Development Director

Yeshivat Maharat, an Orthodox women’s rabbinical school, is seeking a Development Director to oversee donor and foundation cultivation, prospecting new donors, foundations, and funding sources, and conceptualize and execute fundraising campaigns and events. In June 2025, Maharat will celebrate the ordination of its 100th rabbi, marking a pivotal milestone in its trailblazing history. In their first year, the Development Director will oversee a yearlong campaign to acknowledge this moment in Maharat’s history and secure its future for its next 100 graduates, including strategy, material creation, event planning, and overall development and execution of the campaign from soup to nuts. Maharat has a small staff, so the Development Director will roll up their sleeves to support both the strategic elements (materials, asks, etc.) and the tactical elements (event planning) for the campaign.

Responsibilities

FY25

• FY25: Oversee yearlong 100 graduates campaign which includes direct mail/email, publicity materials, event management, and engaging current and new donors in the excitement of the campaign to encourage new and increased gifts 

General 

• Plan and execute semi-annual fundraising campaigns; set goals, project manage their implementation, create materials, and evaluate strategy 
• Prospect new donors and foundations; set and meet annual goals for new funding 
• Maintain a portfolio of donor relationships and cultivate, solicit, and upgrade donors
• Utilize data to track trends and identify opportunities for campaign growth; use donor database to create reports for fundraising
• Supervise staff who work on development initiatives, including database entry, maintenance, and integrity; gift tracking and acknowledgements
• Manage foundation, campaign, and stewarding schedules
• Support the President and lay Development Committee with meeting planning, presentations, and materials, and prepare and present reports sharing fundraising initiatives and tracking donation data
• Prepare donor materials, including presentations and background materials
• Coordinate alumnae fundraising efforts and create a sense of community and support among our alumnae base
• Collaborate on the planning and implementation of fundraising events 
• Ensure fundraising and donation opportunities on website and other digital platforms are up-to-date

Qualifications

• A minimum of 5 years development/fundraising experience
• Bachelor’s degree
• Success in developing and implementing scalable fundraising plans and identifying new donors and foundations
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships with philanthropists
• Detail-oriented with strong project management skills and ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects at the same time
• Experience planning events
• Experience with donor databases or CRMs 
• Demonstrate good judgment and discretion and the ability to interact with confidentiality, integrity, and tact
• Clear written, verbal, and visual presentation communication skills 
• A keen understanding of the Jewish community; familiarity with the Modern Orthodox community is a plus
• Commitment to the mission, philosophy and values of Maharat and the ability to articulate the organization’s needs, opportunities and aspirations with clarity and enthusiasm

Details

• Candidates within commuting distance of Riverdale, NY for in-person or hybrid schedules 
• Requires work on occasional evenings and weekends 

Apply

• Please send an email with the subject “Development Director” including resume and cover letter sharing your interest and experience to [email protected] by September 9, 2024
• If you meet many but not all the criteria above and feel you may be a good fit for the role, we encourage you to apply
• Yeshivat Maharat is an Equal Opportunity Employer