Development Manager

The Joy of Music School is seeking a thoughtful, organized, and relationship-centered development professional to help grow and strengthen our fundraising efforts.

Depending on experience and final role scope, this position may be structured as a Development Manager or Development Coordinator role.

About JOMS

The Joy of Music School provides high-quality music instruction, instruments, and mentorship at no cost to children who are underserved in our community. Based in Knoxville, Tennessee, JOMS removes financial barriers so children can learn, create, perform, and grow through music.

Each year, JOMS serves hundreds of children through in-house instruction, outreach partnerships, and community engagement. Students receive private lessons, group classes, ensemble opportunities, music enrichment experiences, instruments, and performance opportunities in a supportive environment built around encouragement, consistency, and belonging.

Position Overview

This role will support and strengthen JOMS’ fundraising, donor relationships, storytelling, grant work, sponsorships, events, and community engagement. We are looking for someone who believes in the power of music, understands the importance of donor and community relationships, and can help build the systems, communication, and follow-through that make fundraising successful.

Key Responsibilities

Support donor cultivation, stewardship, and communications.Assist with annual giving, appeals, sponsorships, and donor follow-up.Help manage donor records, acknowledgments, and development tracking.Support grant research, writing, reporting, and documentation.Assist with fundraising events, sponsorship materials, and guest/donor follow-up.Help create compelling stories and materials that communicate JOMS’ impact.Represent JOMS in the community through meetings, presentations, and outreach opportunities.Prepare and deliver presentations to community groups, civic organizations, churches, businesses, and other potential partners.Work closely with the Executive Director, board members, and volunteers to strengthen fundraising and community engagement efforts.Support development systems that help JOMS grow contributed revenue over time.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is organized, warm, detail-oriented, and comfortable building relationships with donors, volunteers, community partners, and prospective supporters. Strong writing skills, follow-through, and comfort speaking to groups are important.

This person should be able to represent JOMS professionally in the community, share the mission clearly, and help connect people to the work of the school through meetings, presentations, and outreach opportunities.

A background in music or personal experience as a musician is encouraged, but not required. More important is the ability to understand and communicate the value of music education in the lives of students and families.

Experience in nonprofit fundraising, donor relations, grants, events, communications, public speaking, community engagement, or a related field is preferred.

Compensation, Schedule, and Benefits

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position with regular weekday office hours. Occasional evening or weekend availability will be needed for fundraising events, donor meetings, board-related activities, and community presentations.

Salary is commensurate with experience, qualifications, and final role level. Title and compensation may be adjusted for candidates with significant development leadership experience.

JOMS offers a competitive benefits package for eligible full-time employees, including health/medical insurance, employer HSA contributions when enrolled in an eligible plan, a 401(k) retirement plan with employer match, paid vacation, paid sick time, paid holidays, and other benefits in accordance with current organizational policies.

To Apply

Please submit a resume and brief cover letter. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.