Executive Director

Position Overview

The Minnesota Music Coalition (MMC) seeks an Executive Director who can apply their leadership, nonprofit management, and resource development skills to MMC’s mission to connect and support Minnesota’s diverse community of independent musicians.  

The ideal candidate has a true passion and pride for our state wide music community. This person will be an experienced nonprofit leader who is able to connect to various partners and community members; a high level thinker who has a strong attention to detail.

This position has a flexible remote / hybrid schedule with many evening and weekend events. This position has frequent meetings at venues and businesses throughout the Twin Cities and across Minnesota, and must therefore have access to independent transportation. Candidates from anywhere in Minnesota are encouraged to apply.

The Organization

Founded in 2010, the Minnesota Music Coalition is a nonprofit organization serving Minnesota musicians of all ages, styles and backgrounds. Our mission is to connect and support Minnesota’s diverse community of musicians. Our activities strive to make Minnesota the best place for all musicians to live and work. We serve musicians of all musical genres from all parts of Minnesota, as well as the broader Minnesota music ecosystem.

Since our founding, MMC has been governed by a board of directors that includes working musicians, nonprofit administrators, business owners and entrepreneurs, music industry professionals, finance and legal experts, and members of the music media. The organization’s budget ranges from $250,000 to $300,000 annually. Revenue comes from earned revenue (ticket sales); contributed revenue from corporations, foundations, individuals, and government entities; membership fees; and contracted booking services across the state. 

The Role and Its Primary Responsibilities 

Resource Development and Community Engagement 

• The Executive Director is responsible for securing and managing the financial resources necessary to fulfill the mission and work of the organization, alongside the Board of Directors. The ED will set strategy for and lead the successful achievement of an annual development plan and financial goals for individual giving, institutional relations, corporate and business partnerships, events, and stewardship.

• Maintain existing and develop new statewide relationships with individuals and institutions, inside and outside the music community that will lead to the achievement of MMC’s financial and programmatic goals.  Identify appropriate funding opportunities and develop and craft grant proposals.  Create an annual calendar and track fulfillment of all programs and services reporting responsibilities to local, state, and federal funders.  Lead the MMC Annual Fund campaign, grow the number of individual donors who make or renew an annual contribution to the MMC, and increase (over time) the average gift size for donations.  Lead a continuous membership campaign to attract and retain individual artists, bands, and music businesses as MMC members.  Administer and maintain a current, accurate database of donor information while respecting the privacy and confidentiality of donor information. Ensure gift and membership acknowledgement processes are in place and implemented in a timely manner.

Fiscal Responsibility

• Manage MMC’s finances by working with the Finance Committee and Board to create the annual budget, monitor expenditures, track revenue goals, establish controls, and report regularly, clearly, and transparently to the board.  Develop appropriate annual and long-term financial objectives; consistently achieve these objectives through operational budget management and leveraging of organizational assets in accordance with applicable law and nonprofit best practices. Ensure that organizational investments in programs and services reflect the goals and values of the organization.

Annual Programming

• The Executive Director is an experienced and successful program champion who will work with board, organizational partners, staff, member musicians, and independent contractors to supervise implementation of, and lead evaluation of an annual portfolio of programs and services. Our major program activities include:

• The Caravan du Nord statewide tour (an annual traveling showcase of Minnesota musicians to venues across Minnesota) The MN Music Summit (a three-day Minnesota focused music conference and festival) Musician mentoring program and networking events  Workshop Series (an ongoing series covering a range of topics from artist wellness practices to song licensing) Referral and booking services for our 300+ member musicians (facilitating paid gigs for member musicians year-round)  New program development to expand our connection and impact with underrepresented communities across the state.

• The person who will thrive in this role is nimble, creative and open to new ideas for programs and services that will serve Minnesota’s diverse musicians in meaningful ways and attract new people to the organization and its work. 

Organizational Leadership

• Be present and active in the music and business community on MMC’s behalf in a way that inspires people (including musicians and donors) to get involved, share their time and talent, and want to learn more about our work. 

• Provide leadership and set a standard of excellence for all of MMC’s programs, services, and activities. Foster an inclusive environment that attracts and retains diverse, high-quality staff, musicians, donors, and volunteers. Hire and supervise all staff and delegate work appropriately for maximum organizational efficiency. Build an organizational culture that embraces and reflects equity in mindset, policies, and daily practice. 

• Work with staff to establish and achieve annual goals, work plans, timelines, and expectations for the successful fulfillment of each role.

Board Engagement and Governance

• Engage the board in shaping the vision for MMC, actively soliciting their input on key priority issues in a timely, effective manner.

• Maintain ongoing, transparent communication with the board. Work with members of the board to prepare all reporting materials – including financial statements, the annual reporting, budget documents, program updates, and other documents that reflect nonprofit best practices.  Serve as the staff liaison to board committees.

Hiring Considerations

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Minnesota Music Coalition, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role, but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Required Qualifications

• At least five years of professional experience in public, nonprofit or related private sector field, with demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities concurrently and effectively. Previous responsibility for financial resource development and a genuine desire to fundraise for a righteous cause. Knowledge of, and demonstrated experience in, nonprofit financial management, budgeting, and reporting.  Strong project management skills and capabilities with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously to achieve results according to established timelines. Excellent relationship-building, interpersonal, and self-awareness skills; comfortable as a decision-maker, while also practicing inclusive leadership.  Demonstrated cultural competency and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Experience in and demonstrated understanding of strategic planning.  Exceptional organizational skills. A clear vision of, and passion for, the importance of supporting musicians. Proficiency or affinity to learn accounting software (e.g. QuickBooks)and Constituent Relationship Management software. Proficiency in MS Office Suite software (i.e. MS Word, Excel, etc.), Gmail and Google Drive.

Desired Qualifications

• Inspirational leadership style.  Familiarity with Minnesota’s music community and broader nonprofit and business community. Storytelling, writing and overall communication skills that compel engagement and offer a clear narrative. Proficiency with web site hosting applications and social media tools.

Physical Requirements

This position works primarily in an administrative environment. Qualified candidates must be able to remain in a stationary position at least 50% of the time; the person in this position must be able to operate a computer keyboard and other office machinery, such as a copy machine, printer, and telephone. This person must also be able to move equipment and materials weighing up to 50 pounds. The person in this position frequently communicates with staff and external partners and must be able to exchange accurate information verbally, in writing, and by telephone. This position has a flexible schedule with many evening and weekend events. This position has frequent meetings at venues and businesses throughout the Twin Cities and across Minnesota, and must therefore have access to independent transportation. 

Equal Opportunity Employer 

It is the policy of the Minnesota Music Coalition to provide an equal employment opportunity to all individuals. We are committed to a diverse workforce. We value all employees’ talents and support an environment that is inclusive and respectful. We are strongly committed to this policy, and believe in the concept and spirit of the law. It is the policy of the MMC to comply with all applicable laws that provide equal opportunity to all employees or applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religious belief, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, status with respect to public assistance, disability, age, military status, genetic information, familial status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal or state law. 

Compensation 

This is a full-time, exempt position reporting to the MMC Board of Directors. The minimum salary for this position is $60,000 with a benefits package that includes optional medical and dental coverage, paid time off, sick time, and holiday pay.