River Arts is Hiring for Co-Director of Development and Outreach
In the past year, the board and staff at River Arts has been evaluating how we can best move forward. As a staff collective we began identifying our weaknesses, strengthening the involvement of our board and community members, and creating a comprehensive plans for collaborative decision making moving forward. After lots of deliberation and input from other small nonprofits with similar working models, the board and staff feel that moving to a Co-Director model will be a good next move to fill out our staffing and equitably divide the current responsibilities at River Arts. The top priority of board and staff is to not only maintain the same standard of offerings that River Arts provides in our community, while also elevating equity within our organization, empowering through the collaborative working model that our grassroots organization was founded on.
Co-Director of Development and Outreach
River Arts seeks a full-time Co-Director of Development and Outreach who has a passion for the arts and a keen interest in community development. The Co-Director of Development and Outreach will oversee the fundraising and grant writing efforts of River Arts and will coordinate programming and exhibits to align with strategic goals. Developing strong relationships with sponsors and donors, eloquently writing for and reporting on grants, and envisioning new ways of fundraising will be the chief responsibility of this co-director. The passion projects of this co-director will be developing youth programs, elder arts programs and brand new programs that expand the River Arts community.
Position Summary:
Meeting weekly with Co-Director
Working collaboratively to efficiently run the organization
Setting goals for future development
Communicating short term goals
Problem solving as a team
Helping to manage Board involvement in Grants, Programs and Strategic Planning
Liaison with the Grants Committee, Programs Committee, & Strategic Planning Committee
Reports to Quarterly Board Meetings
Delegating tasks and reaching out to direct efforts in committees
Reaching out to interested community members who could be board members
Meeting seasonally with entire board to communicate goals and assign tasks
Marketing/Outreach
Works with Co-Director to pulls from website to create Bi-Weekly E-News
1 Blog Post per month reposted on facebook/instagram
Writing press releases about RA programs on FPF, Newspapers, etc.
General Outreach through the press
Working closely to utilize the Vermont Arts Council calendars and public postings
Development
Annual Appeal - In Tandem with Co-Director
Works with the board to create the ask letter
Developing relationship with donors and working with Co-Director to ensure specific donors are asked during annual appeal
Signs/personalized thank you notes for donors
Works closely with Co-Director, the Bookkeeper & Executive board on Financials
Works with Co-Director to create the Annual Budget
Forecasting fundraising and grant writing goals to cover forecasted revenue needed
Reviewing P&Ls to determine success of programs
Strategically developing new, creative ways to bring in more money
Creating fundraising goals and working with grants/donors/events to meet those goals
Cultivating donor relationships and keeping in touch with granting organizations
Liason to the Grants Committee "
Writing Grants and Managing Grants Calendar
Reporting on all grants received
Approval of money spent from Grants on programs
Ensures all grant letters and thank yous are uploaded into Salesforce
Looking for new grants to apply to
Sponsorships & Fundraising
Coordinating Annual and Program Sponsors
Reaches out to annual sponsors for renewal
Reaches out to program sponsors for support
Signs/personalized thank you notes for sponsors
Fundraising Events
Helps solicit artwork ahead of Viva! & Art100
Reaching new businesses for silent auction items
Working with events committee to reach out to sponsors/donors for fundraising events
Creates thank you’s for donated items
Outreach
Seeking Partnerships and Special Projects in relation to expanding RA reach
Youth Programing coordination with other organizations/nonprofits
Elder Arts program development
Strategic Planning Committee Liaison
Assists in carrying out the strategic plan and brainstorming new initiatives that all staff can carry out
Looking critically at youth programs and elder arts programs to expand reach
Working closely with Strategic plan to carry out goals to reach broader and more diverse demographics
Organizing funding and reporting on grant funded programs
Youth, Elder Arts and Developing new programs that reach new demographics
Envisionsing new programs and initiatives based on grants received
Sits on Programming Committee
Is best able to report on grants applied to outreach/youth programs
Coordinates Summer Camps
Planning 9 weeks of summer camps
Up to 18 individual camps
Hiring instructors and negotiating contracts
Hiring and training teen assistants
Managing Summer Camps Budget
Coordinating Kinder Arts Program
Coordinating with local pre-kindergarten and child care centers
Negotiating contracts
Hiring Kinder Arts instructor
Managing Kinder Arts budget
Coordinating Youth Drop-In Programs
Music and Movement
Big and Messy Arts
Open Gym Playgroup
Drop-In Kinder Arts
Managing Youth Drop-In Programs Budget
Developing After-school Youth Programs
Developing an engaging and affordable after school program for youth of all ages
Managing Youth After-school Budget
Hiring instructors and scheduling classes
Sending introductory Emails to Participants
Coordinating Scholarship awards for students
Sending feedback forms for participants of programs
Developing Teen Mentorship Program
Wednesday Night Live
Training and opportunity for teens to be paid to facilitate art projects
Youth Taught Classes
Training and opportunity for teens to be paid to teach youth classes
Teen Art Intensive
Includes trips to local museums and portfolio development
Managing Teen Mentorship Budget
Elder Arts Program
Elder Arts Programming coordination with other organizations/nonprofits
Developing programs that help combat isolation and provide stimulation for older members of the community
Coordinating Exhibits
Cultivating artist relationships and reaching out to tie exhibits to programming
Helps put out the call to artists
Coordinating with the Gallery Committee on installation/deinstallation
Printing title cards and exhibition statement for space
Reaching out to artists who may be interested in exhibiting at River Arts
Gallery Committee Liaison
Uploading and promoting all exhibits to the website
Assisting in gathering necessary information from artists
Reaching out to new artists and encouraging them to submit work for future jury cycles
Key Qualifications:
Demonstrates a passion for the arts and a commitment to the River Arts mission to provide Arts for Everyone in our community.
Problem solver
Self-starter with leadership experience, valuing transparency, high integrity and who enjoys working in collaborative settings
Fundraising experience as well as experience with donor cultivation and development
Solid, hands-on budget management skills, including budget preparation, analysis
Excellent organizational skills with exacting attention to detail
High level of motivation, positive attitude, flexible, proactive
Strong written and oral communication skills
Experience with grant writing
Experience in networking with other nonprofits and local organizations
Tech Savvy, Proficient in Google Docs, Spreadsheets, and Calendar
Experience in working collaboratively through technology
Strong public speaking skills and passion for community engagement
Strong technological proficiency, including website management, donor database platforms, electronic mailings, social media
A Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent experience such as in nonprofit or business management, k-12 education, or an art related Master’s degree
River Arts job descriptions are living documents and may change, with the input of staff, to best address the needs of the organization.
River Arts is an Equal Opportunity Employer. River Arts does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.