Director of Development

Job Title: Director of Development
Reports To: CEO
Location: Philadelphia, PA (Hybrid work environment available)
Status: Full-time, Exempt
Salary Range: Compensation: $75,000 - 90,000 (Salary Offered Is Based Upon Experience, Qualifications, Skills, And Industry Background), Hybrid Work Environment, Short And Long Term Disability, Life Insurance, 403b Retirement Plan With 2% Match, Medical, Dental, And Vision, 10 Vacation Days (Plus One Additional Annually), 10 Sick Days, 7 Paid Holidays, 2 Floating Holidays, Plus Winter Recess Time Off

About Rock to the Future

Rock to the Future fosters thriving youth and economic empowerment through free, student-driven music programs for Philadelphia youth in under-resourced areas. Our work helps young people unlock their creative potential, strengthen academic and life skills, and build pathways to a bright future—all through the power of music. With an annual budget of $2 million and growing, Rock to the Future is seeking a passionate, strategic, and results-oriented Director of Development to lead our fundraising efforts and help us scale our impact across Philadelphia. 

This is an inaugural Director of Development position as we embark on our 5-year strategic plan. We aim to expand Rock to the Future’s reach from 1,200 to 2,300+ youth annually while deepening the quality of our MusiCore, MusiCommunity, and MobileMusic programs. The plan prioritizes doubling MusiCore enrollment, expanding services for justice-involved youth, strengthening college and career pathways, and investing in staff, systems, and infrastructure to ensure long-term sustainability and measurable impact on graduation, postsecondary success, and youth well-being. To achieve our goals, we will grow our $2 million budget to more than $3 million by 2029–30, driven by major increases in fee-for-service program revenue, individual giving, and institutional support. 

Position Overview

The Director of Development reports to the Chief Executive Officer and is a key leadership role responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing all fundraising and communications strategies to support Rock to the Future’s revenue growth. This includes individual giving, foundation and corporate grants, government grants and contracts, community giving, special events, sponsorships, fee-for-service programming, and donor stewardship. Working closely with the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors, the Director of Development will play a vital role in growing the organization’s revenue and ensuring long-term sustainability. This is a hybrid position with remote administrative responsibilities along with in-person events and meetings, which may occasionally be in the evenings or weekends. The Director of Development will manage 2 full-time development professionals, with plans for the development team to expand in coming  years.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Execution

• Develop and lead a comprehensive development plan to raise and exceed the organization’s $2M annual budget
• Oversee and support development team members who lead individual (major gifts, event, peer-to-peer, and other giving), institutional (foundation, corporate, government), and fee-for-service revenue streams
• Lead development of infrastructure for growing team, including database Bloomerang, development or revision of planning and reporting templates, and policies, processes, and procedures

Fundraising and Stewardship

• Oversee and support institutional and individual giving, including prospect research, relationship cultivation, proposal development, grant writing, submission, and reporting for foundations, corporations, and government funders, with a focus on major and multi-year giving
• Collaborate with programs and finance teams to align proposals with organizational goals and track/report outcomes effectively
• Represent Rock to the Future in meetings and communications with current and prospective institutional and individual funders, deepening engagement and partnership opportunities
• Collaborate with staff and Board members to engage prospects and funders through meetings, events, and personalized communication
• Regularly report fundraising progress to the CEO and Board of Directors
• Knowledgeable of fundraising trends and the shifting fundraising landscape

Marketing & Communications

• Oversee external communications in partnership with marketing staff, including newsletters, annual reports, appeals, social media, and website content
• Ensure consistent messaging and storytelling aligned with Rock to the Future’s brand and mission to inspire and engage supporters and demonstrate impact

Leadership & Collaboration

• Supervise and coach the development team (currently 2 full-time team members)
• Determine development contractors and resource needs to grow funding
• Work cross-functionally with program, finance, and operations teams to align funding needs and program growth
• Work collaboratively with marketing and communications team members to achieve development goals
• Support the Board Development Committee and engage Board members in fundraising efforts

Required Qualifications

Passion for our mission and vision

• 5+ years of progressive nonprofit fundraising experience, with a track record of securing 5- and 6-figure gifts across multiple revenue streams (individual, foundation, corporate, and/or government)
• 3+ years of team management and leadership experience
• Demonstrated success developing and executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy that meets or exceeds revenue goals
• Experience managing or contributing to organizational budgets of $1 million, with an understanding of revenue forecasting and growth planning
• Strong knowledge of the Philadelphia philanthropic landscape and regional funding environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including grant writing and donor communications
• Experience using CRM systems and fundraising data to drive strategy and decision-making
• Ability to work cross-functionally and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, growing organization
• Commitment to youth development, arts education, and social equity

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading fundraising during a period of organizational growth or scale
• Experience with fee-for-service or earned revenue models in a nonprofit setting
• Familiarity with government grants and contracts, particularly in Philadelphia or Pennsylvania
• Experience partnering with or managing a Board of Directors in fundraising efforts
• Background in marketing and communications strategy, including donor engagement campaigns
• Experience building or strengthening development systems, infrastructure, and processes