Chief Advancement Officer

Chief Advancement Officer

Reports to: Executive Director and CEO

Supervises: Director of Institutional Giving; Development Coordinator

Location: Brooklyn, New York; hybrid

Organization Summary

Building Beats provides music, media, and creative technology programs that help young people build technical skills, leadership, and pathways into the creative economy. Since 2013, Building Beats has served more than 12,500 young people through creative education, mentorship, workforce development, and paid industry opportunities. Learn more at buildingbeats.org.

Position Summary

Building Beats is seeking an experienced, part-time Chief Advancement Officer to oversee the development department and translate the Executive Director and CEO’s fundraising vision into a focused strategy.

Building Beats already generates approximately $1 million annually and has a strong base of funders, partners, champions, programs, and community visibility. The Chief Advancement Officer will build on these assets by deepening relationships, strengthening fundraising systems, and supporting sustained revenue growth.

As a senior fundraising thought partner and member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Chief Advancement Officer will supervise the advancement team and co-develop annual and multi-year fundraising strategies. This work will support Building Beats’ approximately $1.5 million operating budget and future growth across institutional, corporate, government, and individual giving, as well as sponsorships, campaigns, events, board engagement, and Friends of Building Beats.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy and Leadership

• Co-develop and oversee annual and multi-year fundraising strategies with clear revenue goals, priorities, timelines, and accountability.
• Manage the fundraising pipeline, forecasts, and performance reporting while identifying risks and growth opportunities.
• Supervise the advancement team and strengthen the systems and processes needed to meet revenue goals and support sustainable growth.

Donor and Funder Development

• Partner with the Director of Institutional Giving on grant strategy, prospect development, proposals, reporting, renewals, and stewardship.
• Build and deepen relationships with foundation, corporate, government, and individual supporters.
• Develop strategies to grow major gifts, individual giving, corporate philanthropy, sponsorships, and in-kind support.

Organizational Collaboration

• Work with the Chief Operating Officer on revenue tracking, forecasting, reporting, and fundraising systems.
• Collaborate with the Chief Program Officer and program staff to align fundraising priorities with program goals, outcomes, and resource needs.

Board and Friends of Building Beats Engagement

• Support the Executive Director in delivering board fundraising training and help the Board apply best practices through practical fundraising strategies.
• Partner with the Executive Director and Board to grow Friends of Building Beats and guide its recruitment, engagement, programming, and giving expectations.

Events, Campaigns, and Communications

• Lead fundraising strategy for Donuts Are Forever, year-end giving, showcases, and other campaigns.
• Evaluate fundraising initiatives based on effectiveness, revenue potential, efficiency, and return on effort.
• Co-develop Building Beats’ stakeholder communications strategy with the Executive Director and guide the development team in its execution.

Desired Skills and Qualifications

• Strong alignment with Building Beats’ mission and commitment to youth empowerment, equity, creative education, and access to the creative economy.
• At least 10 years of progressive experience in nonprofit development, advancement, fundraising, or philanthropy.
• Demonstrated success leading or playing a senior role in annual fundraising efforts that generate at least $3 million in contributed revenue across multiple funding sources.
• Experience developing multi-year fundraising strategies that support year-over-year revenue and organizational growth.
• Experience supervising staff and strengthening or scaling a development function.
• Established philanthropic relationships and proficiency with donor CRMs, pipeline management, forecasting, and reporting.
• Highly collaborative and emotionally intelligent, with strong judgment, communication, and relationship-management skills.
• Ability to work effectively with executive leaders, boards, program teams, and staff across functions.

Compensation and Schedule

This is a part-time employee position paying $50,000 annually for 17.5 hours per week. The position is not eligible for employee benefits. Some evening and weekend availability is required. Building Beats hopes to expand the role to full-time in FY27–28. Hours may increase sooner if additional funding becomes available.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Building Beats is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage candidates of all backgrounds, identities, experiences, and perspectives to apply.

How to Apply

Please send a resume and brief cover letter explaining your interest in the role and how your experience aligns with the position to Malika Harris, Executive Director at [email protected]. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Building Beats is a nonprofit music education organization that empowers youth through music, technology, and creative media. Founded in the Bronx in 2013, Building Beats provides hands-on programs in DJing, music production, podcasting, and digital media across schools and community spaces in New York City and Los Angeles. Serving over 12,000 young people to date, the organization helps students build creative, technical, and workforce-ready skills while creating pathways to internships, mentorship, and careers in the creative industries.