Director of Development & Communications

Job Title: Director of Development & Communications

Job Type: Full-Time, Exempt Salaried

Supervisor: CEO

Direct Reports: Individual Giving & Engagement Manager; Development Operations Coordinator; Marketing & Development Specialist (part-time)

Salary: $120,000–$140,000 per year, commensurate with experience

About Us:

Row New York opens doors to opportunity through the sport of rowing. We believe rowing is a powerful vehicle for young people to discover what they are capable of—building confidence, discipline, teamwork, and a sense of belonging while gaining access to relationships, experiences, and opportunities that can shape their futures.Our core Youth Program combines competitive and developmental rowing with academic and college support, social‑emotional development, and opportunities that extend far beyond the boathouse. We primarily serve young people from communities that have historically had limited access to rowing and the opportunities connected to it. Our student‑athletes train and compete throughout the year while receiving individualized support to succeed in high school, navigate post‑secondary pathways, and thrive beyond graduation.

Row New York also provides rowing opportunities for Veterans and people with disabilities through partnerships with community organizations and New York City District 75 schools; we also provide community and scholastic fee‑for‑service rowing programs. Based in Upper Manhattan and Queens, we are committed to broadening access to rowing, deepening the impact of the sport on the people we serve, and building a strong and sustainable organization for New Yorkers.

Position Summary:

Row New York seeks a strategic, relationship-driven, and entrepreneurial leader to serve as its next Director of Development & Communications. Reporting directly to the CEO, the Director will lead the organization's fundraising and partnership strategy to ensure that Row New York has the revenue, relationships, fundraising systems, messaging, and visibility needed to advance its mission. This new leadership role is responsible for driving contributed revenue growth, managing a portfolio of major donors and institutional funders, strengthening Row New York's external voice and case for support, and building a high‑performing Development & Communications team. The team is currently responsible for raising approximately $4 million in annual contributed revenue, capital funding for short‑and long‑term projects, with significant opportunity for future growth.

This is a highly visible player‑coach role for a fundraising leader who enjoys both setting strategy and rolling up their sleeves to drive results. The Director will personally lead some of the organization's most important funder relationships and oversee a team whose functions include: individual giving, institutional giving, development operations, and marketing and communications. The Director will be equally comfortable developing strategy, managing people, building fundraising and marketing infrastructure, and leading donor conversations. They bring strong judgment, a collaborative mindset, and a commitment to creating clarity, accountability, and momentum across a distributed team environment.

This position is primarily remote but includes in‑person work. The Director of Development & Communications will lead and participate in in‑person donor meetings, board meetings, fundraising events, staff retreats, and other gatherings as needed. Local residency in the New York City metro‑area is required.

Key Responsibilities:

Fundraising Strategy & Revenue Growth

• Lead the development and execution of Row New York's annual and multi-year fundraising strategy by establishing fundraising goals, priorities, and performance metrics across individual and institutional giving and identifying opportunities for sustainable revenue growth.
• Partner with the CEO and leadership team to monitor fundraising performance and adjust strategies based on results, emerging opportunities, and organizational priorities.

Major Donor & Institutional Fundraising

• Personally manage a portfolio of Row New York’s highest‑capacity individual donors, institutional funders, and high‑potential prospects, with a particular focus on relationships requiring senior leadership, CEO, or board engagement.
• Develop and execute cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and engagement strategies for key relationships.
• Partner closely with the CEO on top donor relationships, major gift solicitations, and institutional funding opportunities.
• Develop compelling proposals, presentations, reports, and donor communications that inspire investment and deepen engagement.
• Ensure strong moves management practices and coordinated donor engagement across the fundraising team.

Team Leadership & Management

• Lead, coach, and cultivate the professional growth of the Development team by establishing clear goals, priorities, and performance expectations for team members.
• Foster a culture of ownership, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Promote strong communication and collaboration across a distributed team environment and ensure team members have the support and clarity needed to be successful.
• Support staff professional development and help build organizational fundraising capacity over time.

Marketing, Communications & Storytelling

• Shape Row New York’s external voice, thought leadership strategy, and messaging across priority stakeholder audiences.
• Serve as the steward of Row New York's fundraising narrative and external messaging by leading the ongoing refinement of the organization’s case for support.
• Ensure all external communications efforts effectively support fundraising, donor engagement, and organizational goals.
• Partner with program staff to identify and share compelling stories, impact data, and constituent perspectives.
• Provide strategic direction for donor communications, stewardship efforts, campaign messaging, and fundraising materials.
• Supervise staff, consultants, and vendors responsible for communications execution.

Board Engagement

• Partner with the CEO in supporting board and committee engagement related to fundraising and external affairs.
• Ensure leadership and board stakeholders have timely, accurate fundraising information and projections.
• Prepare fundraising updates, dashboards, and materials for board and committee meetings.
• Support board member engagement in donor cultivation, stewardship, and fundraising efforts.

Qualifications:

• 8–10+ years of progressive fundraising experience, including specific examples securing 6-figure+ major gifts and institutional funding.
• Demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major donors and institutional funders.
• At least 3 years’ experience managing multiple direct reports and developing high‑performance teams.
• Superior strategic planning, project management, and execution skills.
• Superior organizational skills, with experience managing multiple initiatives, and ability to be flexible with a lean staff.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication abilities; comfort communicating with a range of stakeholders.
• Productive relationship‑building skills with donors, board members, colleagues, and external stakeholders.
• Understanding of the role racial inequity plays in society and applies this understanding to their work and interactions.
• Experience developing fundraising systems, processes, forecasting tools, and performance assessment structures.
• Ability to analyze data and use insights to drive fundraising strategy and decision‑making.
• Strong familiarity with donor database software, preferably Salesforce.
• Ability to engage in long‑term strategic planning and short‑term hands‑on execution.
• Availability to work evenings and weekends for meetings and special events.
• Demonstrated passion and commitment to Row New York’s mission; some rowing background or experience is a plus!

Compensation & Benefits:

Row New York is committed to paying our staff equitably and competitively amongst our peer organizations. We provide excellent benefits that support a healthy “work‑life” balance. Our benefits include:

• Affordable, high‑quality health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401K plan
• Fully paid parental leave
• Minimum of 25 paid PTO days per year plus paid holidays

Row New York is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage all candidates including people of color, women, Veterans, LGBTQIA+, older candidates and candidates with disabilities to apply. We appreciate all applicants, but please be advised that our capacity allows us to only respond to those best qualified for the position. No phone calls, please.