July 25th, 2025
Merit School of Music
About the Organization
Merit School of Music is a community music school located in Chicago's West Loop. Our primary goals are to help young people transform their lives and experience personal growth through music by providing access to sustained participation. For over 45 years, we have been home to a diverse community of talented young musicians, serving as a springboard for achieving their full musical and personal potential. Our 130+ passionate and experienced teaching artists provide access to high-quality music education, engaging over 3,000 students annually at our downtown location, Merit Near North and South Shore Branches, and in 25+ area schools and community centers across Chicagoland. Merit’s current annual operating budget is $8.6 million, with $4.5 million comprised of contributed revenue.
Our students, who reflect the socioeconomic and ethnic diversity of Chicago, have the rare opportunity to learn together, dream together, teach each other, and broaden their horizons as they build inspiring lives through music. Merit develops musicians and provides young people with the tools they need to excel in life, with virtually 100 percent of our graduates going on to conservatory or college.
Merit School of Music is dedicated to creating a world where historically underrepresented groups can access high-quality music education. Simultaneously, Merit is continually working towards becoming an organization that truly reflects the city's demographics and the students we serve. Merit is committed to being an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and anti-racist organization, continually examining our efforts in this area.
Learn more about Merit at www.meritmusic.org.
The Development Department also supports fundraising efforts for the Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative (CMPI), a unique collaborative organization in which Merit serves as the lead partner. The mission of the CMPI is to identify and develop gifted and motivated orchestral students from underrepresented backgrounds for acceptance into top-tier conservatory, college, or university classical music programs in preparation for careers as professional musicians. Merit acts as CMPI’s fiscal sponsor and, therefore, manages all aspects of its contributed revenue goals (approximately $750,000 annually). Learn more about CMPI at www.chicagopathways.org.
Job Description
Position salary range: 48000
Position reports to: Director of Development Operations
Merit School of Music seeks a full-time Development Coordinator to support its holistic fundraising and donor engagement efforts. This is an ideal early-career opportunity for a highly organized, detail-oriented professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is eager to grow within a mission-driven nonprofit. The Development Coordinator will contribute to fundraising campaigns, donor communications, special events, alumni engagement, and scholarship stewardship, playing a key role in advancing Merit's fundraising goals. This collaborative position also works closely with colleagues in Marketing and Student Services to support cross-departmental initiatives. A passion for music and a strong commitment to Merit's mission of providing accessible music education for all are essential.