Job Posting

Walker West Music Academy | Saint Paul, MN
Salary Range: $85,000 - $100,000

Position Overview:
Position: Development Director

Location: Saint Paul, MN; as Walker West transitions buildings, this position will be based out of the Coven Coworking Space in St. Paul, eventually transitioning to the new building at 650 Marshall Ave. Position is open to a hybrid work setup - a mixture of in-person and remote work is expected.

Type: Full-time, non-exempt

Reports to: Executive Director

Compensation and Benefits: $85,000 to $100,000 salaried position; with Paid Time Off and a Health Savings Account

The Development Director will lead and manage Walker West’s fundraising during an exciting time in the organization’s history. This role will lead the revenue growth associated with Walker West’s Power of Music to Heal Our Community capital campaign and work to sustain the organization’s growth over time. This position will be a key part of ushering in the organization’s vision and operationalizing the development department, in collaboration with the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and Campaign Committee. To date, Walker West has enlisted the Executive Director, with the support of fundraising and grant writing consultants, to conduct its fundraising. As the organization expands, the Development Director role has become essential.

Areas of Work:

1. Provide organizational leadership in fundraising.
   1. Building on the work of the current team and in alignment with the strategic plan, develop a fundraising plan that meets the revenue goals of annual and
      campaign giving goals.
   2. Engage the Walker West Board of Directors, Leadership Team, and Campaign Committee in fundraising activities to support revenue growth.
   3. Build on existing and develop new relationships with foundations, corporations, sponsors, and individual donors.
   4. Build a development team to support and sustain Walker West’s growth. Supervise and manage the development team as it grows, including database entry, grant writing, and volunteer engagement functions.
   5. Act as primary liaison and facilitator of the Campaign Committee.
   6. Work with the Executive Director to generate and track progress toward revenue projections each fiscal year.
2. Build on the success of Walker West’s capital campaign to facilitate progress from $11M to $19.5M raised.
   1. Implement a rigorous solicitation plan for individual donors and institutional funders for the capital campaign.
   2. As needs ebb and flow, and in collaboration with Campaign Committee members and the marketing team, develop and update materials to support the campaign (e.g. donor packets, testimonials, talking points, stories, etc.).
   3. Engage Campaign Committee members in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding campaign contributors.
   4. Meet with prospective donors and funders to cultivate, solicit, and steward capital campaign gifts.
   5. Track and explore prospective donors and funders for the capital campaign.
3. Sustain and grow a strong annual fund.
   1. Intensify focus on individual giving and sponsorships of existing music events.
   2. Develop and implement a robust, consistent, and individualized annual giving program for individual donors (e.g. mail, social media, electronic communications, phone calls, meetings, etc.).
   3. Develop a sponsorship program to solicit and steward sponsors for music events and festivals facilitated by Walker West.
   4. Direct and conduct grant writing to meet annual fund needs.
   5. Support program staff to monitor and meet grant reporting deadlines.
   6. Write communications (e.g. newsletter updates, solicitation asks) and collaborate with the marketing team to generate materials.
   7. Explore prospective funders and donors to bring new supporters into the Walker West fold.
4. Build a major gifts program to steward past and current gifts and cultivate future gifts.
   1. Foster a culture of philanthropy that aligns with community-centric fundraising. Encourage cross-pollination with program staff to inform development efforts.
   2. Develop and support strategies to engage staff and Board members in giving.
   3. Explore and develop opportunities for Walker West to grow into the future (e.g. strategies to develop a planned giving program and an endowment).
      

In this role, you will be expected to create an annual department work plan and provide quarterly updates.

What You Will Bring to the Team at Walker West:

1. Excellence and quality that embodies the mission and vision of Walker|West.
2. Relationship building and team building skills.
3. Excellent communication (oral and written), interpersonal, and presentation skills.
4. Ability to collaborate and work across functions and teams to keep projects moving.
5. Creativity and a passion for music education, arts, and community.
6. A deep understanding of disparities in access and a desire to act to reduce barriers and increase opportunities for underrepresented and marginalized communities.
7. Desire to grow and develop.

This is how you support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are a core part of WWMA and embedded in our legacy, mission, and vision and will be included in every aspect of this role in the following ways:

1. Provide an inclusive and community-centered approach to fundraising.
2. Communicate across diverse teams and people using various forms of communication.
3. Increase access and reduce barriers for all participants and work collaboratively across WWMA to ensure this is part of the everyday work.

How to Apply:
To apply, please email your resume and cover letter outlining your qualifications and work experience to Amelia Colwell (she/her), Advancement Consultant, at
amelia@walkerwest.org.

Questions may be directed to the same email. Deadline to apply is Friday, May 17, at 5:00 p.m. The Hiring Team anticipates conducting two rounds of interviews with Walker West staff and volunteers. The anticipated start date will be early July 2024.

First-round candidates invited to interview will be asked to provide a writing sample, and second round candidates will be asked to provide a brief strategy presentation (more
guidance to come). Incentives of $200 will be provided to all second-round candidates in recognition of your time and labor.

Qualifications:

• Walker West is proud of its strong history as a Black-led organization and encourages BIPOC folks to apply. Strong candidates will bring experience in working with diverse community groups to fundraise for successful campaigns and annual funds.
• Required qualifications: at least 5 years of experience in fundraising, development, sales, or other revenue generation. Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written
  communication skills.
• Preferred qualifications: at least 10 years of experience in leading fundraising, development, or sales teams as a manager or supervisor; experience in capital campaign fundraising as a staff member and/or volunteer.