About DREAM!

Dare to Revitalize Education through Arts & Mediation (DREAM!) was founded by Bronx-native Aisha Norris, who grew up in an arts-based youth program that helped her escape violence, graduate from high school, and attend college. She created DREAM! to transform learning environments from punitive to restorative, building safer schools and communities.

DREAM!s mission is to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline by helping students, educators, families, and underserved communities acquire the practical skills and confidence they need to resolve conflicts creatively and productively. Far too often, behavioral infractions lead to classroom removals, suspensions, and arrests, derailing students for life. The results are staggering. In New York City alone, students missed over 300,000 days of school in just one year due to suspensions.

In nearly a decade, DREAM! has reached over 5,500 students, school staff, safety agents, and families in high-suspension schools, reducing suspensions by 51%. DREAM!s youth-centered approach integrates Social-Emotional Learning and the Arts with proven Restorative Practices, keeping students in school and out of the criminal justice system.

About the Opportunity

Reporting to and in partnership with the Executive Director (ED), the Development Director will develop and execute a strategic fundraising plan that will play a crucial role in elevating DREAM! to the next level. This is a new, full-time position created at a time when DREAM! is being recognized as a leader in the field. Working with a highly-engaged Board of Directors and senior leadership team, the role will be visible internally and externally. The ideal candidate is a strategic and critical thinker who can identify challenges and opportunities and develop creative solutions to meet our fundraising goals and long-term expansion plans.

Role & Responsibilities:

• Develop, steward, and cultivate relationships with potential and existing donors to grow the portfolio and meet the organizations financial goals. The current budget is $735k.
• Research and identify new prospects and develop strategies to approach funders.
• Work closely with the Board to identify prospects and help cultivate them into major donors.
• Help build the Board to expand the donor base and raise the organizations profile.
• Oversee a communications consultant to align messaging with fundraising needs.
• Oversee a grant-writing consultant to assist in the timely submission of proposals and reports.
• Write proposals, grants, and reports, meeting funder requirements with the support of the grant-writing consultant.
• Organize and oversee site visits with pr…