Senior Director of External Affairs

About Musicopia & Dancing Classrooms Philly (DCP)

Musicopia is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) established in 1974, with the mission to provide equitable access to music education and enrichment, encouraging self-confidence, global awareness, dedication and joy in Pre-K to 12th grade students and their communities. The organization’s 170 Teaching Artists travel into neighborhoods throughout the Greater Philadelphia region to share their passion for music and dance with more than 20,000 students annually. Musicopia works to ensure that young people have access to the culture, diversity, discovery, and joy of the arts. 80% of Musicopia’s students are from neighborhoods and schools lacking adequate funding.

Through in-school and community-based assemblies and residencies from a global roster of professional artists, long-term ensembles and year-round instrument and vocal instruction, afterschool string orchestra and drumline programs, the Philadelphia Lullaby Project, social dance through affiliate Dancing Classrooms Philly (DCP), and an instrument donation program, Musicopia sparks a love of the arts, encourages students’ natural artistic abilities, creates lasting connections, and supports a culture of well-being and inclusion. 

Nonprofit affiliate Dancing Classrooms Philly’s mission is to foster self–esteem, social awareness, mutual respect, teamwork and joy in young people and their communities through social dance education and performance. DCP offers residences and assemblies, Teacher Workshops, Intergenerational Community Workshops, and continuation programs for DCP’s flagship ballroom dancing program, the Academy and Allstars. DCP helps to enrich communities by building confidence in students, breaking down social barriers, and inspiring respect for all individuals. 

Musicopia and DCP maintain a dynamic partnership to provide both organizations with a more efficient infrastructure while advancing their missions and community impact. With combined annual revenue of $2.4 million, Musicopia and DCP share a common Board of Directors as well as some staff. Both are committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace and equitable access to high quality, culturally responsive arts education for ALL children.

The Position

Reporting to the President & CEO, the Senior Director of External Affairs is a new position joining at Musicopia’s pivotal 50th Anniversary year and responsible for the development of marketing and fundraising strategies to grow the base of philanthropic support and increase public awareness of Musicopia and DCP. The Senior Director will be a frontline fundraiser for the organizations, responsible for setting the organizations’ strategic fundraising agendas to achieve and exceed contributed revenue goals. With a team of four direct reports, the Senior Director will also build and manage the organizations’ identities and all aspects of marketing communication to raise awareness of the organizations and their programs.

Roles & Responsibilities

Leadership

• Create and deliver strategies and tactical initiatives to grow a diversified and sustainable base of philanthropic support for Musicopia and DCP
• Produce a written, diversified, metrics-driven Development Plan with clearly defined goals, objectives, timelines, and assignment of responsibilities
• Work collaboratively with the President & CEO and the Board to identify donor and funder prospects
• Serve as the staff liaison to the Board’s Development and Marketing Committee
• Provide regular reports on development activities to leadership
• Manage department staff through mentorship, goal-setting, and ongoing professional development

Contributed Revenue

• Oversee prospect and donor management for individual and institutional supporters with an annual portfolio starting at $1.5 million, including planned, consistent cultivation and stewardship
• Build and manage a pipeline of major gift prospects and donors through a disciplined process of identification, research, screening, prioritization, and creation of realistic solicitation strategies, with specific periodic goals (e.g., monthly, semi-annually, yearly)
• Directly solicit gifts; prepare staff leadership and Board members to solicit gifts and provide support through the solicitation process
• Conceive and implement giving opportunities designed to provide entry points for smaller donors
• Oversee the research and identification of institutional funder prospects
• Oversee the execution of the grants process, including timely submissions, grant tracking, and grant reporting
• Manage and grow a corporate sponsorship program aligned with underwriting opportunities, campaigns, and special or periodic events
• Provide leadership and oversight for fundraising campaigns and special events; directly plan and manage events as appropriate and necessary
• Attend events throughout the year, often on weekends and evenings (fundraising, corporate, cultivation)

Development Operations

• Oversee development operations with an eye towards continuous improvement, based on evolving best practices and compliance requirements
• Ensure timely gift processing, preparation of acknowledgement letters, and handling of related stewardship and compliance-related activities
• Provide regular tracking and reporting on strategies and prospect status to leadership
• Prepare and maintain an annual Development Calendar of activities
• Ensure proper management and utilization of data in the CRM
• Work with Finance to set annual contributed revenue budget and ensure proper accounting for donations and sponsorships

Communications/Community Engagement

• Oversee Communications Plans to support strategic initiatives
• Set and guide team communications style, ensuring succinct, powerful storytelling messages across all written communications of the department
• Support brand-aligned strategies via social media, email, advertising and direct mail campaigns, as appropriate
• Provide development-specific content
• Oversee messaging and acknowledgements for, and working with operations department, plan organization representation (staff/Board/volunteers) at community-sponsored events
• Proactively engage community leaders, funders, members of the political sectors, individuals
• Represent Musicopia at community/arts and culture/government/ industry events
• Partner with the CEO on public initiatives/government affairs

Other duties as assigned by the President & CEO

Ideal Professional Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred; Master’s Degree a plus (certificate in nonprofit fundraising or degree in nonprofit administration highly desirable)
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in development
• Exceptional oral and written communication and interpersonal skills, including ability to edit and write clearly and succinctly with strategic messaging
• Demonstrated leadership and relationship-building skills and the ability to work well with diverse groups
• Proven success in the cultivation and solicitation in major gifts, grant writing, corporate giving, government support, and special events (understanding of, and experience with, planned giving a plus)
• Experience with marketing and communications including copywriting, editing, press releases
• Strong background in strategic planning and project management
• Working mastery of technology tools including presentation applications, Microsoft Word, Excel, and CRM donor management platforms. Experience with leveraging AI in the development process a plus
• Experienced in managing and fostering staff development highly preferred

Other Qualifications

• Self-starter 
• Customer service oriented
• Entrepreneurial, innovative, and process-oriented
• Able to work independently and collaboratively
• Sense of duty and commitment to guiding and helping team to meet all funding deadlines
• Attuned to managing sensitive relationships and confidential information
• Passion for the arts and arts education
• Commitment to the values inherent in DEIA 

Compensation and Benefits

The expected salary range for the position is $90,000-$105,000 depending on experience. Benefits include options for medical, dental and vision insurance, health spending account, SIMPLE IRA with company matches, generous paid sick leave and vacation days, and 11 paid holidays/floating holidays plus winter recess. As part of ongoing initiatives to prioritize staff mental health, a Calm app subscription is provided to all employees.

Workplace

This is a full-time, exempt, partial-remote position. Work responsibilities will occur mostly during weekdays; however, some evening and weekend hours will be required to attend performances, special events, meetings, and other external activities in the greater Philadelphia region. Partial work from home is permitted and expected. 

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit a resume or CV as well as a cover letter that includes each of the following elements:

• Why you are interested in the Senior Director of External Affairs role at Musicopia and DCP
• Additional professional and/or personal experiences, if any, that inform your qualifications for this position and are not otherwise obvious from your resume
• Confirmation that the published salary range meets your requirements

Please submit your materials by July 15, 2024 by uploading files to the page visible once you hit "Apply" on LinkedIn .

All offers of employment are subject to and contingent upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment background checks as determined by Musicopia and DCP. 

Don’t check off every box in the requirements listed above? Please apply anyway! Musicopia is dedicated to building an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible workplace that fosters a sense of belonging – so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to still consider submitting an application. You may be just the right candidate for this role!