Who We Are

The DreamYard Vision:

Building Artists- Building Community- Building Dreams- To change the world.

DreamYard Mission and History:

DreamYard (DY), founded in 1994, is a Bronx-based organization that uses the arts, social justice pedagogy, and digital and connected learning to inspire youth, public schools, and communities. DreamYard’s yearlong arts programs develop artistic voices, nurture young people's desire to make change, and cultivate the skills necessary to reach positive goals. By committing to sustained learning opportunities along an educational pathway, with 45 partnering public schools K-12th Grade, with our own DY Prep HS School and at the DreamYard Art Center in Morrisania, DreamYard supports young people as they work toward higher learning, meaningful careers, and social action. We seek to be effective locally while having a national and international impact through partnerships, collaboration, and learning exchanges. At DreamYard, we commit to being an anti-racist organization.

The Position

The Director of Development collaborates closely with the Co-Executive Directors and the Board of Directors to steward and build a growing number of foundation, individual and corporate donors at DreamYard, raising $5,000,000 per year within the context of an annual organizational budget of $7,000,000 (earned revenue makes up the difference.) The Director will lead a Development Department team of four, composed of two full-time Managers, one part-time Marketing Coordinator and an Event consultant. The Director will:

Oversee all fundraising campaigns and appeals (with day-to-day logistical support), including the annual appeal, donor stewardship events such as our Salon Series and Poetry Slam Finals, and events including the Annual Celebration;
Support and guide the Executive Directors in establishing and cultivating relationships with major donors;
Lead the development of strategies for cultivating and securing institutional and corporate partners as well as major donors, including the creation of pitch decks and proposals to solicit support;
Serve as a key liaison to DreamYard’s Board of Directors, keeping them informed and engaged on a number of fronts including the cultivation of new donors and organizational ambassadorship;
Create and manage the Development Team’s annual budget, tracking expenses through quarterly check-ins with Finance;
Oversee digital communications, as well as printed media and brand assets, with the support from the Marketing Coordinator, and create and implement a yearlong strategy of communication that aligns with DreamYard’s mission and values;
Manage three direct reports: the Manager of Institutional and Corporate Giving, the Manager of Government Funding and Individual Donors, and the Marketing Coordinator; the Director will also manage an Event Consultant tasked with leading the annual DreamYard Celebration, which raises over $1,000,000 annually.

The Director will serve as the Development Team’s representative on the DreamYard Leadership Team, and will:

Participate in regular Leadership Team meetings and provide leadership throughout the organization as it relates to development, donor relations, and setting organizational goals aligned with DreamYard’s organizational mission, values, and commitment to racial equity.

Competencies 

A commitment to DreamYard’s mission and core values;
Experience and demonstrated ability leading an effective annual development plan;
Experience with raising a significant amount annually from a diverse set of funding sources.
Excellent interpersonal, verbal and general communication skills;
Confidence sharing DreamYard’s work and stories with Board members, donors and community partners;
Demonstrated creative problem solving and strategic planning skills;
Excellent organizational skills and the ability to gracefully manage tight timelines, a fast-paced working environment and multiple projects concurrently.
The ability to collaborate effectively with team members and volunteers to achieve organizational development goals;
A strong attention to detail, especially in getting to know individual donors, their interests and connections to the organization;
Strong leadership skills, with an emphasis on listening, empathy, collaboration and effective communication based on honest feedback and radical candor.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or the equivalent;
5-7 years of development experience, including with individual giving, major donors, corporate or foundation fundraising;
Working knowledge of special events;
Knowledge of donor management systems and digital communications;
Interest in the arts, race equity and youth development

Compensation:

The Development Director is a full-time hybrid, exempt position with a salary range of $105,000-$120,000 commensurate with experience. DreamYard offers an excellent benefits package, and generous paid time off.

To Apply

Please use the link below to submit a resume and DreamYard-specific cover letter.

DreamYard is an Equal Opportunity Employer. DreamYard prohibits unlawful discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, age, national origin, genetic characteristics, disability, status as a special disabled veteran or veteran, marital status, sexual orientation, sexual identity or any other basis prohibited by law.

Anti-racism Commitment:

At DreamYard, we commit to being an anti-racist organization. We lead with race because we operate in a country founded on the genocide of Indigenous people, the enslavement of African people, and the oppression of countless others. We acknowledge the role this history plays in perpetuating inequity and dominant white culture.

The Community

DreamYard is focused on the Bronx, a borough that possesses incredible cultural, human and economic assets. In addition to working throughout the Bronx, DreamYard partners with local, national and international communities to utilize the arts to build bridges to opportunity.

DreamYard is committed to the principles of arts education, educational reform and social justice, and fashions its programs to specifically address the needs of urban communities that are typically underrepresented because of race, sex, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.

We welcome and encourage applications from a diverse range of individuals. Bronx based and Spanish-speaking applicants are strongly encouraged to apply. DreamYard Project, Inc. employs without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, or any other attribute not related to superior performance.

DreamYard

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