Director of Development

Position Overview

The Director of Development leads the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation’s efforts to cultivate and steward a diverse base of supporters, translating organizational priorities into compelling funding opportunities. Working closely with the Chief Executive Officer and the Senior Leadership Team, the Director contributes revenue through strategic fundraising, sponsorships, grants, and individual giving. This is a highly external-facing role requiring a consistent presence at Foundation events, community activations, and donor engagements—including evenings and weekends. The Director is expected to represent the Foundation at key cultural, civic, and philanthropic gatherings to strengthen relationships and enhance organizational visibility. This role also ensures alignment with the Foundation’s messaging and brand identity across all donor communications and stewardship efforts.

Job Title: Director of Development [052025]
Department: Development
Reports To: Chief Executive Officer
Supervises: Development Associate, Interns, and Contractors/Volunteers as assigned
FLSA Status: Exempt
Salary: $90,000 - $100,000

Job Summary: The Director of Development is responsible for cultivating and sustaining meaningful relationships that advance the Foundation’s mission. Working in close partnership with the Senior Leadership Team, this role leads collaborative fundraising strategies that prioritize connection over transaction—using storytelling to inspire, engage, and deepen support. The Director will help build a sustainable development framework rooted in shared purpose, trust, and long-term impact.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Stakeholder Collaboration (25%)

• Partner closely with the Chief Executive Officer to align development efforts with organizational vision, strategy, and external positioning.
• Work in close coordination with the Finance and Communications departments (Foundation) to ensure cohesion across messaging, reporting, and funder engagement.
• Collaborate regularly with the Senior Leadership Team (currently six department heads) to support cross-functional integration and strategic planning.
• Serve on Board Committees as assigned, providing development updates and strategic insights.
• Partner with other divisions of the Foundation as needed and engage with external stakeholders, including organizations involved in joint ventures or collaborative initiatives.

Special Events (15%)

• Manage the Foundation Hospitality Lounge at Jazz Fest in partnership with internal and external stakeholders.
• Oversee non–Jazz Fest revenue generation through sponsorships, grants, and individual giving campaigns.
• Lead fundraising and sponsorship efforts for the Jazz Fest Gala and similar high-profile events.

Annual Fundraising (30%)

• Develop and track progress toward annual fundraising goals in collaboration with the CEO.
• Partner with Communications on the Annual Report and associated campaigns.
• Lead sponsorship and donor engagement efforts for community-based festivals and events.
• Conduct prospect research to identify new revenue opportunities.
• Expand and manage the Foundation’s planned giving and capital campaign initiatives.

Relationship-Driven Engagement (15%)

• Represent the Foundation at weeknight and weekend events, including donor and community activations, as assigned.

Administration (15%)

Oversee the development office’s administrative functions, including:

• Gift processing and data integrity
• CRM systems (build and manage new systems due to inherited gaps)
• Grant reporting and compliance
• Donor pipeline and moves management tracking

Additional Responsibilities

Capital Campaign

• Lead future capital campaigns for strategic infrastructure investments

Communications and Programming Collaboration

• Coordinate with Programming and Marketing teams to align fundraising goals with public-facing campaigns and collateral.
• Develop donor-facing programs and materials in alignment with organizational capacity and program feasibility.

Executive Office Integration

• Act as a cultural change agent, advancing the Foundation’s shift to a philanthropic investment model.

Board Engagement

• Collaborate with the CEO and Development & Funding Committee to expand the support pipelines, support committee governance efforts, and provide strategic fundraising updates.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in nonprofit fundraising and strategic development
• Experience managing sponsorships, capital campaigns, grants, and donor cultivation
• Ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and build sustainable systems from the ground up
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust across departments and with external stakeholders
• Knowledge of CRM tools, donor databases, and fundraising best practices

Employee Benefits Overview

At the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, we value our team and strive to provide comprehensive benefits, including:

• Paid Time Off (PTO): Generous PTO to support personal well-being.
• Annual bonus opportunities: based on performance and annual review outcomes.
• Health Insurance: Coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield, including wellness visits and telemedicine.
• Dental & Vision Plans: Affordable options for preventative and major care.
• Health Savings Account (HSA): NOJHF contributes $1,325 annually to assist with out-of-pocket medical costs.
• Life & Disability Insurance: Basic life and AD&D coverage, with options for additional coverage.

How to Apply

Final round interviews will be in-person and will require up to 3-5 professional references, including:

• At least one current or former direct supervisor
• One colleague or peer from the field
• One additional professional stakeholder (e.g., board member, funder, or cross-sector partner)

About the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation is dedicated to advancing the Foundation’s mission of celebrating and sustaining the vibrant cultural heritage of New Orleans and Louisiana. The Foundation’s iconic assets include the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Jazz & Heritage radio station WWOZ 90.7FM, and the Don 'Moose' Jamison Heritage School of Music, which provides free weekly music education.

The Foundation also supports a variety of impactful programs such as the Jazz & Heritage Concert Series, the Catapult Fund Small Business Accelerator, Class Got Brass, and Community Partnership Grants. These initiatives play a vital role in uplifting local artists, empowering underserved communities, and preserving the region’s rich cultural traditions.

As the Foundation continues to produce celebrated events like the Crescent City Blues Festival and Treme Creole Gumbo Festival, it remains focused on fostering education, economic development, and cultural programming. These efforts ensure New Orleans’ legacy as a global beacon of creativity and tradition while supporting the next generation of cultural bearers.

Jazz Fest, the Foundation’s flagship event and primary fundraiser, attracts global artists while showcasing Louisiana talent. Produced in partnership with Festival Productions Inc., Jazz Fest is accompanied by other year-round festivals and performances focused on supporting local artists and cultural traditions. The Foundation retains full ownership of all Jazz Fest-related copyrights, trademarks, and licenses, ensuring its sustainable future.

Education is central to the Foundation’s mission. The Don 'Moose' Jamison Heritage School of Music, housed at the George and Joyce Wein Jazz & Heritage Center, offers free music education to youth, along with other initiatives such as vocal workshops, beginner music programs, and professional audio training.

The Jazz & Heritage Archive preserves and perpetuates Louisiana’s music, culture, and heritage as the institutional repository for the Foundation and WWOZ 90.7 FM. Housing physical and digital records since the Foundation’s inception, it supports award-winning media projects and collaborates with national archives and museums.

Founded in 1980 and owned by the Foundation, WWOZ 90.7-FM connects local and international audiences to New Orleans and Louisiana culture through live broadcasts and streaming of Foundation events. WWOZ’s mission is to be the worldwide voice and flag-bearer of New Orleans’ culture and musical heritage.

The Foundation also plays a key role in grant-making, ensuring the support of musicians, educators, cultural producers, and entrepreneurs by investing proceeds from the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell directly into the community with grants to fund projects that support the Foundation’s mission.

Together, these programs and initiatives embody the Foundation’s mission to celebrate cultural heritage while fostering innovation and ensuring lasting cultural influence.