Who we are:

The Roots of Music is an afterschool program offering music education for over 200 K-12 students across New Orleans. Our flagship program, the Marching Crusaders Band, serves kids ages 9-14 from low-income households and provides them with hot meals and round-trip transportation to reduce common barriers to participation. Five days a week, 12 months a year, our program delivers over 2,500 hours of music education and academic tutoring, over 30,400 nutritious hot meals, and 1,400 bus journeys. Founded in 2007 by Derrick Tabb, our campus is in the historic Treme at St. Peter Claver School. 

What we’re looking for:

The Roots of Music is searching for a Development Manager to lead the financial sustainability plan to achieve the mission, vision, and goals of The Roots of Music. The fundraising efforts will be focused on, but not limited to, national and local foundation grants, individuals with high net worth capacity, and corporate sponsorships. The position reports directly to the Chief Operations Officer of The Roots of Music.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Supports leadership in realizing the vision for The Roots of Music.
• Organizes, attends, and follows up on donor meetings.
• Oversees and conducts fundraising activities; including Events, i.e. Annual Gala, Giving Days, etc. 
• Executes a development plan to financially sustain The Roots of Music.
• Maintains current prospect lists; works with Board members and volunteers; prepares information for calls; and manages cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship timelines.
• Writes effective, persuasive, successful grant applications to local and national foundations.
• Ensures that the organization meets all requirements, including outputs and outcomes, outlined in agreements with donors.
• Responsible for grant reporting that meets donor guidelines.
• Meets all application and reporting deadlines.
• Prepares proposals, letters, and packets for solicitations, as well as necessary follow up..
• Contributes to building a culture of philanthropy that leads to increased revenues and support within the community connected to The Roots of Music.
• Oversees identification of new prospects; conducts and utilizes available prospect research; adds new prospects to the existing plan.
• Identifies and maintains a prospect portfolio to manage his/her own cultivation and solicitation calls; to include individual, corporate, and foundation prospects. 
• Conducts fundraising tracking, including updating all contacts and grant activities, and maintaining a database for donors.
• Ensures that all recognition and follow up are tracked, recorded, and executed in an appropriate manner.
• Ensures efficient gift processing, including gift entry, gift receipts, gift accounting, and generating thank you letters.
• Works alongside staff on communications, messaging, social media, and printed materials, including newsletters, website content, brochures, pledge cards, solicitation materials, and folders.
• Maintains strong communications and working relationships with staff, board, program participants, and supporters.
• Provides stewardship to continue to cultivate, educate, and communicate with donors regarding The Roots of Music’s strategic goals.
• Work with Bookkeeper and Leadership to ensure financial success through budget tracking.
• Performs other work related activities as assigned. 

Qualifications and Education Requirements:

• Alignment with the mission and vision of The Roots of Music; ability to communicate these elements to a broad array of constituents.
• BA required, MA or other advanced degree preferred.  
• A minimum of 3 years development experience in a nonprofit or arts organization is required.  
• Experience in an arts fundraising setting is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work with volunteers to achieve the organization’s objectives. 
• Computer skills including working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Experience with database management, Bloomerang (CRM) system preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills. 
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to lead, communicate with, and establish rapport with members of a diverse population.
• Demonstrated ability to receive and hold confidential information and establish trust with staff, colleagues, donors, and volunteers.
• Demonstrated ability to organize complex information, use confidential data base systems containing donor information, and apply reason and analytical skills to fulfillment of goals.
• Must be able and willing to undertake occasional travel (not more than 10%). 
• Does not hold outside personal or business interests that might conflict with the goals and objectives of The Roots of Music.
• Must be available to work on a regular Monday-Friday schedule with occasional travel, weekend events or meetings, and early morning, evening, and weekend availability as needed to meet the goals and objectives of The Roots of Music’s development plan. 

Work Hour Requirements:

• In-person and full-time.
• Regular, dependable attendance, and punctuality.
  
  

Physical Demands:

• This position involves regular walking, standing, sitting for extended periods of time, hearing, and talking.
• May occasionally involve stooping, kneeling, or crouching.
• May involve close vision, color vision, depth perception, focus adjustment, and viewing a computer monitor for extended periods of time.
• Involves manual dexterity for using a keyboard, mouse, and other office equipment.
  
  

Benefits:

• Full time
• Salary of $62,000
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Annual bonus potential
• Paid time off
• Opportunity to make a difference in the lives of young people in New Orleans
  
  

**This job description is not all-inclusive. The Roots of Music reserves the right to amend this job description at any time. The Roots of Music is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment.

How to Apply:

To apply, please apply via worknola OR submit a resume to info@therootsofmusic.org, not both. subject: Development Manager Application. The anticipated start date for this position is September 2024, with some flexibility.