About The Tell Institute
The Tell Institute (The Tell) is a national nonprofit founded by acclaimed author and scholar Dara Horn. We are seeking an experienced, mission-aligned Director of Fundraising to enable our next stage of growth and impact.
Our mission is to dramatically reframe what students and the broader American public learn about Jewish civilization, the dynamics of antisemitism for over 2,200 years, and the ideas that shape free pluralistic societies. We envision a transformative educational movement that explores the layers of Am Yisrael—an over 3,000-year-old civilization with world-changing ideas and enduring resilience—and equips learners to recognize the pattern of antisemitism that not only affects the Jewish people but also corrodes the broader societies that embrace antisemitism.
We have already created our core deliverable—an eight-lesson curriculum unit grounded in Dara’s innovative ideas—and piloted it in synagogues and non-Jewish schools. Given the flood of interest we have already received from hundreds of rabbis, educators in Jewish and non-Jewish settings, parents, community and cultural leaders, and others, we are ramping up implementation efforts. This requires us to build the infrastructure needed to support our program expansion and grow our revenue. You will have an essential role in ensuring that The Tell can shape education and the broader conversation at a pivotal time. Together, we are working to foster a new generation that is curious about living Jews and less susceptible to antisemitism.
Position Summary
We are a mission-driven nonprofit whose success depends on the confidence and generosity of individual donors and philanthropic foundations. The Director of Fundraising will work closely with the President (Dara Horn) and the Executive Director (Jessica Levin) to build and sustain our philanthropic program. For now, this is a part-time role (we envision 3 days per week) focused on cultivating major donors and securing grant funding. We seek candidates who have spearheaded and run successful fundraising programs—including campaigns focused on small- and mid-level gifts (up to $5,000)—for Jewish or other nonprofit organizations, have excellent writing and communication skills, are meticulous with detail, and care deeply about The Tell’s mission and success.
Key Responsibilities
Cultivate, Solicit, and Build Relationships with Individual Donors
- Identify and cultivate potential individual donors, both small donors and those with major gift prospects
- Create and maintain relationships with current donors and update them regularly
- Draft communications, including acknowledgments, reports, and stewardship materials
- Schedule, lead, and participate with the President and Executive Director in key meetings with prospective and current donors
Secure and Manage Foundation Grants
- Research and identify foundation and family fund grant opportunities aligned with The Tell’s mission
- Create high-quality and effective letters of inquiry, grant proposals, and reports
- Identify and translate The Tell’s milestones and program results into compelling messaging for fundraising documents
- Track grant deadlines, reporting requirements, and renewal timelines
- Build and maintain relationships with program officers at key foundations
Develop and Manage Overall Fundraising Strategy
- Develop and implement a multi-channel fundraising plan with clear goals and performance outcomes to advance The Tell’s strategic plan
- Build The Tell’s case for support through data, stories, and messaging, while aligning the data collected to fundraising needs
- Serve as a strategic resource for senior leadership
- Regularly update other senior staff on progress and needs
Manage Fundraising Operations
- Work with the Operations Manager to ensure all information from prior years is in The Tell’s CRM
- Manage donor lists and all engagement activity in the CRM
- Create fundraising and reporting operations processes and procedures
- Ensure that all reporting requirements are met for each grant and for the annual audit
- Manage The Tell’s Charity Navigator and Candid/Guidestar ratings
- Work with the Operations Manager to ensure that all fundraising requirements are met, including end-of-year acknowledgments and audit requirements
- Optimize The Tell’s fundraising platforms
Qualifications
Required
- 5+ years of nonprofit fundraising experience, with demonstrated success in securing significant individual gifts and foundation grants
- Exceptional writer and communicator
- Strategic thinker with experience creating a strategic fundraising plan
- Strong relationship skills
- Ability to work independently (because we are a virtual organization) and collaboratively
- Highly efficient and productive, including when faced with multiple, overlapping deadlines
- Proficient with CRM tools (e.g., Hubspot and Little Green Light)
- Strong alignment with The Tell’s mission and values—which you can effectively articulate
Preferred
- Experience fundraising for a Jewish organization
- Experience developing an annual fund campaign
- Knowledge of existing donors to Jewish organizations and institutions
Hours and Compensation
- Location: Remote, but in the United States
- Hours: Part-time, roughly 24 hours/week, flexible scheduling
- Compensation: $50,000 - $70,000 annual salary, commensurate with experience
How to Apply
Please submit all application materials through our application form. We require the following documents:
- Resume
- Cover letter that provides examples of your fundraising successes
- A sample grant proposal
- A sample donor report (feel free to redact any identifying details)
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Note: Please submit documents you wrote yourself. The Tell is using AI for many tasks, but this role requires a compelling voice and very strong writing skills.
The Tell Institute is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome candidates of all backgrounds.