Hyde Park School of Dance - HPSD Now Hiring

Career opportunity | Hyde Park, Chicago

Fundraising &
Communications
Coordinator

Reports to

Executive Director

Status

Part-time | 20 hours per week

Compensation

$25 per hour

Location

Hyde Park, Chicago | Hybrid

Complete the application form

Priority consideration: Thursday, August 20, 2026

About HPSD

Dance education rooted in community.

Hyde Park School of Dance is a community-rooted nonprofit organization on Chicago’s South Side. We provide high-quality dance education, performance opportunities, and community programming in an environment that welcomes dancers of all races, religions, body types, genders, sexual orientations, ages, and income levels.

We believe dance can cultivate artistry, discipline, confidence, connection, and strength of character. Our administrative team supports the programs, people, and relationships that make this work possible.

The opportunity

Position Summary

The Fundraising & Communications Coordinator helps Hyde Park School of Dance strengthen relationships with supporters and communicate clearly and consistently with our community.

This position turns plans into polished, timely execution across donor stewardship, fundraising coordination, and outward-facing communications. It is well suited to a strong writer and highly organized doer who enjoys both detail-oriented follow-through and creative communication.

How the role works

Role Focus & Scope

The Executive Director retains responsibility for overall fundraising strategy, major donor relationships, and final approval of fundraising and organizational communications. The Coordinator supports preparation, drafting, execution, tracking, and follow-through.

Grant-related responsibilities will focus primarily on prospect research, information gathering, and coordination rather than ownership of a full grant-writing portfolio.

Because this is a 20-hour-per-week position, priorities will be established regularly with the Executive Director. Recurring donor communications, active fundraising campaigns, and time-sensitive organizational communications will come first.

What you will do

Primary Responsibilities

Donor Stewardship & Fundraising Coordination

Draft donor thank-you letters, acknowledgment emails, appeal language, donor updates, sponsorship follow-up, and related communications.
Prepare donor communications for review and personalization by organizational leadership.
Support recurring donor stewardship and acknowledgment cycles.
Track pledges, recurring gifts, matching gifts, sponsorship follow-up, and outstanding donor action items.
Conduct research on prospective individual, foundation, and corporate supporters.
Maintain donor and prospect tracking tools in coordination with the Executive Director and database support staff.
Prepare briefing materials, lists, timelines, and follow-up items for fundraising meetings and campaigns.
Support donor events, fundraising campaigns, and related planning communications.

Communications & Marketing Execution

Draft and schedule newsletters, email announcements, event communications, donor updates, and routine social media content.
Design small-scale materials including flyers, postcards, email graphics, invitations, and social assets.
Update website content and other communications platforms as assigned.
Support print materials, campaign collateral, and merchandise-related communications.
Coordinate with staff to gather content, confirm deadlines, and collect accurate program information.
Help ensure that communications are timely, polished, accessible, and consistent with HPSD’s voice and values.

Database, Board & Organizational Coordination

Complete routine donor database updates, acknowledgment workflows, and communication tracking.
Maintain organized fundraising and communications records in coordination with staff.
Draft board and committee reminders, meeting communications, and simple follow-up messages.
Assist with board and committee packet preparation and communication logistics as needed.

Working rhythm

How Work Will Be Prioritized

Within the position’s 20-hour weekly schedule, the primary areas of focus will generally be:

Donor acknowledgments and stewardship communications
Active appeals, campaigns, and fundraising follow-through
Fundraising tracking and prospect research
Newsletters, email communications, and small-scale marketing materials
Routine social media, website, board, and event support

Priorities may shift during major performances, fundraising campaigns, donor events, or other time-sensitive organizational projects.

What you bring

Qualifications

We are looking for someone who brings

Strong writing, editing, and interpersonal communication skills
Excellent organization, accuracy, and attention to detail
The ability to manage recurring responsibilities, deadlines, and follow-up independently
Sound judgment when handling donor information and organizational communications
Comfort moving between writing, research, tracking, design, and coordination
A collaborative working style and the ability to gather information from multiple colleagues
Comfort learning and working within digital systems and established processes

Helpful experience

Nonprofit fundraising, donor stewardship, development, or community engagement
Organizational communications, email marketing, social media, or content development
Canva, Adobe tools, Google Workspace, email platforms, or website content-management systems
Neon One or another donor relationship management system
Arts, education, youth development, or community-based organizations

Familiarity with dance is welcome but not required. No specific degree is required, and relevant experience may come from paid employment, freelance work, volunteer service, education, or community leadership. We do not expect any one candidate to bring every preferred qualification.

Schedule & expectations

Hybrid Work Schedule

This position follows a regular hybrid schedule consisting of two on-site workdays in Hyde Park and one remote workday each week. The specific days and hours will be determined based on HPSD’s operational needs and the selected candidate’s workable availability.

The Coordinator will regularly work from HPSD’s on-site administrative office and may be responsible for opening or closing the space on scheduled workdays.

Occasional evening, weekend, or adjusted hours are required around performances, campaigns, donor events, and special projects. HPSD will provide advance notice whenever possible. Any hours beyond the regular schedule must be approved in advance and will be paid at the position’s hourly rate.

Accessibility

Work Environment & Accommodations

HPSD operates in a multi-level facility. The organization’s main administrative office is located on the second floor and is currently accessed by stairs. Regular access to the administrative workspace and the ability to support opening or closing the facility are part of the position’s on-site responsibilities.

On occasion, the role may involve helping move, set up, lift, or carry office, communications, performance, or event materials weighing up to approximately 20 pounds. These occasional activities are shared among staff and are not essential functions of this position.

HPSD is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities in accordance with applicable law. We will engage in an individualized process to identify reasonable accommodations that enable a qualified employee to perform the essential functions of the position, unless doing so would create an undue hardship.

How to Apply

Complete the HPSD online application form and provide a current résumé. A cover letter is not required. Existing work samples or a portfolio may be shared but are optional, and applicants are not expected to create new work for the application.

Applications received by Thursday, August 20, 2026, will receive priority consideration. HPSD expects to begin reviewing applications in late August, and the position will remain open until filled.

Candidates selected to move forward will be contacted directly. While we appreciate every application, our small team may not be able to provide individual status updates or respond separately to every applicant.

Applicants who need a reasonable accommodation or assistance accessing the application or participating in the hiring process may contact jobs@hydeparkdance.org. Applicants are not required to disclose a disability in the application. Requesting an accommodation will not affect consideration for the position.

Complete the application form Email HPSD about application access or accommodations

Our commitment

Values & Equal Opportunity

All HPSD employees are expected to support an organizational culture grounded in inclusivity, respect, diversity, quality, and community. We seek colleagues who treat people with dignity, value different identities and experiences, communicate with care, and share our belief that dance and the arts can connect and strengthen communities.

Hyde Park School of Dance is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made based on qualifications, organizational needs, and job-related considerations without discrimination on the basis of any characteristic protected by applicable law.