Director of Development
About the Organization
Manchester Community Music School serves over 1,500 individuals each year through a wide range of high quality music programs including early childhood classes, private lessons, chamber groups, the largest youth ensemble program north of Boston, summer community band, summer camps, the most comprehensive Suzuki program in the state, an extensive outreach program, and a high quality, well-established music therapy program. Our students and clients range in age from 6 months old to 80+ years young and attend the school from 60 New Hampshire communities. MCMS serves the wider Manchester area through our extensive outreach programming, working to keep music at the center for New Hampshire's education and enrichment programs for every child, youth and adult. Community partnerships are an important part of Music School programming as they enable us to bring music education opportunities and music therapy services directly to those who can benefit most, but who otherwise might not have access. Core to our mission, the Music School is committed to ensuring that anyone wishing to study music or benefit from music therapy services can regardless of their financial situation. As such, MCMS awards more than $100,000 in financial assistance each year.
About the Job
Manchester Community Music School
Job Description: Development Manager (Part-Time)
Position Title: Development Manager
Reports To: Executive Director
Works With: Marketing Manager and Grant Writer
Status: Part-Time, 20–25 hours per week
Compensation: $40,000 – $43,000 annually
Position Summary
The Development Manager will play a key role in advancing the mission of Manchester Community Music School (MCMS) by leading and supporting development initiatives that increase contributed income through individual giving, corporate sponsorships, events, and donor stewardship. Working closely with the Executive Director, Marketing Associate, and Grant Writer, the Development Manager will be responsible for implementing strategies to strengthen relationships with donors and ensure a strong pipeline of philanthropic support for the organization.
Key Responsibilities & Performance Metrics
Fundraising & Donor Relations
- Manage and grow individual and corporate donor base in conjunction with the Executive Director through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
Oversee donor acknowledgement process and ensure timely, personalized thank-you communications. - Further develop and maintain donor database/CRM records and reporting in conjunction with Marketing Associate. (Donor Perfect)
- Initiate and expand legacy giving and major gifts efforts.
Events & Sponsorships
- Work with the Executive Director to plan and execute fundraising events (e.g., annual gala, donor receptions, community fundraisers).
- Develop sponsorship opportunities and solicit business partnerships in collaboration with Marketing.
Development Operations
- Collaborate with Marketing Manager on donor communications, fundraising campaigns, and promotional materials.
- Partner with Grant Writer to provide data, donor information, and reporting needed for proposals and reporting.
- Generate and analyze reports to track fundraising progress and donor engagement.
- Work with Executive Director to align fundraising goals with organizational priorities and strategic plan.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, communications, arts administration, or related field (or equivalent experience).
- 3+ years of experience in fundraising, development, or related field; experience in the arts or education sector preferred.
- Strong interpersonal skills with ability to build relationships across diverse constituencies.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Proven ability to manage multiple projects, meet deadlines, and work independently in a part-time schedule.
- Proficiency with donor management systems/CRMs and Microsoft Office Suite.
- Event planning experience strongly preferred.
Key Competencies
- Relationship Builder: Skilled in engaging donors, sponsors, and community partners.
- Detail-Oriented: Strong organizational skills and accuracy in data entry and reporting.
- Collaborative: Works effectively with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders.
- Mission-Driven: Passionate about the arts, education, and the mission of MCMS.
Compensation & Schedule
Part-time position: 20–25 hours per week.
Annual salary: $40,000 – $43,000, commensurate with experience.
Flexible schedule with occasional evening and weekend work required for events.
Metrics
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Grow individual and corporate giving revenue by 15-20% annually.
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Secure 20–25 new individual donors each year.
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All donor acknowledgements sent within 72 hours.
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Ensure 100% of donor interactions are entered accurately into CRM.
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Identify and qualify 5–10 potential major gift prospects annually.
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Achieve net revenue goal of $20,000+ annually from fundraising events.
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Maintain 90%+ donor/sponsor satisfaction rate through surveys or feedback.
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Secure at least 5 new business sponsorships per year.
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Achieve 15% increase in donor engagement rates (open/click response) on fundraising campaigns.
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Submit 100% of grant materials on time. Find at least 2 new corporate funding opportunities.
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Produce quarterly donor and fundraising reports for the Executive Director and Development Committee.
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Contribute to meeting the annual fundraising target of $300,000+ in contributed income.
Starting Date: IMMEDIATLEY
Please send cover letter and resume to:
Polly Towner, Executive Director
For more information:
Polly Towner
603-644-4548 ext 204