Recess is Hiring
Associate Director of Advancement
About the Position
Recess seeks an experienced, dedicated individual to partner with the Co-Directors to lead, plan and manage its funding initiatives. The Associate Director of Advancement will serve as a key member of the Recess team, contributing to overall institutional growth and financial health providing key leadership and strategic direction in funds acquisition.
About Recess
Recess believes in artists and youth as visionaries within an ecosystem of care and accountability. We, therefore, work with artists, system-impacted individuals, and community partners to continually foster a holistic effort toward fairness and wellness across our organization. By pursuing new models internally (staff, operations, board governance) as well as externally (programs, fundraising, communications) we can realize our mission with integrity and proliferate this ethos of care that constantly strives toward the abolition of interlocked systems of harm. Recess partners with artists, youth, writers, and their chosen publics to create transformative cultural experiences. Our programs welcome radical thinkers to imagine and shape networks of resilience and safety. By challenging dominant narratives and activating new forms of creative production, Recess defines and advances the possibilities of contemporary art. Recess is free and open to the public to serve as a meeting place to generate art, ideas and actions.
Primary Responsibilities
Grants
- In conjunction with the Co-Directors, creatively strategize and develop all fundraising efforts, while working towards short and long-term funding goals and implementing initiatives
- Manage grants including preparing narrative and budget proposals, reporting and submission
- Maintain active communication with grants administrators and program officers
- Research and identify new grant opportunities for the organization
Events
- Generate ideas and brainstorm new formats for values-aligned fundraising and cultivation events
- Manage logistics of event-based donor engagement with Donor Circle
- Manage space rental
Donor Management & Cultivation
- Develop and implement strategies for expanding the donor base, including identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship for year-end giving, sustaining donors campaign, and major gifts
- Support the Co-Directors with Recess Board of Directors engagement and in identifying prospective board members
- Manage donor database (Kindful)
- Generate correspondence with donors
Operations
- Along with the rest of the staff, maintain a clean space stocked with necessary supplies
- Actively participate in collective trainings, retreats, visioning, and other internal workings that enact Recess values
Requirements
- Passion for art, social justice, economic sustainability, and innovative strategies
- Commitment to–and/or willingness to learn–abolition and community based safety
- At least 3 years of development and/or non-profit fundraising experience including experience in financial management and demonstrated creativity in advancement strategy
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with at least two years of grant writing experience
- Flexibility and confidence in managing projects independently and with others
- Ability to thrive in both collaborative and independent work environments, including multitasking, problem solving, and prioritizing effectively
- Experience using one or more communication platforms such as Whatsapp or Slack; strong working knowledge of google suite
- Familiarity with New York City arts and donor communities
Reports to Co-Directors
—utilizing an abolitionist framework to embed shared power in our internal decision-making.
Salary & Benefits: Recess two-tier universal salary at 84k; full health, dental, vision benefits (covered at 100% for individual); optional 401K plan; professional development and care & capacity funds; paid time off including vacation, holidays, and breaks
Schedule: Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm or 11am-6pm; hybrid work week with up to 2 days remote (Monday and Tuesday remote and Wednesday-Friday in person at Recess); occasional events and programs outside regular hours
Application Instructions: Submit a cover letter, cv, and three references as a combined pdf by email to employment@recessart.org with the subject line “Associate Director of Advancement at Recess”
Application Deadline: March 17, 2024
Position start date: June 2024 or sooner
Recess is an equal opportunity employer and considers all candidates for employment regardless of age, color, sex, gender identity or expression, disability, national origin, ethnicity, race, religion, veteran status, housing status, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or previous homelessness or legal system involvement.
Note: Statistics show that individuals coming from historically excluded or oppressed groups apply to jobs only if they meet all qualifications. Recess invites you to skew that statistic. Applicants rarely meet 100% of qualifications. We look forward to hearing from you.