MISSION

Cumbe is a home for African and Diaspora dance and music. Through classes and cultural programs, we invite everyone to immerse themselves in the joy and vitality of rhythms from Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas. Cumbe champions African and Diaspora culture as a vibrant legacy for people of African descent and as an exuberant source of power, spirit, and knowledge for all.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Are you inspired to build a community where folks dance, drum, learn, laugh, recharge, and support each other through the joy and power of African and Diaspora dance and music? Are you driven to build support for African Diasporic culture from a broad range of individuals, foundations, elected officials, and more? Are you energized to serve as a Cumbe ambassador, compellingly telling Cumbe’s stories through proposals, newsletters, individual donor appeals, and more? If so, we invite you to keep reading and think about the untapped opportunities for you to enhance and nourish the lives of others.

OVERVIEW

The Development Associate will work closely with the Executive Director and will be responsible for writing grant proposals and individual donor communications, creating sponsorship decks, conducting prospect research, and managing institutional and individual giving trackers and plans.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Prospect Research, Outreach & Cultivation

• Conduct ongoing research on potential funders (foundations, corporations, government agencies, individuals)
• As identified by the executive director for high-priority prospects, create briefings/memos to prepare for cultivation (calls, meetings, Zooms, etc.)
• As identified by the executive director, for lower-priority prospects, the consultant will reach out to prospects via email and phone to determine current funding strategies, opportunities to submit/deadlines, requirements, status of request, reasons for decline, etc.

Grant and Fundraising Communications Writing

• Work with the executive director and staff to identify Cumbe’s annual funding priorities
• Create an organizational case statement to serve as a template for proposal language
• Work with the executive director to develop annual communications plans for institutional and individual funders
• Write proposals for foundation, government, and corporate audiences
• Draft newsletters, appeal letters, and other communications to institutional and individual funders Management of Institutional and Individual Giving
• Ongoing management of institutional and individual trackers
• Remain informed on ongoing program activities, evaluation protocols, and new initiatives by attending programming and meeting with the executive director and program staff
• Liaise with the executive director and/or Cumbe staff to ensure that components of each grant application are completed in a timely manner

Qualifications:

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
• Strong project management and organizational skills
• Experience writing grant proposals and crafting communications to individual donors a plus
• Knowledge of traditional and contemporary African and Diaspora dance and culture
• Experience with Google Docs and Sheets
• Creativity, enthusiasm and a sense of humor
• Experience working collaboratively and in a busy, creative environment

Location:

Cumbe is located at Restoration Plaza in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. The Development Associate has the latitude to determine their mix of remote and in-person hours. Staff meetings may be in person. Ongoing visits to all programs are essential to understanding and writing about Cumbe’s work.

Compensation:

$22-$25 per hour depending on experience. This position requires 20 hours weekly. Perks include paid time off, flexible schedule, discounted classes, and access to arts events and partners.

Start date: June 2024 or as soon as possible

To apply: please send a cover letter and resume to jobs@cumbedance.org, with “Development Associate” in the subject line.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $22.00 - $25.00 per hour

Expected hours: 20 per week

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• Paid time off

Application Question(s):

• Are you knowledgeable of traditional and contemporary African and Diaspora dance and culture?

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Brooklyn, NY 11216