Blogs

Today’s Readers are Tomorrows Leaders

Reading aloud to children is beneficial on a number of levels. It increases vocabulary, literacy skills and comprehension. It is the foundation of literacy development. (Kathleen Childress 2011) Once children possess these skills, it opens up a whole new world of learning and development, especially inner city children. More importantly, children love being read to. The need for successful literacy skills for Connecticut’s children is urgent.

In 2010, Connecticut had the highest achievement gap in academic performance between high income and lower income students in the nation: 34 points. New Haven lagged between 25 and 35 points behind the state average on the Connecticut Mastery Tests. (New Haven Independent, 7/15/11).  Despite these statistics, LEAP has a powerful impact on the children we serve. Recent program results show that:

• 93% of children maintained or improved reading levels from Fall 2011 into Spring 2012.  63% showed improvement on assessed literacy skills.

• 84% of children maintained or improved reading levels from Spring 2012 over the summer into Fall 2012 – beat the “summer slide.”

• 83.1% of children said they liked to read. Only 67.6% said that they liked to read before LEAP.

And our counselors read to our children daily! You can help LEAP develop children who are confident and successful readers. We invite you to join us as a guest reader at LEAP’s afterschool program on the first Tuesday of the month beginning in February 2013. Spend an afternoon reading aloud to a small group of boys or girls and share your love of reading.

To register as a guest reader, contact Aida Melendez, at 203.773.0770 or amelendez@leapforkids.org. To learn more about other volunteer opportunities at LEAP, and to complete the application, visit www.leapforkids.org/Volunteers.

We have the following office furniture available:

* three metal desks with wooden tops (various drawer arrangements)

* one wood-veneer desk (one file- and one-regular drawer)

* three, three-drawer lateral files

* one wooden project table (has seen a lot of hard use, but might be right for a workshop or warehouse)

Free to any non-profit that can cart it away by Jan. 31st! Please contact The New Haven Preservation Trust at 203-562-5919 or email info@nhpt.org for more information.

If you haven't had a chance, please check out a video I made explaining Charter Revision and making the case for a Hybrid Board of Education - partially elected and partially appointed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdQCZGE9YRg

New Haven Neighborhood Grant Funding Announcement

The Neighborhood Leadership Grant Program works with resident leaders in New Haven neighborhoods to make our community a better place. We believe that resident leaders have the power to influence what happens in a neighborhood and the ability to build community where they live. We believe that all communities have assets, which include neighborhood residents, local institutions, and private and public resources. Furthermore, we believe that by supporting neighborhood leaders we facilitate their ability to inspire other residents to act in their own self-interest and the well-being of their community.

The New Haven Neighborhood Leadership Grant Program provides grants up to $3,000 and Leadership Workshops to help you to contribute to positive change in your neighborhood. This year, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven will prioritize activities that enhance student achievement; support a college going culture; help reduce violence; and promote infant health. 

The Application and Guidelines are attached.  These documents are also available online on our website.  Visit our Grants page here and click on the option New Haven Neighborhood Leadership Grant Program to download the Guidelines and the Application.

Check out the tutorial to complete the application, click here.  There is also a link to a video explaining what we are looking for in an application to the right, under “related video”.

Applications must be received via email by 12:00 pm on Monday, February 4, 2013

The New Haven Symphony Orchestra is looking for a Director of Development. Please see the job description below for details.

DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Job Summary

The Development Director is responsible for building the capacity of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra by overseeing a comprehensive year-round fundraising program. A member of the senior management team reporting to the Executive Director, the Development Director plans, implements, manages, and evaluates all fundraising activities related to maintaining and growing earned income to ensure the financial stability of the NHSO.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage all fundraising initiatives to achieve annually budgeted goals ($1.2 million for FY2013). Efforts include annual fund, corporate sponsorship, foundation and government grants, trusts management, planned giving, endowment campaign, special events, in-kind donations, and special projects.
• Assist the Executive Director and the Board of Directors in establishing annual and long-range goals, budgets, projections, and plans for all fundraising campaigns and initiatives. Provide monthly reports and financial statements.
• Maintain ongoing relationships with current donors, sponsors, funders, and business and community leaders. Develop new prospects in each category. 
• Work closely with the Board, and in particular the Development Committee, to continuously research, cultivate, and solicit new sources of revenue.
• Direct development staff, interns, and volunteers in all fundraising endeavors.
• Recruit committee members for fundraising campaigns and special events.
• Supervise and complete grant applications and sponsorship proposals, acknowledgment of gifts, and tendering of required reports and follow-up. 
• Monitor fulfillment of donor and sponsor benefits, events, and recognition. 
• Oversee maintenance of donor files and records and the timeliness of donor communications.
• Manage creation and production of print and electronic fundraising materials. 
• Research new opportunities for arts funding at the local, state, and national levels.
• Work with the Board and volunteers to plan fundraising events and benefits, including an annual Gala, and oversee the execution of each event. Coordinate auctions and raffles to supplement each event.
• Represent the NHSO by attending civic and cultural events in the community and making presentations as requested.

Requirements and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required; advanced degree preferred. 
• Minimum seven years of direct fundraising experience. Proven leadership and success in development areas of campaigns, donor cultivation, membership development, grant writing, and organizational coordination.
• Knowledge of laws related to donations, financial planning, and IRS regulations. Strong commitment to fundraising ethics. 
• Familiarity with database management tools such as Raiser’s Edge. Superb communication skills, both written and oral.
• Exceptional organizational skills.
• Ability to cultivate strong interpersonal relationships and to articulate the NHSO’s mission to a wide range of audiences in a variety of ways. 
• Enthusiasm for working collaboratively with a dedicated team.

Hours and Compensation

• This is a full-time position with competitive benefits. Some evening/weekend hours required. Positive and flexible team environment. Salary commensurate with experience.

About the Organization

Mission Statement:
Through its live performances of classical music and education programs, the New Haven Symphony Orchestra aspires to exceed expectations, unite communities, challenge, delight, and inspire. We change lives, for the better.

Vision Statement: 
The Vision of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra is to celebrate our classical music heritage, enriched through new American compositions, by expanding opportunities for symphonic performances and music education. We will celebrate this Vision through:

1. Live performances centered on symphony and pops concerts, supplemented by chamber and ensemble performances by orchestra members and guest artists;
2. Promotion of new works by American composers-in-residence and composers well-versed in Asian, African and Latin traditions, including performances of their works;
3. Support of youth and community orchestras and classical music education;
4. Performances for children and families that introduce the classical music heritage and the major forms of its presentation; and
5. Social networks and other media that enhance accessibility to classical music and its interpretation.

How to Apply:
Submit a resume and cover letter detailing experience with the requirements described above to:

Development Director Search
New Haven Symphony Orchestra
105 Court Street, Suite 302
New Haven, CT 06511
ecarroll@NewHavenSymphony.org

Our Speak Life! youth programs are reaching out to community members to be guest speakers & come out to talk with New Haven youth on the following topics:

• Communication and presentation when job developing - Mon. Tues. or Wed. from 12:45 pm - 1:15 pm

• Innovative ways to overcome bullying from students, teachers, or adults in a young person's life. - Tues or Thurs. between 2:30 - 4:30 pm (doesn't have to take the entire 2 hours...even 20 min - 1/2 is fine)

• Being respectful to your friends and peers - In a relatable type of presentation/conversation for middle school aged youth. (Young people between the ages of 16 - 23 yrs old. to come and speak preferred) Mon or Thurs. 6 pm - 8 pm (can be as short as a 1/2 hr presentation)

If you are interested, please contact Sheeva at 203-654-9226 or email snelson@breakthru.us thanks, GNH Community!

New Haven Promise is a program and component fund of The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. This position will articulate, develop, implement and manage the digital and technology strategy for New Haven Promise. Working with the Executive Director. Additionally, the goal is to insure that systems are established to effectively and proficiently meet the needs of the program.

Title: Digital Systems Manager

Essential Duties & Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Championing the digital strategy, the outcomes and ongoing results with constituent audiences (educators, students, parents, sponsors, alumni and nonprofits).
• Exhibiting strong understanding of the digital space, web 2.0 technologies, event management software, supports online management of learning communities.
• Keeps abreast of latest technology trends.
• Develops best-in-class capabilities for integration across platforms, plans through establishing system requirements, process, procedures and digital platforms.
• Ensures that digital and technology initiatives are consistent with the expected social ROI and key goals.
• Participates in and represents the NHP’s vision and mission in related meetings in schools, with community groups and in all related venues.
• Leads cross-functional projects within the area of digital strategy and engagement.
• Able to work with and oversee key outside vendor relationships.
• Manages all reporting systems and analytics.
• Identifies and resolves impediments or potential problems with implementation.
• Demonstrates commitment to the continuous improvement and advancing the achievement of higher education for New Haven youth.

The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications:

- Bachelor’s degree and 4 years’ of related experience or 8 years’ experience.

- Demonstrated record of outstanding project management/performance management results.

- Strong analytical, technical and communication skills.

- Experience in working with diverse communities.

- Demonstrated competency in CSS, HTML, Adobe Creative Suite, jQuery and Javascript.

- Must also be skilled with Excel, Access, Word and PowerPoint.

- Strong attention to detail required.

Please submit letter of interest, resumes and other supportive document via email to jobs@newhavenpromise.org Applications accepted up to January 14, 2013.

The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven is an equal opportunity employer.