donor interests and organizational priorities, leveraging program and data staff for compelling narratives.
• Collaborate with the Finance Department to develop budgets tailored to foundation proposals.
• Develop and support the Institutional Giving team, ensuring they are equipped to achieve revenue and program goals.
• In partnership with development leadership and staff, create and implement strategies to grow philanthropic revenue from all foundations.
• Research and identify new funding sources, leveraging Jazz at Lincoln Center's Board of Directors to secure introductions with potential funders.
• Maintain accurate data records for foundation partners in Tessitura, tracking engagement and analyzing data to support strategic goals.
• Assist in development operations initiatives, including Tessitura data review and analysis, gift processing, and donor acknowledgments.
• Contribute to annual development planning and support fundraising events.
• Collaborate on organizational efforts to enhance overall development strategy and operations.

Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in institutional fundraising and strategic partnership management.
• At least 3 years in a leadership role, preferably overseeing foundation fundraising staff.
• Proven success in foundation relations, grants management, and revenue generation.
• Strong track record in pipeline development to attract new support and diversify an organization’s donor base.
• Experience in the performing arts nonprofit sector is preferred.

Skills and Competencies

• Exceptional written and oral communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information into clear, compelling narratives.
• Strong research skills and an entrepreneurial mindset, with the ability to develop strategic relationships and influence decision-making.
• Excellent understanding of donor strategy and leverage points to optimize results.
• Strong time management skills, with the ability to prioritize deliverables in a fast-paced environment.
• High level of professionalism and excellent judgment in handling sensitive information.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and experience using fundraising or sales databases (knowledge of Tessitura preferred).

Personal Attributes

• Ability to work independently while being an integral, collaborative member of a larger team.
• Highly organized and able to take initiative, balancing short-term and long-term needs across multiple projects.
• Commitment to Jazz at Lincoln Center’s mission and a dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Work Hours

JALC does not offer a hybrid work schedule. All staff work together as a team, Monday through Friday at our offices (either Jazz at Lincoln Center’s administrative offices at 3 Columbus Circle or at Frederick P. Rose Hall, The House of Swing).

Jazz at Lincoln Center is an equal opportunity employer that affords equal opportunities to all applicants, employees, contractors, and other covered persons, and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. Jazz at Lincoln Center is committed to creating an inclusive, open, and respectful culture that reflects and embraces diversity.