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Job details

Pay

• $110,000 a year

Job type

• Full-time

Shift and schedule

• Weekends as needed
• Evenings as needed

Benefits

• 401(k)
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Full job description

About Art Start

Art Start is a national nonprofit organization with an annual operating budget of $1.3M, spanning New York, NY and Milwaukee, WI. The organization is dedicated to empowering young people through arts, media, and creative storytelling. Through its programs, Art Start partners with youth, families, and communities to amplify voices, foster resilience, and create pathways for self-expression and opportunity.

Position Summary

Art Start seeks a strategic and dynamic Director of Development to lead and grow a diversified fundraising program that supports a multi-city, multi-program organization. This senior director will design and execute comprehensive development strategies across individual giving, institutional funding, corporate and creative industry sponsorships.Reporting to the Executive Director and partnering with the National Director of Programs, the Director of Development will manage and mentor a small but knowledgeable team, including a Development Manager, Grant Writer, and Marketing Coordinator. The ideal candidate brings a strong track record of building sustainable revenue streams, deepening donor engagement, and aligning fundraising with mission-driven storytelling.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Planning

• Develop and implement a comprehensive, multi-year development strategy aligned with organizational goals
• Partner with the Executive Director to set annual revenue targets and growth plans
• Analyze fundraising data and trends to inform strategy and decision-making
• Ensure a balanced and diversified revenue portfolio

Corporate & Creative Industry Sponsorships

• Develop and implement a strategy to grow corporate and creative industry partnerships aligned with Art Start’s mission
• Identify, cultivate, and secure sponsorships across sectors including media, entertainment, fashion, technology, and related industries
• Translate programmatic impact into compelling partnership value propositions for corporate and creative partners
• Create and present sponsorship proposals and pitch materials
• Oversee partnership stewardship, including fulfillment of benefits, reporting, and relationship management
• Collaborate with marketing to align sponsorship activation, visibility, and storytelling

Individual Giving & Major Gifts

• Build and manage a robust individual giving pipeline, including major donors and mid-level supporters
• Design and execute donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies
• Partner with the Executive Director and Board on high-level donor engagement

Institutional Fundraising

• Oversee foundation and government funding strategies
• Collaborate with the Grant Writer to ensure compelling proposals and timely reporting
• Identify and secure new funding opportunities

Events & Campaigns

• Lead the strategy and execution of fundraising campaigns and special events
• Integrate digital fundraising and marketing strategies to expand reach and engagement

Team Leadership & Management

• Supervise and support Development Manager, Grant Writer, and Marketing Coordinator
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and mission-aligned team culture
• Sustain and enhance systems and workflows that strengthen team efficiency and performance

Systems & Operations

• Oversee donor database management and reporting (experience with Raiser’s Edge strongly preferred)
• Ensure accurate tracking of donor activity, revenue, and projections
• Strengthen internal systems for fundraising operations and communications

Board Engagement

• Support and activate the Board of Directors in fundraising efforts
• Provide tools, strategy, and coaching to increase Board participation in development

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Qualifications

• 5–7 years of experience as a Director of Development in the arts education or a related field
• Demonstrated success creating and driving multi-level development plans
• Proven experience building and maintaining individual giving pipelines
• Demonstrated success securing and managing corporate partnerships and/or creative industry sponsorships
• Strong leadership and team management experience, with positive recommendations from direct reports
• Excellent communication, storytelling, and relationship-building skills
• Ability to think strategically while executing tactically
• Deep commitment to arts, youth development, and community-centered work

Technical Skills & Systems

• Proficiency with donor databases, including Raiser’s Edge (strongly preferred) and/or Salesforce
• Experience using Monday.com or similar project management tools
• Proficiency in Canva for basic fundraising and marketing materials
• Strong working knowledge of Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Drive, etc.)

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Additional Requirements

• Must reside in or be willing to relocate to New York, NY or Milwaukee, WI
• Ability to work occasional evenings or weekends for events and donor engagement

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What Success Looks Like

• Growth in diversified revenue streams, including long-term, values-aligned private funding partnerships with high retention
• Strong, engaged donor pipeline with clear stewardship practices
• A high-functioning development team with clear roles and accountability

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How to Apply

Please submit a resume detailing your experience for this role to Human Resources, with “Director of Development” in the subject line.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; early submission is encouraged.

Application Deadline: June 15, 2026
Interview Process: June-July, 2026
Anticipated Start Date: August-September, 2026

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Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Art Start is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. We strongly encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including people of color, immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and those with lived experiences that reflect the communities we serve.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

We recognize that candidates may not meet every qualification listed and encourage individuals who are excited about this role to apply.

Pay: $110,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Application Question(s):

• Did you submit your resume to hr@art-start.org? Only resumes submitted via email will be considered.

Work Location: Hybrid remote in New York, NY 10001