Co-Executive Director - Development & Finance

Co-Executive Director: Director of Development and Finance

Elastic Arts Foundation is seeking an experienced and thoughtful leader who will strategically advance our mission of creating space for artists whose work is experimental, unorthodox, nontraditional, out of bounds, or reflective identities that are unwelcome in or threatening to dominant cultural institutions. To strengthen our capacity and to nurture a culture of collaboration in our organization and in the community we serve, we are shifting toward a model of shared governance, with two Co-Executive Directors creating a future for Elastic Arts that is sustainable, equitable, and responsive to changing conditions.

We seek an executive-level Director of Development and Finance with a proven ability to collaborate and build consensus, expertise in fundraising, and strong skills in financial management. This position works closely with an equal Co-Executive Director: Director of Operations and Communications, and both positions report directly to the Board of Directors. Together, both leaders guide the large team that executes daily operations at Elastic Arts, including three part-time staff, 15–20 series curators, 20–25 event producers, and other contractors, consultants, and vendors.

Strong candidates will have a deep understanding of and appreciation for the artistic community that Elastic Arts serves. We encourage applicants who are committed to bettering the circumstances of Chicago artists and shaping a shared cultural future that is abundant, hopeful, resilient, equitable, diverse, and inclusive. We seek a Director of Development and Finance with a broad perspective on the economic, cultural, and structural dynamics in Chicago's art ecology and an understanding of how experimental, challenging, and radically expressive art can thrive in that context.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Development

Ensuring that the organization has sufficient revenue to operate its core functions and achieve its goals, including any growth in programs or scope. This will include executing a multifaceted revenue strategy consisting of a mix of contributed and earned revenue. Strategies may include, but are not limited to:

— Developing creative, effective, and mission-aligned strategies for individual giving, establishing a strong cultivation pipeline for individual donors, and strengthening the culture of giving across the organization.
— Developing and executing a strong, robust donor communications strategy, corresponding with existing and potential supporters with clarity, generosity, and integrity.
-Writing proposals and reports for all current grants and researching and identifying new grant opportunities.
— Collaborating with the Board of Directors, Development Committee, and any potential outside contractors or volunteers to ensure all grant proposals and report deadlines are met.
— Overseeing the submission of program plans, financial statements, work samples, and any other necessary information or attachments required for grant proposals and deadlines.
— Ensuring compliance with all donor restrictions, regulations, and expectations with the support of the Board of Directors, Finance Committee, and Development Committee. Continually referencing grant proposals, donor communications, and donation agreements to verify funded activities align with stated plans and goals.
— Participating in communications, networking events, and workshops with foundations, partners, and other members of the community to stay up-to-date with the institutional giving ecosystem.
— Planning and executing an annual benefit event with the Benefit and Development Committee.

Finance

Shaping the organization's long-term financial plans, synthesizing disparate ideas and competing needs to develop a sustainable, ethical, and realistic operations plan and vision for growth year over year.

— Collaborating with the Board of Directors and Finance Committee to anticipate financial challenges, understand their causes, and develop effective strategies for resolving them.
— Working with the Co-Executive Director to steer the annual organizational budgeting process, facilitating review and vote by the Board of Directors.
— Ensuring the financial records and reports are current, accurate, and comprehensive and that the books are regularly updated and reconciled. Tracking budget vs actuals and cash flow projections.
— Ensuring that payroll processing, accounts payable, and accounts receivable payments are fulfilled in a timely manner.
— Providing statements of financial activity to the Board of Directors regularly and on request.
— Working with an accountant throughout the year to ensure tax documents are submitted in a timely fashion and the annual audit is completed.

Shared Duties and Responsibilities (with Co-Executive Director: Director of Operations and Communications)

Governance and Leadership

Overseeing governance and leadership functions of the organization, including co-leading a high-functioning Board of Directors and its Committees by ensuring these groups are composed of qualified members, are meeting regularly, and have the information and resources they need to operate. Strategies may include, but are not limited to:

— Serving in an ex-officio, nonvoting position on the Board of Directors, attending all Board and approximately half of all Committee meetings, reporting to the Board and Committees on the state of the organization's development and financial activity, and collaborating with the Board Chair and Co-Executive Director to schedule meetings and set agendas.
— Actively and regularly communicating needed information to Board Committees, and responding to requests from Directors for information, resources, and tools. Ensuring that the Board and staff are equipped to fulfill the vision and mission of the organization.
— Continuing an organization-wide commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, and continually ensuring that these essential values are expressed in the organization's strategies, policies, and day-to-day functions.
— Representing and embodying the organization's vision and values in the public sphere, serving as a lead executive staff point of contact in relationships with partners, donors, vendors, members, artists, and audience members.
— Leading, facilitating, and actively participating in an upcoming strategic planning process, and ensuring implementation of the strategic plan. Tracking intermittent progress toward the goals of the strategic plan year over year.
— Ensuring that Board dues are paid in full each fiscal year.Continuing and refining an inclusive, compassionate, and effective work culture. Providing daily leadership to the entire team of Elastic Arts staff, curators, producers, contractors, and any other personnel engaged by the organization.

General Admin/Management/Supervision

— Maintaining current venue licensing and all applicable insurance. Ensuring the public offices, gallery, and performance venue at Elastic Arts comply with applicable codes and laws.
— Communicating clearly and actively with building management.
— Guiding staff, ensuring compliance with all applicable labor law, managing all HR-related responsibilities.

Working Culture

The working culture at Elastic Arts is collaborative and flexible. The Director of Development and Finance is expected to live in the Chicago area and work in-office at Elastic Arts at least three days per week. Offices are inside Elastic Arts, a space where music rehearsals, art installations, and new work development routinely occur. PTO days, parental leave, and professional development funds are offered. The leader in this role is empowered to exercise agency in clarifying workplace policies, improving worker conditions for themselves and others on the team, and nurturing an equitable, compassionate organizational culture.

Compensation and Benefits

— $65,000 annual salary
— Health insurance stipend
— Comprehensive paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick days, and company-observed holidays
— Paid parental leave

Application Process

— Send a cover letter and resume (required) to jobs@elasticarts.org
— Please use your cover letter not only to highlight your qualifications but also to describe your relationship to Chicago's experimental music and art communities
— Priority consideration by September 7th; accepting applications until position is filled
— Email submissions only

We appreciate your interest in joining our team. Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

About Us

Elastic Arts Foundation fosters a community of music, art, and culture in the Logan Square and Avondale neighborhoods and throughout the city of Chicago by developing, hosting, producing, and promoting creative, non­-commercial performances and arts events. We empower independent artists and engage inquisitive audiences with programs accessible to all ages at low or no cost, working at our intimate venue and at locations throughout the city in partnership with various individuals and organizations.

Elastic Arts presents approximately 200 live performance events each year, both onsite at our intimate Logan Square venue and in locations throughout the city. Activities are driven by a unique, “federated” programming model: rather than a single artistic director, multiple independent curators and partners conceive and produce our programs, each with their own series presenting adventurous, new, noncommercial work by independent artists.

Elastic Arts Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, genetics, or status as an individual with a disability. We welcome applications from all qualified applicants.