SY 25-26 Development Manager

Job Summary
Conservatory Lab Charter School is a public K-8 school in Dorchester where every single student plays a musical instrument every single day starting in the first grade. The Development Manager would complete a four-person Foundation team that raises awareness and money for the School. Specifically this position would focus on relationship-building working with existing or identified institutional donors to bring them in for on-site tours and following up with a compelling narrative for a grant application. The Development Manager will assist the Development Assistant in the Schools social media and website as well as alumni development and occasional event support.

Explicit experience in fundraising is far less important than identifying a candidate with a passion for the arts and will energetically advocate for 450 public school students in Dorchester to have the resources they deserve. The ideal candidate will have strong relationship-building skills along with the ability to write with clarity and brevity and work collaboratively with a small team. We are looking for someone who will help us work smarter and more effectively and will embrace the joyful culture in which we work.

About the Conservatory Lab Foundation
The Conservatory Lab Foundation (the Foundation) is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides philanthropic support and holds assets on behalf of the Conservatory Lab Charter School (Conservatory Lab) where every student receives daily orchestral musical instruction. The Foundation supports the national dissemination of Conservatory Labs educational model and provides public relations event logistics and marketing support to the School.

About Conservatory Lab Charter School
Conservatory Lab was founded in 1998 by New England Conservatory faculty members and veterans of public health who shared a belief that the practice of music would lead to better academic and social outcomes.

In 2009 Conservatory Lab adopted the EL Learning curriculum which emphasizes student-driven learning and lessons with real world 2010 Conservatory Lab became the first school in the United States to integrate El Sistemas ensemble-based approach to music education into its daily curriculum.

In 2023 Massachusetts honored Conservatory Lab as a School of Recognition the only K-8 school and the only charter school in the state to receive the renewing the schools charter in 2024 Massachusetts Commissioner of Education Jeffrey Riley wrote Your school has proved what a strong vision high standards and hard work can accomplish for the students of Massachusetts.

In 2024 the School broke ground on a transformational renovation and expansion of the Lower School which will be completed this August.

About the Development Manager position
Reporting to and in partnership with the Foundations Executive Director the Development Manager maintains contact with existing institutional donors including sending regular updates and scheduling visits to Conservatory Lab as appropriate. They manage the calendar of proposal and report deadlines; research and prepare briefings on prospective new donors; make initial contact with new institutional donors; and partner on school tours with Institutional donors and prospects.

The position requires someone with a keen sense of judgment excellent writing and communication skills a collaborative spirit and the ability to work under carefully driven deadlines and expectations. The Development Manager is part of a four-person Foundation team which inevitably means cross-training and supporting other members of the team when needed.

The Development Manager is responsible for:

Strategy:

• The Foundation maintains a Tracker of its donors and prospects. The Development Manager will collaborate with the Executive Director on establishing a customized stewardship path for each Institutional entry on the Tracker including:

  • Identifying required deadlines for proposals and reports.

  • Establishing additional School events of interest to each donor.

  • Drafting and following edits submitting required proposals and reports.

  • Building and maintaining a relationship with each donor that ideally culminates in an annual visit to tour the School

• Collaborate with the Development Team and the Foundation Board to identify and research new prospective donors that align with the mission and programming of Conservatory Lab

• Attend board school and other meetings as needed.

• Build relationships with School administrators and teachers to identify needs creatively packaging these to existing and emerging donors and to best understand the texture and details of School programming.

Gift Stewardship and solicitation:

• Working in collaboration with the Development Assistant the Development Manager will:

  • Ensure that all donors in the Institutional portfolio receive appropriate acknowledgement letters and correspondence.

  • File gift agreements correspondence and other information for major donors and funders.

Communications & Marketing:

• The Development Manager will support the Development Assistant in marketing and social media by providing content based on interactions with donors and School staff by:

  • Writing social media and blog posts

  • Ghost-writing content on behalf of School staff

  • Collaborating with the Foundation team on press releases as needed

Required Skills & Experience:

• Strong written research and verbal communications skills.

• Strong understanding of social media and some understanding of website maintenance.

• Familiarity with social justice music and the arts and K-12 education.

• High energy positive can-do attitude flexibility and teamwork.

• The ability to appropriately deal with competing deadlines and expectations.

• Facilitation of emerging technologies donor databases and online giving platforms.

Salary and Benefits:
The Development Manager salary baseson experience. Benefits include three weeks paid vacation plus school holidays including February and April breaks and a significant winter break; an employer-sponsored health and dental plan; and retirement plan.

The Foundation has a strong commitment to work / life balance and while there is a required Saturday attendance at the Schools Winter and Spring festivals and occasional other events throughout the year working evenings or weekends is rare.

Although on-site work is critical to the success of the Foundations goals occasional off-site work is possible with prior approval. The Foundations hours of operation are typically 7am - 3pm mirroring the School day but are flexible with approval of the Executive Director so long as there is consistency.

To Apply:
If you believe that you would like to join the Conservatory Lab Foundation and make a lasting positive impact on Conservatory Lab Charter School its students and faculty and its community please send a resume and cover letter to the Foundations Executive Director Matt Chapuran at.