Position Announcement:  Director of Development
Location:  Montclair, New Jersey

Organizational Overview
Started in 1996 by an elementary school teacher as an informal project, Little Kids Rock (LKR) has become a nationally recognized nonprofit organization serving thousands of students in ten states.  Knowing that music is a critical component of a first-rate education, Little Kids Rock inspires children to express themselves through music, building the creativity, confidence, and self-esteem that are critical to success in school and beyond. We accomplish this by:

• Pioneering innovative teaching methods that are rooted in children’s knowledge of popular music forms such as rock, rap, blues, and hip-hop
• Preparing practitioners such as teachers and youth workers to offer classes utilizing our methods and materials
• Providing free musical instruments and trained instructors to children, especially those who would not otherwise receive music education in their school settings

Little Kids Rock has trained over 500 teachers in 10 states and has reached close to 20,000 children.  With an operating budget of $1.4M and a staff of 5, LKR is poised and ready for substantial growth over the next 3-5 years. 

Position Overview
Little Kids Rock (LKR) is seeking a dynamic and entrepreneurial Director of Development who will have primary responsibility for overseeing the strategic development, coordination and implementation of LKR’s fundraising initiatives.  A new position created due to organizational growth, the Director of Development will explore and cultivate all funding opportunities, including individual, corporate and foundation, to ensure the continued success and growth of LKR’s dynamic programs.  The Director of Development will work closely with the Founder/Executive Director, as well as the Board of Directors and other development staff members, to develop strategy and lead implementation. 

Specific Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Executive Director to develop a strategic fundraising plan that will guide the organization to meet ambitious fundraising goals, maximizing opportunities around corporate, individual, and event fundraising; Ensure successful implementation of the fundraising plan
• Conduct research on a variety of potential funding sources, assess gift potential and find ways to engage, cultivate and foster relationships
• Design and execute innovative and strategic corporate partnership concepts
• Promote Little Kids Rock and support fundraising objectives through the effective design and coordination of major special events
• Oversee the development and implementation of strategic marketing plans and collateral materials to gain media attention, enhance public relations, and/or build Little Kids Rock’s brand, serving as a visible spokesperson for Little Kids Rock as appropriate
• Create and implement all appropriate systems and metrics to increase operational efficiencies, enhance evaluation procedures and surpass fundraising goals
• Work closely with the Executive Director and Board of Directors and directly supervise a Grant Writer to ensure smooth day to day operations of fundraising activities

Qualifications 

• Several years of experience in development and fundraising and/or marketing, with increasing responsibility and proven success raising money, building relationships, and increasing organizational visibility
• Energetic, enthusiastic, team-player interested in growing within an entrepreneurial environment; background in and/or passion for music and music education strongly preferred
• Demonstrated success developing and maintaining innovative partnerships
• Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills, including exceptional writing skills, strong oral presentation and relationship management skills 
• The ability to effectively gain the respect and support of various constituencies, including board and staff members, donors, and foundation, corporate, and civic leaders
• Proven experience in the execution of high-quality and strategic special events
• Flexible and adaptable, with a focus on innovation and consistency
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience; Master’s degree preferred

To Apply:  Please email a resume and thoughtful cover letter, outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position and stating how you heard about this opportunity, both in Word format, to David Wish at LKR@cgcareers.org, subject line “Director of Development.”  Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Little Kids Rock is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in education and employment, and encourages all individuals to apply, irrespective of their race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, veteran status, ancestry, or national or ethnic origin.

About Commongood Careers:  Little Kids Rock has partnered with Commongood Careers to conduct the search for a Director of Development.  Commongood Careers (www.cgcareers.org/) is a nonprofit search service that connects talented individuals to organizations that are dedicated to creating positive social change.  Founded and staffed by nonprofit professionals, Commongood Careers offers personalized, engaged services to jobseekers and organizations throughout the hiring process, as well as access to a wealth of knowledge about nonprofit careers.