Chief Development Officer | Free Arts NYC

Free Arts NYC

Chief Development Officer

New York, NY

Background

Free Arts NYC empowers youth from underserved communities
through art and mentoring programs to develop their creativity,
confidence, and skills to succeed.

For 25 years, we have strived to level the playing field and
create equity in the creative space by providing high-quality arts
and 1:1 mentorship programming for the next generation. Every year,
we partner with over 30 schools, community centers, and
transitional housing facilities to provide free programming for
2,000 young people through 2 core programs. The team consists of 13
individuals (FTE and PTE) and the $2.5M dollar annual budget is
raised through corporate engagement opportunities, foundation
grants, individual giving campaigns, unique partnerships, and an
Annual Art Auction honoring major figures in the contemporary art
world including Futura, KAWS, Julia Chiang, Eddie Martinez, Sam
Moyer, and Lawrence Weiner. The 2024 Honoree will be Christopher
Wool.  

Position

The Chief Development Officer (“CDO”) is an innovative,
charismatic, and entrepreneurial leader and a key part of the
organization’s Executive Level Leadership Team. The CDO partners
with the Founder & CEO to contribute substantive vision,
expertise, strategy, and leadership to shape and expand the
organization’s development program, drive new and steward existing
revenue streams, and bring fresh ideas for institutional
fundraising. 

A trusted advisor, this seasoned leader and fundraiser will work
intimately with the Founder & CEO to gain deep insight into the
leadership philosophy and internal fundraising systems of the
organization to identify and implement development processes and
fundraising strategies that lead to diversified revenue streams
that further the organization’s mission and enables Free Arts NYC
to effectively fulfill its commitments to its stakeholders and
constituents. 

This is a highly strategic and facilitative role that requires
extensive fundraising operations expertise, political savvy,
collaboration skills, organization, ambition, leadership, and
exemplary communications skills. The person in this role must be a
spokesperson for the organization, relationship-centric, and able
to successfully partner with stakeholders across the entire
organization to advance strategic priorities and ensure business
results are delivered. The successful candidate will be diplomatic,
discrete, proactive, a direct communicator, a highly organized
project manager, and committed to the vision and values of Free
Arts NYC.    

The CDO will report directly to the Founder & CEO and will
manage the development team.

Responsibilities

Strategy & Implementation

• Serve as an entrepreneurial leader who will develop and
  implement the organization’s fundraising and strategy and program
  inclusive of institutional, corporate, and individual giving. Along
  with the CEO, this position will oversee donor relationships to
  include stewardship and recognition.
• Partner across all operational areas to foster and secure an
  organizational culture that values and integrates equity and
  inclusion strategies.
• Work in collaboration with the Leadership Team on annual and
  long-term strategic financial planning to ensure organizational
  growth and sustainability.
• Liaise with the Board of Directors to communicate and promote
  transparency around fundraising goals; support the Board’s efforts
  in reaching goals through a variety of engagement activities.
• Participate in select board meetings, present strategic plans,
  provide detailed status updates and analysis and robust donor
  reports.
• Outline concrete fundraising metrics with equity benchmarks,
  collect data, track ongoing goals to accurately measure growth, and
  determine areas of opportunity. Report on progress on a monthly,
  quarterly, and annual basis.
• Create strategies to continue to engage key stakeholders.
• Maintain a suite of fundraising materials to include, but are
  not limited to organization guides, case making materials,
  promotional decks, and annual reports.
• Leverage and integrate development strategies using Free Arts’
  digital platforms including website, newsletters, and other social
  media.
• Lead, plan and manage development events to include cultivation
  events and annual fundraisers. Ensure events align to strategic
  development and cultivation goals.
• Maximize Salesforce CRM to centralize and streamline
  advancement initiatives and activities; Oversee the management and
  advancement of CRM for fundraising and prospect management.
• Participate in R+D activities to ensure alignment between
  fundraising best practices and the organization’s mission and
  values.

Leadership

• Create and implement a culture of responsible philanthropy in
  partnership with Free Arts staff.
• Serve as a member of the organization’s Leadership Maintain an
  understanding of the organization’s financial model, fundraising
  priorities, and financial position.
• Provide the Leadership Group and staff at large with regular
  updates and insights regarding the day-to-day short-term and
  long-term activities and goals of the advancement team.
• Represent Free Arts at select events and speaking
  engagements.
• Manage direct reports including establishing annual performance
  goals, providing leadership and direction on short and long-term
  responsibilities.

Institutional Giving

• Develop and implement annual and long-term funding plans.
• In tandem with a Grant Writer, research, identify and cultivate
  foundation opportunities.
• Conduct outreach and participate in inquiry meetings with
  foundation personnel, follow up, and track next steps.
• Oversee annual planning calendar of grant opportunities to
  outline actions requirements and deadlines.
• Coordinate grant proposal development processes across the
  organization and research, ideate, and contribute to writing
  proposals.

Corporate Giving

• With the support of the Development Manager, research, identify
  and cultivate corporate giving opportunities. Conduct outreach and
  participate in inquiry meetings with new contacts. Follow up and
  track the next steps.
• Solicit sponsorship opportunities for fundraising events.
• Maintain ongoing communication and relationship cultivation
  with corporate sponsors.

Individual Giving

• Working in partnership with the CEO manage, retain, and grow a
  portfolio of existing and new donors, oversee stewardship and
  recognition.
• Manage the organization’s donation management system and other
  aspects of donor stewardship and communication.
• Report monthly on metrics relating to individual donor
  acquisition, retention, and engagement.

Qualifications

• Candidates must have at least five years of development
  experience and have demonstrated success in reaching fundraising
  benchmarks and goals of over $1M annually.
• Excellent understanding of principles and techniques of
  development activities including annual giving, major giving,
  planned giving, event planning, marketing, and communications.
• Demonstrated leadership experience successfully managing
  multiple direct reports.
• Experience in grant writing and skills in proposal
  development.
• Deft ability to take initiative, prioritize, ideate, and
  implement multiple projects effectively and collaboratively in a
  fast-paced environment.
• Strong written and oral communication skills and effective
  networking.
• Experience building organizational systems and familiarity with
  nonprofit governance, compliance and accounting are a plus.
• Committed to ethical, culturally competent fundraising
  strategies and dedicated to the principles of Diversity, Equity,
  and Inclusion.
• This position is open to candidates with a variety of
  educational and professional backgrounds with a strong knowledge of
  the New York City art world. Ideal candidates will have experience
  in the fields of non-profit art, business management &
  administration and culture. Strong technology skills, including
  fluency with donor databases, presentation, and team management
  software (including but not limited to Salesforce, Asana, Slack,
  PowerPoint, Google Workspace, Dropbox, Zoom, and Excel).

Salary and Location

The salary range for this position is $125,000 – $140,000,
commensurate with experience. This position is a full-time role
with occasional weekends and nights (flex time offered
accordingly). Free Arts NYC will offer a comprehensive benefits
package that includes vacation, personal/sick days, 100% employer
paid health, vision and dental insurance for individuals, and
professional development.

This is an in-office/remote work hybrid position. Candidates
must be based in the NYC area. Proof of vaccination is required for
employment.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Free Arts NYC is committed to building equity within the arts
and creative professions, and we recognize that oppression and
discrimination have resulted in ongoing disparities for the
communities that we work alongside. We believe in being intentional
that everyone, regardless of economic circumstances, race, gender,
sexuality, national origin, or any other differences, feels they
can obtain the benefits of meaningful participation in the
arts.

Free Arts NYC must amplify diversity within the arts by
connecting youth to a variety of opportunities that build their
social capital. Inequity is an ongoing issue, and we will meet it
with ongoing and evolving efforts. Through strength-based,
intentional curriculum design, and the development of our staff and
board’s cultural competency, we will more effectively address the
needs of those we serve.

To apply for this position, please click
HERE.

Nina Cogan, Talent Consultant

[email protected]

Merav Schwartz, Senior Associate

[email protected]