Position Title: Director of Development
Organization: Jewish Family Service of San Diego
Department: Advancement
Position Type: Full-Time (37.5+ hours/week), Exempt
Work Setting: Fully Onsite
Reports To: Chief Advancement Officer and Sr. Director of Development, Individual Giving
Pay Range: $90,000-$110,000/year
Total Compensation:
In addition to standard pay, compensation for this position includes:
- Comprehensive, low-cost healthcare coverage for employees
- Generous employer 401(k) contributions
- Employer-covered life insurance
Time Away from Work:
Being able to take time away from work is critical in bringing your best self to work. Time off benefits for this position include:
- Paid vacation time and sick leave
- 15 paid holidays, including Federal and Jewish holidays (as long as the holiday lands on a normal scheduled work day), and floating holidays
- 2 Wellness Days to be taken any time during the year to support employees’ mental wellness
Position Overview:
At Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS), we believe in the power of community, compassion, and connection to change lives. As our Director of Development, you will play a pivotal role in helping our mission come to life every day by nurturing relationships that inspire generosity and deepen our impact.
In this position, you will steward a portfolio of about 150 individual donors, ranging from loyal supporters giving $1,200 annually to prospective philanthropists with the capacity to give $10,000 or more. Your work will be rooted in building genuine relationships—connecting people’s passions with meaningful opportunities to make a difference through JFS.
You will also lead and expand JFS’s planned giving efforts, working alongside estate attorneys, financial advisors, and other professionals to grow our presence in the planned giving community and strengthen engagement with members of the JFS Legacy Society.
This is more than a fundraising role—it’s an opportunity to champion a mission that serves thousands across San Diego with dignity, hope, and heart.
Responsibilities:
Donor Portfolio Management
- Cultivate and sustain authentic, purpose-driven relationships with a portfolio of about 150 donors
- Honor each donor’s values and vision by connecting them to the tangible impact of their support
- Manage donors through the full continuum of giving—identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship—with a focus on expanding philanthropic potential
- Create and coordinate meaningful engagement experiences, such as campus tours and volunteer experiences
- Partner with planned giving professionals (estate attorneys, financial planners) to elevate JFS’s visibility within the planned giving community
- Collaborate with the Marketing team to refresh or develop compelling collateral for planned giving outreach and stewardship
- Use Raiser’s Edge CRM to document donor interactions, plan outreach strategies, and track progress toward fundraising goals
Strategic Planning
- Partner with Sr. Director of Development, Individual Giving to refine and enhance donor engagement strategies and stewardship practices
- Achieves and exceeds annual goals as assigned by Sr. Director of Philanthropy
- Contribute to the overall advancement strategy with creativity, professionalism, and a deep commitment to JFS’s mission and values
JFS Responsibilities
- Support and attend key fundraising, cultivation, and stewardship events as needed, including evenings and occasional weekends
- Build strong working relationships with internal teams — including program & finance staff — to ensure consistent information flow and alignment between donor interests and agency impact
- Serve as an internal ambassador for the Development team, communicating donor feedback and insights to colleagues to strengthen cross-departmental collaboration
- Maintain a deep and current understanding of JFS’s services and initiatives to represent the organization with accuracy and passion
- Participate in team meetings, planning sessions, and organizational trainings that support professional development and alignment with JFS values
Skills/Experience/Abilities That Are a Must-Have:
- Education – BA/BS degree at minimum or equivalent
- Experience – minimum of 5 years of fundraising or business development experience, with a strong understanding and foundation of fundraising strategies and tactics, including moves management, donor research, donor cultivation, and stewardship
- Partnerships – needs experience with financial planners, attorneys, and other relevant professional service providers
- Technical Skills – must have experience working with CRM software, Raiser’s Edge experience a plus
- Communication/Interpersonal Skills – must be articulate, poised, and possess strong writing skills and have the ability to listen to, connect with, and inspire donors
- Administration – proven to be detail oriented and possess excellent project management skills
Read to Move Forward:
To apply, please submit your cover letter and resume on the following link;
https://recruiting2.ultipro.com/JEW1005JFSD/JobBoard/67117e77-0ebf-4c59-8572-c132c9252405/Opportunity/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=b36fc01c-5c43-424f-b938-cbcf899c0bf3
Important Notice:
When applying, please submit a resume and cover letter.
Incomplete submissions will not be considered. Please, no phone calls. Please, principals only. Please, local candidates only (relocation is not provided).
About Jewish Family Service of San Diego
Jewish Family Service of San Diego is a client-centered, impact-driven organization working to build a stronger, more resilient community. For over 100 years, Jewish Family Service has been a trusted resource for the entire community, offering an array of services that are always life-changing, and often life-saving. At Jewish Family Service, we believe our employees are the backbone of our Agency. We strive to ensure that each employee is treated with dignity and respect. Our goal is your success. Come work at JFS and be our partner in Moving Forward Together. To learn more about JFS, please visit jfssd.org.
*Jewish Family Service is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.