Development Director

About Arts for Learning Maryland

Arts for Learning Maryland (formerly Young Audiences of Maryland) is devoted to enriching the lives and education of Maryland’s youth through educational and culturally diverse arts programs. Through Arts for Learning, professional teaching artists from all disciplines partner with educators, schools, and school districts to provide -- on average -- over 560,000 hours of learning in, through, and about the arts to more than 155,000 Maryland students annually.

Arts for Learning is a mission-driven organization that values community, innovation, and passion. The staff, board, and teaching artists have a shared commitment to advance equity in the field of education by working tirelessly to generate opportunities for students to imagine, create, and realize their full potential through the arts.

Position Summary:
Arts for Learning (A4L) seeks a creative, strategic, and mission-driven Director of Development to lead our contributed revenue efforts and build a robust culture of philanthropy across the organization. Reporting to the Chief of Engagement, the Director will oversee the development team and manage fundraising strategies across institutional, individual, and major giving, including support for a forthcoming endowment campaign.

Working closely with the Chief of Engagement, President & CEO, engagement team, board members, and other senior leaders, the Director will drive the growth and diversification of A4L’s funding streams, ensuring that annual fundraising goals—approximately $4.5M of a $17M annual budget—are met and exceeded.

This is a full-time, exempt position based in Baltimore, MD.  The Development Director is expected to be on-site at minimum two days per week.

Key Responsibilities:

Fundraising Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and implement a bold, equity-informed fundraising strategy to increase contributed income and diversify the donor base.
• Partner with the Chief of Engagement and Major Gifts Officer to activate board members and volunteers in fundraising.
• Manage a portfolio of institutional donors, and lead or support high-level grant applications ($50K+).
• Support the Grants Manager, Grant Writer, and Donor Engagement Manager across grant planning and donor communications.
• Drive the success of an upcoming endowment campaign.

Team Management & Collaboration

• Supervise and support three direct reports: Grants Manager, Donor Engagement Manager, and Gift & Event Coordinator.
• Set clear annual goals and expectations for the development team.
• Champion antiracist leadership practices and contribute to an inclusive, supportive culture.
• Provide final approval for fundraising content and donor-facing messaging in partnership with Communications.

Systems, Data & Budget Oversight

• Ensure strong systems for donor cultivation, acknowledgment, and data tracking.
• Monitor ROI of fundraising activities and manage the development budget.
• Collaborate with Finance on reporting, reconciliations, and the annual audit.
• Cultivate strong cross-team relationships to enhance proposal development and storytelling.

Qualifications

We recognize that no single candidate will have every qualification listed, and we encourage candidates who meet many of the criteria to apply. The ideal candidate will bring many of the following:

• At least 5+ years of development experience with a track record of raising $2M+ annually.
• Strong strategic thinking, budgeting, and team management skills.
• Excellent relationship-builder and communicator across diverse audiences.
• Committed to racial equity and excited to reimagine traditional fundraising through an inclusive lens.
• Problem-solver who thrives in fast-paced, mission-driven environments.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred but not required.

Compensation:

We offer a starting annual salary of $95,000 and an attractive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision healthcare coverage, retirement contributions, and a flexible unlimited paid time off pol