Job Announcement

Director of Development

POSITION OVERVIEW

Emily Johnson / Catalyst seeks an energetic and creative half-time Director of Development in support of its far-reaching cultural and community work in performance and beyond. The Director of Development reports to the Artistic Director and Project Producer, and is tasked with setting and meeting annual fundraising goals for a growing arts organization. The ideal candidate has a strong understanding of contemporary dance and performance and its funding mechanisms, and is excited to advance artistic and community projects that center Indigenous artists and knowledges, and to participate in processes rooted in decolonization.

ABOUT EMILY JOHNSON / CATALYST

Emily Johnson is an artist who makes body-based work. She is a land and water protector and an activist for justice, sovereignty and well-being. A Bessie Award-winning choreographer, Guggenheim Fellow and recipient of the Doris Duke Artist Award, she is based in Lenapehoking / New York City. Emily is of the Yup’ik Nation, and since 1998 has created work that considers the experience of sensing and seeing performance. Her dances function as portals and care processions, they engage audienceship within and through space, time, and environment- interacting with a place's architecture, peoples, history and role in building futures. Emily hosts monthly ceremonial fires on Mannahatta in partnership with Abrons Arts Center and Karyn Recollet. She was a co-compiler of the document, Creating New Futures: Guidelines for Ethics and Equity in the Performing Arts and is part of an advisory group—with Reuben Roqueni, Ed Bourgeois, Lori Pourier, Ronee Penoi, and Vallejo Gantner—developing a First Nations Performing Arts Network.

Catalyst works from within the performing arts field to increase recognition, support and equity for Indigenous performance art practice, presenting and research. We understand and honor the need to recognize self-determined artistic and community practices, to uphold healing, relationality, and to center Indigenous individuals and communities during the process of dismantling colonial systems, asserting sovereignty, and aligning with generations-long efforts. We understand the performing arts system globally as one that continues to marginalize and harm Indigenous people and land; we understand the power that performance and story wields in this moment and envision its potential to foster positive social change.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Develop fundraising strategies alongside our Artistic Director, for activities that span the arts, academia, humanities and social justice; 

  • Lead in securing financial and in-kind support through a deep understanding of Catalyst’s vision, values, practice, and operations, and ability to communicate them in compelling written and spoken appeals;

  • Set and achieve annual goals for government, foundation, corporate and individual giving, manage timelines, track and report progress;

  • Manage annual grants calendar, write and prepare all grant applications, assure timely submission of proposals, as well as interim and final reports;

  • Research individual, foundation and corporate prospects, cultivate and maintain relationships with new and existing funders;

  • Steward individual donor relationships through annual appeals, as well as Catalyst programs, performances and special events;

  • Envision and manage development-related communications strategy, including digital and print campaigns, sponsorship proposals, acknowledgements, etc;

  • Develop and maintain robust systems for building donor database, tracking communications, processing gifts, providing acknowledgments, etc;

  • Collaborate with the Artistic Director, Project Producer, and Branch Stewards on project and program-related budgeting;

  • Contribute to ongoing anti-racism and decolonization work through staff meetings, training sessions, independent professional development, and collaboration on strategy and action items;

  • Advance visibility of Catalyst in the philanthropic community through active participation in local, national, and international convenings, programs and events;

  • Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned by the Artistic Director

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience and confidence with all responsibilities listed above in a contemporary dance/performance context; additional experience in academic, humanities, and/or social justice fundraising a plus;

  • Can value and implement Indigenous processes of respect, care and reciprocity, and ensure that those values are followed at all levels of communications, planning, and work; 

  • Strong knowledge of the field of contemporary dance and performance and a passion for Catalyst’s mission;

  • Experience developing and implementing successful fundraising strategies and meeting goals;

  • Capable of expanding contributed revenue streams, growing fundraising programs, and generating new prospects and partnerships in support of programs and initiatives;

  • Excellent grant writing and communication skills;

  • Strong organizational skills, including the ability to work independently, manage multiple deadlines, and be accountable for performance in alignment with set goals; 

  • Able to work effectively and with equilibrium and sensitivity, while meeting deadline and respecting collaborative processes;

  • Familiarity with Google Suite, Microsoft Office Suite, Mailchimp

WORKING CONDITIONS

  • Catalyst staff primarily work remotely, and this position requires the employee to have their own computer and access to WiFi;

  • New York City area candidates preferred;

  • Attendance at select in-person meetings and events will be required, including nights and weekends, and require car, bus, train, and/or air travel.

COMPENSATION

Starting salary range is $40,000 to $50,000 depending on experience, based on a half-time position with potential for growth to full-time, non-exempt. Additionally, a monthly health-care stipend will be provided and required travel is supported with transport, housing and per diem.

TO APPLY

Please submit resume and cover letter to info@catalystdance.com, subject line “Catalyst Development Steward”. Application review will begin April 30 and remain open until filled.

Office, Minneapolis, MN, US612.597.7400emily@catalystdance.com

Emily Johnson / Catalyst is based on Mannahatta in Lenapehoking. We work to pay respect to Lenape homeland, people and ancestors past, present, and future by organizing with communities from the Lenape diaspora to build pathways for Lenapeyok return. We have been taught to name Lenape Nations and say cama’i to our relatives from Delaware Tribe of Indians in Bartlesville, OK; Delaware Nation of Oklahoma in Anadarko, OK; Stockbridge-Munsee and Mohican Community in Wisconsin; Moravian Delaware of the Thames in Ontario, Canada; Munsee-Delaware Nation at Munceytown in Ontario, Canada; Delaware of Six Nations in Ontario, Canada. 

We strive to be in good relations with our kin—human and more than human—and in effort to support growing kinstillatory relations and sovereign, liberated futures we are anti-colonial and abolitionist in all capacities. We are committed to on-the-ground water and land protection, consistent decolonization work, and Land Back. 

Quyanaqvaa-lli elpeni to all Sovereign Nations, Indigenous and First Nations people who live in relation to and from Lenapehoking and upon whose lands we work and tour.

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