Director of Development - Creative Evolutions
Washington D.C., DC 20012
About the Job
Our Mission is to empower young people to transform their lives through music and community.
DCYOP has been an integral part of the Washington, DC community since 1960 and has fostered the musical development of more than 60,000 youth. Our team includes a full-time staff of nine, ten Board members, nine conductors, and more than thirty teaching artists, all dedicated to creating and sustaining experiences that empower and change lives through music. We are growing and thrilled to bring in our next Director of Development to collaboratively carry our vision forward for hundreds of youth in the DC region.
What We Are Looking for in Our New Director of Development
- They will be intentionally empathic and fearless. They will be fiercely and deeply committed to putting people first, and to work clearly and directly with the team to provide the real support that our students, teachers, staff, and Board need. They will have a deep appreciation for the ways that young people’s lives can be transformed through programs like ours.
- Our Director of Development will be truly exceptional on two related fronts – team leadership and building community connections.
- At DCYOP, they will directly handle: Ensuring DCYOP’s Vision for the Future, Managing Resources, Financial Management, Facilitating Clear Communication, Cultivating Community Support.
- They will have a working knowledge about and some experience in: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, Educational Pedagogy, Non-Profit Fundraising, and Orchestral Music.
- Starting annual salary between $100,000-$110,000, medical, dental, and vision insurance, and paid time off.
- Flexible weekly hybrid schedule, which currently includes one day per week in a physical office with the entire staff and participation in a rotating Saturday program schedule.
- Application Period: April 29 -May 31, 2024
After the end of the application period, please reach out if you are still interested and we will let you know if there is still an opportunity for consideration. - Initial Screening Conversations & Semi-Finalists Conversations:These will be ongoing as applications are received and reviewed (May 15-ongoing)
- Finalist Interviews On-Site in Washington DC:June 25th- 28th, 2024
- Employment Begins: Summer 2024
Calida Jones: calida@creativeevolutions.com
Dr. Kim Davis:kimberly@fivesixteenconsulting.org
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY
PLEASE APPLY BY: May 31, 2024
CreativeEvolutions.com/openpositions
Who We Are
“One month before starting my senior year in high school, I was on an airplane bound for Japan with the DC Youth Orchestra. I could not imagine then how deeply my musicianship, sense of community, and love of learning would be influenced by being a member of DCYOP. The ripples of formative experiences in the program continue to resonate in my life.”
- Maestro Kenneth Whitley
“This is a phenomenal program that brings incredible meaning to the lives of kids in the community.”
- Board Member Jeff Levi
Our Mission is to empower young people to transform their lives through music and community.
We believe:
- That all young people should have access to the transformative power of music education.
- We believe that excellence is fostered through diversity, inclusion, and community.
- We believe that students are supported in their personal journeys by meeting them where they are.
- We believe that youth orchestras can model change and shape the future of the orchestral music world.
Our History
Our team includes a full-time staff of nine, ten Board members, nine conductors, and more than Thirty teaching artists, all dedicated to creating and sustaining experiences that empower and change lives through music. DCYOP has had only four Executive Directors since its founding in 1960. Our Board of Directors transitioned from a management to a governance role about 20 years ago. With a current annual budget of $1.75 million—and healthy cash reserves—we are committed to responsible planning and management of our resources, with the next fifty years of service to the DC community in mind.
DCYOP has been an integral part of the Washington, DC community, and we have fostered the musical development of more than 60,000 youth in the region. Lyn McLain, then the music teacher at Coolidge High School, founded DCYOP to serve as the District’s first city-wide youth orchestra. At the time, every DC public high school had an orchestra or band program, so our purpose was to bring together the most dedicated and talented students to play together and musically represent the city. Over the decades, as funding priorities have changed, many of DC’s public schools have lost their music programs. Two-thirds of our students are now enrolled in DC public schools that do not have an orchestra or band program. To address this, we expanded to accept students as young as four and a half years old and residents from across the DC-Maryland-Virginia (DMV) region. We are proud to provide an entry point for young musicians exploring orchestral music for the first time, and to offer a path of musical study for students from over 200 schools.
As the first youth orchestra to perform at the Kennedy Center, we have toured 24 countries, including, most recently, Spain and Portugal; played for US presidents and diplomats; and worked with esteemed musicians such as Aaron Copland, Lorin Maazel, Mstislav Rostropovich, Marvin Hamlisch, Gustavo Dudamel, Yo-Yo Ma, and Kevin Deas. We received the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award (formerly Coming Up Taller) and the Mayor’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Arts Education. The Catalogue for Philanthropy selected us as “one of the best small non-profits in the Greater Washington region” for the last decade.
Board President Dr. Robert Blaine |
We maintain and want to continue to grow our relationships with our dedicated alumni. Many graduates have gone on to successful professional careers in music, and also remain involved with DCYOP as Board members, supporters, and guest artists. Prominent musician alumni include Élise Sharp of The String Queens, Daniel Foster, Principal Viola of the National Symphony Orchestra; Toyin Spellman Diaz, Oboist in the Imani Winds; Chris Royal, Professor of Music at Howard University; John McLaughlin Williams, Grammy Award®-winning conductor; and John Wineglass, Emmy Award®-winning composer. Alumni have also found careers in the sciences, writing, and politics, among other disciplines, with standout examples including DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, the Honorable Cheryl Long, CEO Linda Cureton, author Tracy Chevalier, and activist, writer, and comedian Baratunde Thurston.
Our Day to Day
We believe that every child should have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument and play in an orchestra. At DCYOP, the orchestra serves as a model for community. An atmosphere of competition is replaced by a shared endeavor for musical excellence. Through the ensemble, our young musicians develop the character of respectful team players. Through the study of a musical instrument and diverse genres of music, our students develop the confidence and creativity that empowers them to tackle life’s challenges.
We offer group lessons and ensemble training on all orchestral instruments for students ages 4½ to 18. More than 400 students participate in group classes, ensemble rehearsals, and performances each semester through our main-site programming on Saturdays at Takoma Elementary School in DC, as well as through our afterschool partnerships in several DC public schools. In addition to our semi-annual free public concerts held at the University of the District of Columbia, our ensembles occasionally perform in other public engagements throughout the metropolitan DC area.
We intentionally seek to mitigate existing financial and public school access barriers by making high-quality ensemble music education available to all students, regardless of background, socioeconomic status, or ability. Our students come from more than 200 public, public charter, and private schools, as well as a variety of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
Our Partners
We serve as the lead partner on theWashington Musical Pathways Initiative. Pathways is a talent development program for student musicians who identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color, and want to pursue advanced study in music. Pathways provides musical scholarships to support talented young musicians from communities who have been historically excluded from orchestral music due to systemic racism. In this program, we partner with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the National Symphony Orchestra, and Levine Music, funded by a $2 million grant award from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The Pathways funding covers 2022 to 2024, including ensemble expenses for DCYOP students that are in the program, and a funded Pathways Program Manager position on the DCYOP staff.
How this Search will Operate – Values, Communication, and Compensation
Overall Estimated Timeline:
- Application Period: April 29 - May 31, 2024
After the end of the application period, please reach out if you are still interested and we will let you know if there is still an opportunity for consideration. - Initial Screening & Semi-Finalists Conversations:These will be ongoing as applications are received and reviewed (May 15-ongoing).
- Finalist Interviews On-Site in Washington DC: June 25th- June 28th, 2024
- Employment Begins: Summer 2024
This search process is rooted in values shared by DCYOP and Creative Evolutions, and will include the following elements:
- It is important to us that you are treated with respect and are appreciated for the value you create for DCYOP through your participation.
- Throughout the process we commit to active communication with you, so you are never wondering what is happening or where things stand with your application or the hiring process.
- It is very important that the DCYOP Staff, and board participate in the selection process to set you up most effectively for success. This announcement has been informed by many perspectives, and finalists will have the opportunity to come on site and meet the entire staff and board before a hiring decision is made.
If you have questions or recommendations, we encourage you to contact the search team at Creative Evolutions at:
Calida Jones:calida@creativeevolutions.com
Dr. Kim Davis:kimberly@fivesixteenconsulting.org
What We Are Looking for in Our New Director of Development
We are excited to add this very important role to the DCYOP team. DCYOP has a staff team with a wide span of skills and capabilities, including staff members with many years of experience with the organization. The current Board of Directors collectively represents a wide range of industries and knowledge from music to talent acquisition, finance and the law, as well as including an official parent representative and several other Board members who have previously had students in the program or are DCYOP alumni.
Human Expectations and Personal Values
The Director of Development will be deeply committed to fostering strong relationships within the community to build a positive image such that companies, schools, civic organizations and individuals will make DCYOP the local nonprofit organization of choice for funding.
As our Director of Development, you will understand and proactively manage human expectations and human relationships; personal values are crucial in effectively developing and maintaining relationships with DCYOP constituents. Managing human expectations refers to the desires and anticipations individuals have regarding their environment and culture. The Director of Development should align these expectations with DCYOP’s goals and create a culture where board members, volunteers, teaching artists, parents, students, and donors can interact and learn from one another. This individual will be a visible member of the DCYOP community who will model community building through their interactions with staff, board, parents, and students.
The desire to contribute to a thriving and healthy organizational culture will be a notable feature of our Director of Development – they are fueled by being present and getting to know everyone in long-term and authentic ways. They aren’t just a good listener – listening to others and learning about them is their favorite way to spend their time.
To meet human expectations and honor personal values, the Director of Development should prioritize open communication, transparency, and collaboration within the team. This includes providing opportunities for collaboration, teamwork, and discovery fostering a culture of trust and respect, and ensuring that the work environment aligns with the core values of the team members.
By recognizing and addressing human expectations and personal values, the Director of Development can contribute to the overall success and satisfaction of both the DCYOP staff and the community as a whole.
Where Our Director of Development will be Exceptional
Our Director of Development will be truly exceptional on two related fronts – strategic fund development planning and execution and community engagement.
As the lead strategist for fund development, this team member will craft a multi-year plan aimed at increasing revenue and meeting the needs for programming. This plan will serve as a guiding framework that informs and aligns with the organization’s revenue growth objectives over the next three years.
The Director of Development will collaborate closely with the Executive Director the Board, the Program Directors and the Director of Operation to initiate and establish organizational goals aligned with the organization's strategic objectives. Additionally, the Director of Development will directly oversee the ongoing supervision of one Institutional Giving Manager.
The Director of Development is responsible for formulating and executing the development strategy for DCYOP’s $1.8M annual operating budget, accomplishing fundraising objectives, engaging funders and sponsors, and utilizing key relationships to ensure the fulfillment of DCYOP’s revenue goals. This role will serve as the primary individual accountable for managing all fundraising activities, taking a hands-on approach to implementing and concluding fundraising plans, including co-managing DCYOP’s 65th Anniversary Gala in the Fall of 2025. This includes managing major gifts, foundation and corporate giving, grant solicitation, and acquiring in-kind resources.
The Director of Development will have knowledge about and experience in addressing funding challenges from an Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility justice perspective. They will have some familiarity and comfort with difficult conversations surrounding Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility justice challenges around how arts and culture organizations address biases, access to resources, and create pathways for other funding opportunities.
The Director will possess excellent organizational and leadership skills, a comprehensive understanding of development fundraising methods and frameworks, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to think strategically and operationally while implementing multiple projects simultaneously.
The Director of Development is a thoughtful communicator, adept at reading people, a problem-solver who is quick to respond, who is adaptable, understanding, and not easily shaken.
What Our Director of Development Will Handle Directly
The DCYOP team brings many capabilities to the table, but there are specific tasks and responsibilities that our Director of Development will have to handle personally.
These include:
- Develop and implement a comprehensive strategic plan for various fund development activities, encompassing the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of foundation, individual, and corporate support. This involves setting and achieving annual and multi-year revenue goals.
- Manage the composition of foundation, corporate, federal, state, and city grant proposals, ensuring the timely submission of all grant reports. Additionally, create and execute individual donor strategies based on donor capacity and readiness to contribute, overseeing a donor portfolio.
- Develop and lead a three-year portfolio of fundraising events, including co-managing DCYOP’s 65th Anniversary Gala in the Fall of 2025, to align with the growth and development of DCYOP’s organizational goals.
- As an integral part of the team, the Director of Development will serve on the Development Committee within the Board of Directors, working with the board and Executive Director on annual fundraising goals and objectives.
- You will support Board relations, preparing development reports, referring prospective board members, providing board updates and collaborating on fundraising activities, training board members and staff on fundraising and building relationships with major donors.
- Facilitate team meetings involving direct reports, DCYOP staff, and external stakeholders as required. Supervise all functions related to the donor database, including gift entry, database management, report generation, donor cultivation, stewardship, and prospect research.
- Collaborate with the Senior Manager of Marketing and Communication to develop a comprehensive communication plan to promote the organization to donors and enhance public awareness of fundraising activities. Work closely with the communications staff to devise messaging, marketing strategies, and outreach for DCYOP development priorities.
- Lead the Annual Appeal process and contribute to the recruitment, hiring, training, management, and retention of fund development staff in accordance with organization protocols. Contribute significantly to the DCYOP team by enhancing the organization's grasp of how development activities contribute to its programming initiatives.
- Oversee development, implementation and tracking processes and systems and databases.
- Stay technologically up-to-date and apply new knowledge to the job, maintaining discretion and confidentiality per DCYOP policies. Produce accurate and timely reports and queries with great attention to detail. Communicate directly with the public, representing the organization to various external sources, and analyze information to choose optimal solutions and solve problems. Be accountable for project plans, timelines, tracking, and due dates on assigned projects.
What Our Director of Development Needs to Understand
- Although the Director of Development may not have an in-depth knowledge of diverse programming for youth musicians, their unique perspective on funding priorities brings invaluable insight into supporting and enhancing programs that cater to the needs of young musicians.
- The Director of Development will collaborate with the team to activate and maintain a clear vision for the future and make actionable plans to help the team work strategically toward those goals, including identifying new resources for funding.
- Although our Director of Development may not possess a musical background or prior experience working with a youth orchestra, their understanding of music enables them to engage effectively in conversations regarding the profound impact of youth orchestras on children's development.
- Our Director of Development should possess an in-depth understanding of individual, and institutional giving, intentional ongoing appeals, foundations, government grants, corporate sponsorships, membership programs, planned and endowment gifts, stewardship and board relations.
- The ideal candidate will demonstrate dynamic and thoughtful written and relational skills, coupled with a genuine enthusiasm for music education and a strong alignment with the values of DCYOP.
- Our preferred candidate will also bring a track record of supporting and uplifting leadership and organizational growth, with relevant work experiences in arts and culture and community engagement and a proven ability to drive impactful outcomes in these areas.
We know that we need to support our Director of Development so that our success and their success are aligned. At DCYOP, we continue to create and refine policies and procedures to support the team and encourage everyone to remain engaged and committed to one another and the students and community we are here to serve.
Supports:
- Starting annual salary between $100,000- $110,000.
- Benefits that include medical, dental and vision insurance, up to $50/month for health and fitness expenses, eight paid public holidays, fifteen vacation days per year, six sick days per year, and paid family leave, paid jury duty leave, paid bereavement leave, and paid time off to vote.
- Flexible hybrid schedule, which currently includes one day per week in a physical office with the entire staff, participation at all Saturday program days to allow regular in-person presence at other events and locations through the week.
- Commitment to regular meetings with the Executive Director and Board President to discuss development strategy.
- Mentorship or Advisory support during the first year with Creative Evolutions and one industry peer (see the Search Process above).
DCYOP is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
How to Express Your Interest
Please complete the application in the JazzHR portal. Calida Jones and Dr. Kim Davis will stay in communication with you consistently throughout the process. You will not at any time go more than two weeks without an update on where you are in the search process.
Your application should include:
- Your resume. The resume can be of any length and style, though we encourage you to adjust it as appropriate to help us see how your history and experience connect to the current circumstances, intentions, and hopes for DCYOP.
- Instead of a standard cover letter, the application portal will ask you to answer a set of questions that will help us to understand you more. In case you wish to prepare in advance, the questions are as follows:
- Who are you, and what is most exciting for us to know about you as a human being?
- What motivates your application for this role, and how do you envision making a meaningful impact within DCYOP?
- How would you approach crafting a multi-year plan aimed at fund development, aligning it with the organization’s revenue growth objectives?
- Describe your knowledge and experience in addressing challenges from an Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity, and Accessibility lens, particularly in the arts and culture field.
- Can you provide examples of how you've showcased outstanding organizational and leadership skills in your past positions, taking into account the intricacies of development fundraising methods and frameworks?
- Please also share how you self-identify on any and all lenses so we can honor your preferences and perspectives specifically in our communications with you!
If you have any questions about the position or your submission, please feel free to e-mail, and we will be happy to discuss with you at any time!
Calida Jones:calida@creativeevolutions.com
Dr. Kim Davis:kimberly@fivesixteenconsulting.org
About Creative Evolutions
As the Executive Search support team for DCYOP, Creative Evolutions operates as an evolving and adaptable ecosystem of human beings who believe that We Can Do Better. In creative and cultural sectors, there has been a national discussion for decades where people identify broken systems and ask for new solutions. Most new solutions suggested tend to be either minor adjustments that do not significantly shift impacts for the humans involved or calls for transformational change without specific structures or models to implement. We believe that our structures and behaviors can be addressed through bold action through human-centered principles, which the ecosystem of managers, innovators, consultants, coaches, and speakers involved with Creative Evolutions embrace in finding new futures for creativity and culture.
In Executive Search support, Creative Evolutions has pioneered new processes that include commitments to active communication, paying semi-finalist and finalist candidates for their time, engaging paid industry panels as part of the evaluation process, building onboarding and mentorship into hiring, and structuring executive positions around healthy organizational team dynamics.
www.CreativeEvolutions.com
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