Job Description

Chief Advancement Officer

Organization : National Dance Institute

Location : In-Person - NYC

Position Type : Full-Time

Salary Range : $175,000 to $200,000

About Us:

National Dance Institute (NDI) envisions a world in which every child experiences the arts as an essential part of their education. Since its founding in 1976 by legendary ballet dancer Jacques d’Amboise, NDI has been guided by the belief that the arts are critical to a child’s social development and hold the power to transform lives. NDI’s mission is to provide children with spirited dance and music classes that spark learning in and through the arts. At NDI, dance and music are the vehicles for connection, self-discovery, and personal and collective growth. The joy, agency, and feeling of accomplishment that students experience with NDI carry over into all aspects of their lives and learning.

Position Overview:

NDI seeks an entrepreneurial leader to join the organization during an exciting growth phase. In 2025, NDI will celebrate 50 years of providing children with high quality and nationally acclaimed dance-focused arts education programs. NDI is on a solid financial foundation, and we have just completed a comprehensive five-year strategic plan to be adopted by the Board of Directors in early 2025. As part of that plan, NDI has engaged an outside evaluator to launch an Impact Study of our methodology to quantify our program's impact on school children. Our ideal candidate will understand how to leverage these assets to increase contributed income to meet our ambitious goals and expand our reach so that more children experience the transformative power of dance and music education.

The new Chief Advancement Officer will be a strategic thought partner to the Executive Director, Artistic Director, Board Chair, and Board of Directors. Leading a dedicated team of six professionals, you will shape and drive innovative fundraising strategies, including leading the public phase of a successful comprehensive campaign that has secured 85% of its goal. We seek a proven fundraising leader who combines a passion for the arts with the ability to inspire teams and achieve transformative results. This is an exceptional opportunity for the right candidate eager to join a growing team with a fresh approach.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Leadership:
   • Develop and implement a comprehensive advancement strategy that aligns with NDI’s mission and growth objectives.
   • Collaborate with the Executive Director, Artistic Director, and Board of Directors to set annual and long-term fundraising goals.
   • Train Board members to assist in fundraising opportunities.
   • Lead, train and mentor the Development Committee comprised of board members and staff members on best practices.
2. Fundraising Strategy:
   • Identify and pursue new funding opportunities, including grants, major gifts, and corporate sponsorships.
   • Oversee the preparation of grant proposals and reports, ensuring compliance with funding requirements.
   • Coordinate with Marketing and Communications to promote brand awareness and fundraising efforts.
3. Team Management:
   • Lead, mentor, and develop a team of six fundraising professionals, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment that celebrates successes and addresses challenges.
4. Campaign Management:
   • Oversee the planning and execution of the public phase of the comprehensive campaign.
   • Create marketing and donor engagement strategies.
   • Monitor campaign progress and adjust strategies as necessary to meet fundraising targets.
5. Donor Relations:
   • Cultivate and maintain relationships with individuals, board members, corporate, government, and foundation funders.
   • Develop and implement a comprehensive stewardship plan to enhance donor engagement and retention.
6. Community Engagement:
   • Represent NDI at community events, networking opportunities, and with key stakeholders to promote the organization and its mission.
   • Collaborate with other departments to ensure fundraising efforts are integrated and prioritized with program initiatives and community outreach.
7. Reporting and Analysis:
   • Analyze fundraising data to assess performance and inform strategic decisions.
   • Prepare regular reports and presentations for the Executive Director and board regarding fundraising progress and outcomes.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of high-level experience in nonprofit fundraising, with a focus on major gifts, campaigns, and donor relations.
• Proven leadership capabilities, with a track record of managing and developing a successful team.
• Strong understanding of the nonprofit arts sector.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire and engage diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated success in building relationships with donors and securing significant funding.
• Proficiency in fundraising software and CRM systems.

Personal Qualities:

• Highly organized and conscientious with the ability to prioritize effectively, juggle multiple responsibilities, and meet deadlines.
• Self-motivated and entrepreneurial while being a team player.
• Possesses a strong moral compass, able to maintain highly sensitive and confidential donor information.
• Committed to fostering an environment of trust, transparency, and mutual respect.
• Demonstrates appreciation of and sensitivity to a diverse environment, inclusive of staff, donors, and partners from many sociocultural, economic, ideological, racial, and ethnic backgrounds.
• Able to participate professionally in board meetings and support and empower board members with their development-related goals and activities.
• Demonstrated track record building rapport with and maintaining long-term relationships with corporate donors.

What We Offer:

• A dynamic and inclusive work environment that values creativity and collaboration.
• Opportunities for professional development and growth within the organization.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.

NDI provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment 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 local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

We value diversity and seek actively to build an inclusive applicant pool and pursue a thoughtful hiring process, including a diverse hiring committee, carefully designed interview questions and mindfulness about unconscious biases.

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