Who We Are

Walker West Music Academy is a vibrant music school for students of all ages, from 5-year-olds to adults. We offer affordable, accessible, high-quality instruction in all genres of music with a special emphasis on jazz, gospel, and improvisational music. Founded by African American musicians, Walker West is believed to be the oldest community music school of its kind in the nation. The high-quality music education we provide is rooted in the African American cultural experience, creating a nurturing environment where students and educators form a genuine community of learning.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

Our faculty consists entirely of working musicians who bring real-world experience into every lesson. At Walker West, we're not just teaching music, we're building connections, fostering creativity, and honoring the rich traditions that make music a powerful force for bringing people together.

Wages

$65,000 - $70,000 annual salary range depending on qualifications and level of experience

Benefits

• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 10 paid holidays, plus 2 floating holidays per year
• Competitive health, dental, and vision insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA) and options for Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

Because Walker West is a member with Metropolitan Alliance of Connected Communities (MACC) who partners with St. Mary’s University, Walker West employees and their spouses are also eligible for the following benefits at St. Mary’s University:

• Discounted tuition for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate programs
• Professional development opportunities
• Access to advancement (internships, job placement, field practice)

Job Summary

Walker West is hiring a Gifts and Grants Manager to lead grant oversight, institutional donor relationships, and individual giving strategies for the organization.

Responsibilities

• Review, edit, and provide critical feedback on grant proposals drafted by the contracted Grant Writer prior to final submission to ensure strategic alignment and adherence to funder guidelines.
• Serve as a primary administrative contact for foundations, program officers, and corporate sponsors to build and sustain strong external relationships.
• Oversee and assemble qualitative outcomes, narrative updates, and financial tracking for external funder progress/final reports as well as internal dashboard reporting for leadership and the Board.
• Manage the master grant calendar to ensure all grant milestones, report deadlines, and compliance requirements are met on time.
• Strategize, plan, and execute major individual giving campaigns, including Year-End Giving and regional giving days (e.g., Give to the Max Day).
• Collaborate with the Executive Director to identify, track, and cultivate mid-level and major individual donors.
• Direct the strategy and execution of intimate donor gatherings, cultivation events, and annual supporter celebrations to deepen donor engagement.
• Work collaboratively with the contracted Grant Writer to refine institutional funding targets and narrative quality.
• Coordinate with the Development Associate to ensure accurate tracking of donor records, campaign lists, and event registration data.
• Manage employee and team performance; ensure adequate training for employees; communicate job expectations and coach employees; support employee professional development aspirations; investigate complaints and performance concerns; implement disciplinary action as needed and in consultation with VP of Human Resource Services.

What You Bring

• 3+ years of progressive experience in non-profit fundraising, grant oversight, or donor relations.
• Strong editorial skills with demonstrated experience reviewing, editing, and strengthening grant proposals.
• A proven track record of planning and executing successful individual giving campaigns (e.g., Year-End, Give to the Max) and donor stewardship events.
• Experience managing funder relationships and compliance reporting.
• Strong project management, time management, and collaborative communication abilities.
• Familiarity with nonprofit organizations.
• Familiarity with non-profit CRMs (e.g., Salesforce, Bloomerang, DonorPerfect, Hubspot) for list generation and pipeline reporting.
• The ability to work effectively in a diverse, mission-driven agency committed to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion with respect to race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual-orientation, socio-economic status, nationality, and religion.
• A valid driver’s license, access to reliable transportation, and the ability to meet Walker West’s driving record requirements. Please note that if the license was not issued in the state of Minnesota, you have 60 days after becoming a Minnesota resident in which to apply for your Minnesota driver's license or permit.

Diversity and open expression

are fundamental to the work of Walker West. We are passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working environment where everyone can belong. Every member of our team enriches our work by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design, and deliver solutions. We welcome everyone to apply, especially those individuals who are underrepresented in our sector: individuals who identify as BIPOC, Indigenous or people of culture, LGBTQI+ and gender fluid or gender nonconforming, individuals with disabilities (both seen and unseen), veterans, people of any age or family status. We value the contributions of a diverse workforce, and we welcome and encourage applications from all underrepresented groups. We encourage you to apply even if you feel like you don't fit 100% of the technical requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, disability, age, marital status, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, status with regard to public assistance, criminal history (justice-impacted status), housing or homelessness status, height, or weight.

Our organization has a partnership with Metropolitan Alliance of Connected Communities (MACC) to provide administrative services including management of the recruiting process. If you apply for this position, you may see references to MACC in some online materials.