Development Associate

Development Associate
The Rock School for Dance Education (TRS) is the premiere pre-professional ballet training institution in the Philadelphia region and one of the finest in the country. Aspiring dancers worldwide attend TRS for its elite faculty and opportunities to perform with renowned choreographers. For 30 years, TRS has trained outstanding dancers who now dance as principal artists for acclaimed international dance companies. Youth America Grand Prix, an international ballet and contemporary dance competition program, has recognized TRS with the “Outstanding School” award for an unprecedented fourteen consecutive years, and it was recently ranked as the number one ballet school in the United States as published in Scientific Reports.

Title

Development Associate

Reports to

Chief Advancement Office/Managing Director

Salaried

Yes

Management

No

Exempt

Full-time, exempt

Position Summary

The Development Associate at The Rock School for Dance Education plays a key role in the planning, supporting, and executing activities to generate contributed revenues. This position supports fundraising activities, including individual, foundation, corporate, and government giving, overseeing the company's database and external communications to ensure clear reporting alignment with fundraising goals. The Development Associate works closely with the Chief Advancement Officer/Managing Director, the President and Director, the artistic and school faculty, and the marketing team to drive success across fundraising initiatives, event planning and execution, and donor engagement.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Donor Relations and Stewardship:
• Maintain and update donor records in the CRM database.
• Draft and send donor correspondence, including acknowledgments, thank-you letters, and newsletters.
• Assist in implementing strategies to cultivate, engage, and retain donors.
• Fundraising Campaign Support:
• Coordinate annual giving campaigns, including mailings, email campaigns, and follow-up communications.
• Support grant proposal preparation and reporting as needed.
• Assist with corporate sponsorship and foundation outreach.
• Assist in preparing grant proposals and reports, and tracking organizational metrics for grant applications.
• Event Coordination:
• Assist with planning and executing fundraising events, including receptions, donor cultivation events, and other special events or performances.
• Coordinate event logistics, guest lists, and donor recognition activities.
• Database and Reporting Management:
• Ensure accurate and timely data entry in the CRM and campaign system (e.g., donor contributions, contacts, and communications).
• Setup fundraising platforms and ensure functionality for donor programs or event promotions
• Generate reports to track fundraising progress and analyze donor trends.
• Communications and Marketing:
• Collaborate with the marketing team to create development-focused content for newsletters, social media, and the website.
• Assist in maintaining consistent messaging to communicate The Rock School’s mission and impact.
• Social Media and Digital Strategy
• Utilize digital technologies and social media trends to support fundraising campaigns and brand development with the marketing team.
• Create engaging development content to connect with donors, sponsors, and the broader community.
• General Administrative Support:
• Provide administrative support to the Chief Advancement Officer/Managing Director and other staff members as needed.
• Maintain organized files and documentation for development activities.
• Monitor and track the development/advancement calendar
• Work with vendors as assigned
• Attend meetings related to Development and Advancement activities as assigned
• Up to 10 hours weekly will be required to work at the front entry desk, greeting customers while completing other tasks.
• Complete other duties as assigned

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent work experience.
• 2–3 years of experience in nonprofit development, fundraising, or related areas (preferred).
• Strong skills in relationship management and effective communication.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills, with attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in donor database management systems (e.g., Raiser's Edge, GiveSmart, or similar) and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Experience with Airtable, MailChimp, Google Workspace, and Microsoft Office is desired.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines in a dynamic work environment.
• Ability to work independently or as part of a team.
• Ability to conduct thorough research and analysis to support development initiatives.
• Passion for the arts and commitment to advancing The Rock School’s mission.
• A knowledge of the professional dance field is a plus.
• Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends for events.

Salary

The compensation for this position is $43,500 to $50,000 based on experience and education. A benefits package is available to all full-time employees.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter, and references on Indeed or by post mail to The Rock School, Development Department, 1101 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19147, USA.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. No phone calls, emails, or solicitations, please.

The Rock School for Dance Education does not accept unsolicited assistance from third-party recruiters, employment agencies, or staffing firms. Resumes and candidate information submitted by any such parties without a prior written agreement will become the property of The Rock School for Dance Education, and no fee will be paid in the event of hire.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

The Rock School for Dance Education is committed to recruiting and fostering a diverse community of staff and students and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. The School prohibits discrimination based on an individual's age, ancestry, citizenship, color, creed, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. BIPOC individuals, LGBTQ+ individuals, and members of other historically disenfranchised and marginalized populations are strongly encouraged to apply.

ABOUT THE ROCK SCHOOL

Our Mission

The Rock School (TRS) develops the whole dancer, enabling students to reach the highest standards of technique and artistry in a nurturing, supportive environment that elevates the art form, the dancer, and the audience.

TRS for Dance Education is one of the world’s finest pre-professional training institutions. Dancers from around the globe have looked to The School for its world-class pre-professional program, featuring exceptional faculty, individual attention, and a nurturing environment. These are exemplified by the success of The School’s alums for over 60 years.

Graduates have ascended the ranks of premier dance companies worldwide and on Broadway and London’s West End. Rock students continue to receive top honors in the Prix de Lausanne, Youth America Grand Prix, USA International Ballet Competition, Moscow International Ballet Competition, and Berlin Tanzolymp. The faculty includes distinguished dancers, instructors, and choreographers. Today, TRS is proud to award annual scholarships of more than $1.2 million.

American and international boarding students find an inviting, comfortable, and safe home living at The Marine Club dormitory across from The Rock’s South Philadelphia location. These resident and commuter students receive both dance training and college preparatory academic education as part of their Rock School experience. TRS-West location serves the region’s suburban Mainline communities from West Chester, PA. The two locations collaborate, sharing a unified curriculum, faculty, and joint competition and stage performances. TRS operates on a $5.9 million annual budget.

Our Commitment to the Community

RockReach has engaged K-12 participants from underfunded communities, including Title 1, public, private, and charter schools with few or no art education offerings in Philadelphia and Delaware counties for 22 years. RockReach participants include special needs students and Individualized Education Programs, including students who are non-verbal, have Autism Spectrum Disorder, have mobility impairments, and are blind or low-sight. RockReach enriches these students’ education experience through professional teaching artists who work closely with classroom teachers to understand students' unique needs and encourage them to explore movement and music in new ways. Structured programs are generally offered for 32 or more weeks each year to every student in a single grade in 11 partner schools. As such, RockReach serves at least one entire grade per program year, not simply one class from different grade levels).

Additionally, upwards of 3,800 students experience The Rock School’s annual Nutcracker for free each year through live and virtual presentations. The City Dance program moves RockReach students with interest and aptitude for more formal dance study into the school’s professional programming on scholarship. The RockReach program operates on a $180k annual budget.

Our History

The Rock School for Dance Education (TRS) is recognized as one of the world’s finest pre-professional training institutions. For over 60 years, its alumni have gone on to achieve success as leading dancers in some of the most renowned dance companies worldwide.

George Balanchine and Barbara Weisberger established the School of Pennsylvania Ballet in 1963. For the first three decades, the school gained momentum and success as a part of the Pennsylvania Ballet. The institutions separated in 1992 owing to a significant gift from philanthropist and community leader Dr. Milton Rock. Dr. Rock gave the growing school ownership of the Rock Center at 1101 S. Broad Street and a new name, The Shirley Rock School of Pennsylvania Ballet (1986 - 1992). The school was incorporated on November 17, 1992, and received its nonprofit status in 1993, embarking on its journey to world acclaim as TRS led by Bojan Spassoff.

Today, The Rock School operates on a $6 million annual budget with facilities that include The Rock Center in Philadelphia and a suburban satellite school, Rock West, in West Chester. Boarding students find a comfortable home at The Marine Club across from The Rock Center, and many receive both dance and college preparatory academic education at The Rock School.

Graduates have ascended the ranks of premier dance companies worldwide and on Broadway and London’s West End. Rock students continue to receive top honors in the Prix de Lausanne, Youth America Grand Prix, World Ballet Competitions, USA International Ballet Competition, Moscow IBC, and Berlin Tanzolymp. The faculty includes distinguished dancers, instructors, and choreographers serving over 1,200 students. Today, The Rock School is proud to award over $1.2 million in annual scholarships to talented students.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $43,500.00 - $50,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Evenings as needed
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Work Location: In person