Director, Institutional Advancement - BerkleeNYC

Berklee College of Music • New York, NY

1d • $145,000 - $175,000 • Onsite

About The Position

About Berklee NYC Berklee NYC represents a bold and successful extension of Berklee’s educational and creative vision into the heart of New York City's cultural landscape. Founded through a public-private-nonprofit partnership with the City of New York and a private donor, Berklee NYC’s Power Station Studios reopened in 2021—renewing a historic center of music production for both students and industry professionals. Berklee NYC and Power Station at Berklee NYC represent a distinctive model of education and professional practice in the heart of New York City. Since launching its Master of Arts in Creative Media and Technology, the campus has established itself as a dynamic nexus of education, industry engagement, and community, preparing creative professionals to lead across music, production, and emerging technologies. The campus has experienced significant growth, including a 54% increase in graduating students over two years, with alumni securing influential industry roles, earning grants, and launching new work. At the same time, Power Station serves as a vital contributor to New York City’s creative economy, supporting a wide range of artists, producers, ensembles, and media partners across commercial, independent, and institutional sectors. Together, Berklee NYC and Power Station contribute meaningfully to the city’s cultural infrastructure while cultivating a global network of alumni embedded throughout the creative industries. Position Summary The Director of Institutional Advancement, Berklee NYC, is a newly created, strategic role designed to launch and lead philanthropic partnerships in support of the campus’s bold vision. Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Institutional Advancement, with a dotted line to the Executive Director of Berklee NYC, the Director will serve as the chief fundraiser for the NYC site. This is a New York City based position. While this role requires an entrepreneurial spirit to build a local program from the ground up, the Director will have full access to the robust resources and infrastructure of the central Berklee Institutional Advancement office in Boston (including prospect research, advancement operations, and stewardship teams) to ensure success. The Director will be responsible for identifying, cultivating, and soliciting a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors to fuel the strategic growth of Berklee’s New York City presence. In addition to direct fundraising, the Director will play a critical role in establishing a new, impactful Advisory Board and leveraging the world-class Power Station facilities and an experienced studio team to create meaningful donor engagement experiences.

Requirements

• Experience: 7–10 years of professional fundraising experience, with a specific track record of success in major and principal gifts.
• Entrepreneurial Mindset: Proven ability to work independently and build new initiatives from scratch; comfortable navigating ambiguity and driving results in a "start-up" environment within a larger institution.
• NYC Knowledge: Familiarity with the New York City philanthropic landscape, arts and culture scene, and/or the music industry.
• Relationship Building: Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to inspire confidence and trust among high-net-worth individuals and senior leadership.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in arts/cultural institutions or higher education
• Familiarity with donor management databases, specifically RE NXT (Raiser's Edge).
• Experience staffing or managing volunteer boards or advisory councils.
• A passion for music, live production, recording arts, or creative technology.

Responsibilities

• Portfolio Management & Fundraising (Major & Principal Gifts) Build and manage a dynamic portfolio of 100-125 qualified prospects with the capacity to give at the major ($50k+) and principal gift levels. Develop and execute personalized strategies for the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individual donors, and corporate/industry partners within the NYC philanthropic landscape. Drive philanthropic revenue growth to support scholarships, capital improvements, and programmatic expansion at Berklee NYC.
• Strategic Partnership & Resource Utilization Partner closely with the newly appointed Executive Director of Berklee NYC to translate the campus’s strategic vision into compelling funding opportunities. Leverage the centralized resources of the Boston Institutional Advancement office—collaborating with prospect research, gift processing, and donor relations teams—to maximize fundraising efficiency in New York. Serve as the primary liaison between the Boston-based Institutional Advancement team and the NYC campus, ensuring alignment with broader institutional goals while advocating for NYC-specific priorities.
• Advisory Board Development Lead the planning and recruitment of a new Berklee NYC Advisory Board. Work with Berklee leadership to identify high-net-worth individuals and industry leaders who can provide financial support, strategic guidance, and industry connections.
• Donor Engagement & Events Leverage the unique history and capabilities of Power Station to design and implement exclusive donor engagement experiences (e.g., studio sessions, listening parties, alumni and industry showcases). Create a "culture of philanthropy" at the NYC site, engaging the local alumni network, in collaboration with Boston-based Alumni Affairs staff, and industry partners in the life of the college.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director