Job Title: Director of Development (Capital Campaign & Major Gifts)

Location: Schenectady, NY (hybrid) • Reports to: Executive Director • Works closely with: Marketing Director, Board/Campaign Cabinet, Finance • Status: Full-time, exempt

About ESYO

Empire State Youth Orchestra (ESYO) engages, inspires, and empowers 600+ young people each year across 14 ensembles and CHIME, our tuition-free after-school pathway in Schenectady. We present 30+ concerts annually—from parks and schools to marquee stages like Carnegie Hall—while centering the pursuit of mastery, access & opportunity, youth voice, growth & well-being, and community & belonging.

Role Summary

We are in the final stretch of its Building Harmony Capital Campaign, with groundbreaking on its new Youth Music Center scheduled this fall. ESYO is seeking a dynamic Director of Development to partner with the Executive Director to bring the campaign home—and to build a high-performing, relationship-first development program for the long term. 

Key Responsibilities

Campaign & Major Gifts (≈60%)

• Drive campaign close-out strategy and calendar (groundbreaking, tours, donor gatherings)
• Hold a portfolio of ~50–75 prospects (individuals, family foundations, corporate leaders); lead discovery → cultivation → solicitation → closure.
• Draft/coordinate proposals, gift agreements, pledge schedules, and match challenges; prepare the ED/Board for joint asks.
• Manage naming opportunities and donor wall fulfillment (language, approvals, timelines).

Stewardship, Events & Public-Facing Moments (≈30%)

• Stage high-touch stewardship: concise impact updates, construction progress notes, intimate briefings, student pop-up performances.
• Lead cultivation and public events with Marketing: invitations, host committees, run-of-show; represent ESYO confidently in the community.

Systems, Reporting & Collaboration (≈10%)

• Own NEON discipline: clean records, moves, tasks, pipelines, pledge fulfillment, dashboards.
• Align with Finance on reports and pledge invoicing/reminders; partner with Marketing for case materials and donor storytelling.

Qualifications

• Extensive Development experience with a major gifts and/or capital campaign track record.
• Skilled closer with excellent proposal/brief writing and donor-facing communication.
• NEON CRM (or similar) power user; data-driven and organized.
• Polished event instincts; comfortable emceeing, hosting, and coaching volunteers.
• Mission alignment with youth, music, access, and community.

Compensation & Benefits

Competitive salary commensurate with experience; health insurance, retirement plan, generous PTO/holidays, flexible/hybrid schedule, and professional development.

To Apply

Send (1) resume, (2) a tailored cover letter (share a capital/major gift you closed and the system you improved), and (3) one writing sample (proposal excerpt or donor email) to info@esyo.org with subject “Director of Development – [Your Name]”. Applications reviewed on a rolling basis.