Development and Communications VISTA

The Institute of Music for Children's mission is to engage children and youth in artistic expression and the creative process. Guided by its vision of HARMONY (Helping Achieve Responsible, Motivated, Optimistic, Neighborhood Youth) the Institute is building a community of high‑achieving citizens who are arts lovers and arts makers through professional instruction, mentorship, and family engagement. The Institute of Music for Children is 25 years old and we have focused on creating an impactful, place‑based program that successfully builds a community of highly‑engaged citizens who are arts lovers and arts makers.

At this stage, we are serving more than 1,000 children each year with a budget under $2 million and a full‑time staff of nine. Additionally, the Institute has taken ownership of the three‑acre property we have occupied for 25 years and we are now undertaking a major capital expansion. Areas of capacity need include:
1) Support expanded communications effort as the Institute's profile - and our communications needs - are growing.
2) Help build individual donor program, grow special events, write reports for corporate, foundation and government grants.
3) Help to research survey designs, convene stakeholder groups and review/summarize survey responses. Telling our story, tracking our outcomes and tightening our operational systems will provide additional exposure to audiences that are currently unaware of the Institute and our resources. Through our program, low‑income youth gain specific social and emotional skills, academic and job readiness, critical mentorship and a community of support that has demonstrated measurable outcomes on our students, their broader family units, and as a result, the community at large.

Further help on this page can be found by clicking here.

Communications tasks include:

• Collaborating with team to build annual organizational calendar
• Building and populating project management tools
• Creating social media calendar
• Collaborating on content
• Learning about assessment and survey tools
• Writing and designing content
• Working with team members on new special events
• Building media list, experiment with outreach to media using different messaging

Development tasks include:

• Updating calendar of grant deadlines on quarterly basis
• Engaging in ongoing data clean‑up
• Providing support for new capital campaign committee
• Securing site visits from individuals, corporations, foundations and elected officials
• Facilitate ongoing outreach to donors in collaboration with Director of Development

• Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend
• Living Allowance
• Health Coverage*
• Childcare assistance if eligible
• Relocation Allowance
• Training

For details about Ameri Corps VISTA healthcare benefits, please visit  .

Car recommended.

• Neighborhood Revitalization
• Education
• Children/Youth
• Community and Economic Development

• Youth Development
• Education
• Writing/Editing
• Leadership
• Communications
• Public Speaking
• Urban Planning
• Non‑Profit Management
• Fund raising/Grant Writing
• Fine Arts/Crafts
• Community Organization
• Social Services
• Public Health

Ameri Corps VISTA

Development and Communications VISTA

03/13/2026 - 03/12/2027

Full Time

College graduate

Minimum: 18 Maximum:
None

NEW JERSEY New York City (inc. Long Island CT NJ NY)

From 02/09/2026 To 05/01/2026

Jennifer North

780 Salem Ave

Elizabeth NJ 07208

(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).

www.instituteofmusic.org

128468