Opportunities
Earshot Jazz plays a vital role in sustaining our thriving musical community, including organizing events, publishing a monthly magazine, and supporting artists. Join our team to contribute your expertise while helping preserve and promote the rich jazz tradition throughout the Pacific Northwest. Available positions:
PDF version: Development & Communications Director
Status: Full-time, Exempt
Compensation: $75,000-$90,000 DOE.
Work Location: Seattle, WA. Hybrid work arrangement (minimum 2-3 office days).
Compensation and Benefits:
- 100% employee healthcare premiums (medical, dental)
- 15 days Paid Time Off
- 11 Paid Holidays
- Professional development opportunities
About Earshot Jazz
Founded in 1984, Earshot Jazz is a nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating jazz as a vital Black American art form through live performances, artist advocacy, and community engagement. For nearly 40 years, Earshot has supported artists, audiences, and educators. The annual Earshot Jazz Festival presents renowned local and international musicians. Year-round, Earshot hosts concerts, commissions new works, and publishes the Earshot Jazz magazine, chronicling Seattle’s jazz culture since 1984.
About the Position
Earshot Jazz seeks an innovative, strategic professional to serve as Development & Communications Director. This key leadership role collaborates with the Executive Director to raise Earshot Jazz’s total budgeted contributed income ($350,000 in FY2025) and oversee communications strategies. The Director will lead fundraising efforts, cultivate donor relationships, and manage major gifts, corporate sponsorships, and special events. They will also guide messaging to enhance Earshot’s visibility. The ideal candidate is an authentic relationship builder with fundraising experience and a passion for jazz and arts advocacy. Reports to Executive Director. Supervises Marketing & Communications Manager and Membership & Community Engagement Manager.
Key Responsibilities
Development & Fundraising:
- Manage a portfolio of major donors, conducting solicitations to meet fundraising goals.
- Design and execute fundraising strategies, including annual campaigns, grants, corporate sponsorships, and events.
- Collaborate with the Board to enhance Board fundraising effectiveness.
- Partner with the Executive Director to develop major gift strategies.
- Oversee grant seeking, including research, writing, submission, and reporting.
- Maintain donor database, process gifts, and ensure accurate reporting.
- Develop and maintain relationships with foundation officers and corporate partners.
- Attend Earshot Jazz concerts on a regular basis to engage the organization’s mission and create relationships with patrons.
Strategic Communications:
- Lead organizational communications strategically aligned with fundraising goals.
- Oversee the Marketing & Communications Manager to implement cohesive messaging.
- Review and approve marketing campaigns and major communications initiatives.
- Ensure integration of fundraising messages across communication channels.
- Support the Earshot Jazz magazine as an engagement tool for donors and the community.
Leadership & Team Management:
- Enhance membership and donor recognition with the Membership & Community Engagement Manager
- Supervise and mentor the Marketing & Communications Manager, providing performance reviews and development support.
- Foster collaboration between development and communications teams.
Board & Executive Support:
- Align development and communications efforts with the organization’s strategic vision.
- Support Board committees by preparing donor activity lists and materials.
- Conduct donor research to inform strategic outreach by the Executive Director & Board.
- Develop tailored marketing materials for fundraising campaigns.
Analysis & Budgeting:
- Track and manage development budgets to meet financial goals.
- Provide data reporting on fundraising progress and donor engagement.
Qualifications
Required:
- 5+ years of experience in development or related fields.
- Proven success in donor solicitation and fundraising strategies.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Adaptability and willingness to adjust direction as priorities evolve.
- Ability to manage and inspire teams while collaborating across departments.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Experience in grant writing and reporting.
- Proficiency in Google Workspace or Microsoft Office Suite, and Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
- Experience with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems like Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge, or DonorPerfect.
Preferred:
- Experience developing multifaceted fundraising strategies.
- Experience with PatronManager
- Background in jazz or performing arts organizations.
- Knowledge of Seattle’s arts and philanthropy landscape.
- Experience in small arts organizations.
- Proven track record of meeting revenue goals.
- Entrepreneurial approach to managing multiple projects.
- Proficiency with WordPress, Mailchimp, Adobe Creative Suite, and Google Analytics.
To Apply: Submit cover letter, resume, and three references to jobs@earshot.org. No phone calls, please.
Earshot Jazz is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering an inclusive workplace. We strongly encourage applications from people of color, people with disabilities, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and others from historically excluded communities.
PDF Version: Accounting & Finance Specialist
Status: Contract (~11 hours per week)
Compensation: $50/hour
Work Location: Seattle, WA. Hybrid
About Earshot Jazz
Founded in 1984, Earshot Jazz is a nonprofit celebrating jazz as a vital Black American art form through performances, advocacy, and community engagement. For nearly 40 years, we’ve supported artists, audiences, and educators. As a small nonprofit, we rely on a dedicated team and external financial professionals. The Accounting & Finance Specialist will be key to our financial operations, working with the Operations Manager and an outsourced controller.
About the Position
The Accounting & Finance Specialist oversees daily financial operations, ensuring accurate transactions, nonprofit compliance, and financial reporting. As the primary internal financial staff member, this role works independently while coordinating with the Operations Manager and external financial services.
The ideal candidate has nonprofit accounting experience, strong organizational skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively with the Earshot Jazz team.
Key Responsibilities
AP/AR Management
- Receive, record, and deposit checks, maintaining a secure check log.
- Maintain accurate grant and restricted fund tracking records.
- Review and categorize all invoices, ensuring correct coding for Category/Memo/Class.
- Manage accounts payable/receivable, reconciliations, and payroll.
- Forward invoices to outsourced controller for entry into Bill.com and review payment entries before recommending for approval.
- Process urgent payments directly through QuickBooks Online when required.
- Review and approve expense reports.
- Monitor and track credit card transactions, ensuring proper documentation and approval.
- Assure prompt invoicing and tracking of AP/AR
Financial Reporting & Budgeting
- Prepare monthly financial statements for internal operations management and tracking.
- Work with outsourced controller to ensure accurate and timely submission of quarterly board financial reports.
- Assist the Executive Director in budget preparation, tracking, and variance analysis.
- Review suspense transactions and ensure all financial data is properly categorized.
- Work with outsourced controller to identify necessary journal entries for accurate financial reporting.
Banking, Reconciliations & Merchant Accounts
- Track and reconcile third-party electronic deposits (e.g., Square, Leap, Washington Gives, Benevity).
- Perform monthly reconciliation of bank statements, credit card statements, and merchant accounts (e.g., Square, Leap) for accuracy.
Tax & Compliance Support
- Collect and maintain W-9 and vendor information for tax reporting purposes.
- Assist controller in preparing the annual Form 990 and other regulatory filings.
- Ensure compliance with grant requirements and documentation for funder audits.
- Maintain organized financial records, including reconciliations, statements, and supporting documentation for financial compliance, ensuring adherence to IRS and nonprofit financial best practices.
Process Improvement & Internal Controls
- Recommend policies & best practices for financial management to improve efficiency.
- Develop and maintain documentation of financial procedures and internal controls.
Required Qualifications
- 3-5 years of nonprofit accounting, bookkeeping, or financial management, preferably in a nonprofit setting.
- Proficiency in QuickBooks Online and Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook).
- Strong understanding of GAAP, especially as they apply to nonprofits.
- Ability to work independently, manage priorities, and meet deadlines.
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
- Effective communication skills for collaborating with the Operations Manager and external financial professionals.
- Knowledge of state and federal nonprofit financial regulations.
- Knowledge of nonprofit accounting best practices and standards related to internal financial policies.
- Experience with budget development and forecasting.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field (preferred but not required if experience is strong).
- Experience with fund accounting or nonprofit financial management is a plus.
- Familiarity with grant financial reporting and compliance.
To Apply: Submit cover letter, resume, and three references to jobs@earshot.org. No phone calls, please.
Earshot Jazz is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering an inclusive workplace. We strongly encourage applications from people of color, people with disabilities, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and others from historically excluded communities.
