Center for Jewish History seeks the appointment of a Chief Advancement Officer to help fulfill the mission to preserve the world's largest archive on Jewish history and culture and mobilize it in the service of public history.
Reporting to Rio Daniel, CEO, the CAO create and oversee a comprehensive development effort inclusive of major gifts, planned gifts, annual fund, institutional giving, corporate sponsorship, membership, donor relations, government support, and special events. The CAO will inspire and lead a team of five in the Development department, which includes management of communications/marketing, which the Center sees as intrinsic to development. The CAO will be entrepreneurial, well-versed in donor portfolio management, and an enthusiastic advancement partner to the CEO, President, Vice President, and Board. A key priority of the incoming CAO will be to raise philanthropic support from individual donors.
In its 23-year history, the Center for Jewish History has raised $250M and is now debt free and mortgage free. The Center has a $13M endowment and last year development raised approximately $5M. The goal for 2023 is $8M. The Center hosts one signature gala event, which raises approximately $500,000-1.0M annually.
The CAO will set high standards and lead, develop, and direct a comprehensive and integrated fund development and communication plan to secure unrestricted and restricted contributed income to advance the vision, mission, strategic plan, and annual goals of the Center for Jewish History.
The salary range for this position is $175,000 – $200,000.
Responsibilities
- Motivate, mentor, and manage a team of five.
- Serve at the Chief fundraiser for the Center for Jewish History.
- Maintain a personal portfolio of major donors. Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual gifts, personally raising $3M annually.
- Oversee all fund development programs to raise $8M in coordination with others, taking on the responsibility to create or revise approaches as necessary. Programs to include major gifts, planned giving, annual fund (direct mail and affinity group strategies), online giving, special events, cause related marketing, institutional giving, corporate giving, grants (including matching opportunities), and an upcoming capital campaign.
- Monitor philanthropic trends and develop short- and long-term fundraising strategies aimed at maximizing contributed income from individuals, foundations, corporations, and government agencies, as appropriate.
- Create a vision to increase philanthropic support to $10M.
- Work closely with the President, CEO, Vice President, Board of Directors, and department heads to assess fundraising needs as determined by business plan goals, operating needs, and annual plan priorities.
- With the President, CEO, and Vice President, prepare the annual income plan for unrestricted and temporarily restricted funds; collaborate to develop annual fundraising budgets; prepare and monitor income projections, progress reports, and long-range/business plan forecasts.
- Keep all fundraising data management systems and fundraising records up to date.
- Manage the Marketing and Communications Department to develop and publish fundraising-related materials (annual report, newsletters, brochures, website content). Ensure effective communications around activities including special events, honorees and spokespersons, and cultivation and marketing opportunities. Ensure that all communications are driven to support the development function.
Required Qualifications
- Seven or more years of experience, or equivalent, in diversified fundraising with demonstrated experience in strategic philanthropy, individual and major gift solicitation, donor stewardship, long-range fund development planning, and proposal development and presentation.
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
- Exceptional interpersonal skills. Keen observer of others, especially donors, with the ability to establish good rapport quickly and remember details.
- Strong leadership and collaboration skills, with the ability to create and sustain strong working relationships with donors, Board members, and staff.
- Demonstrated success in a leadership role.
- Ability to serve as an articulate and compelling spokesperson for the Center, with a clear understanding of and interest in our mission.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Exceptional organizational skills.
- Interest in Jewish history.
- Experience in museums, libraries, archives, or similar organizations preferred.
The salary range for this position is $175,000 – $200,000.