About the Position: Reporting to the Executive Director and working closely with the Board President, Senior Rabbi, and the Development Chair(s) and Committee, the Director of Development is responsible for designing, implementing, and leading a comprehensive development/fundraising program to support Brooklyn Heights Synagogue’s many ambitious goals for today and for ensuring its continued financial health for years to come. As our first Director of Development, you will have the unique opportunity to collaborate with leadership in shaping BHS’s development program that will have an impact on future generations.
Key Responsibilities:
- Work closely with a lay-led Development Committee to design and implement a strategic advancement and fundraising plan and help nurture a “culture of philanthropy” that will ensure the plan’s success.
- Cultivate deep and meaningful relationships with our members, donors, and partners, ensuring they feel connected, and empowered to make a difference.
- Create a strategic fundraising plan and help manage BHS’s major development efforts, including the Annual Yom Kippur Appeal and capital campaigns; work with lay leaders to conceive and direct new special fundraising programs.
- Help to build a sustainable Planned and Legacy Giving Program and help shape a plan to create an endowment fund.
- Provide regular reports and communications to the Board of Trustees and help create Board engagement opportunities that increase their involvement in philanthropy.
- Recruit and supervise congregant volunteers (e.g., Board members, other committee chairs) for fundraising and outreach to members and help sustain advancement efforts within the congregation.
- Track campaign performance, as well as overall impact (i.e., retention rate, donor acquisition) and utilize analytics to guide individual and overall fundraising strategy.
- Strengthen systems and processes for donor operations and management and ensure timely gift processing.
- Oversee all donor recognition with a focus on making all members of the community feel valued and ensure that ongoing gifts are properly acknowledged.
- Leverage data and institutional knowledge to build a robust pipeline and develop donor-specific strategies for outreach and cultivation.
- Work closely with the other BHS professionals to help craft compelling donor-facing communications and amplify our message across multiple platforms.
- Seek new grant opportunities, while continuing to build upon existing relationships with family, institutional and government funders.
Core Competencies: At least five years of fundraising experience in the nonprofit world, ideally in Jewish communities, preferably in the NYC metro area. • Experience in managing annual campaigns, capital campaigns, major gifts, corporate and/or foundation giving, preferably in a membership-based organization. • A strategic thinker with a strong understanding of fundraising principles, techniques, and best practices. • Strong analytic and strategic planning skills. • A high-level of familiarity with fundraising and membership database systems. • Excellent communications skills, written and verbal. • Excellent diplomatic skills and the ability to interact easily with members, staff, board members, and other stakeholders. • A solid background in marketing and communications. • Self-motivated with excellent organizational, project, and time management skills. • A team player with a collaborative spirit.
Salary, Benefits, On-site Work:
This is an in-person full-time position with some evening and weekend work.
Salary: $100,000-115,000 commensurate with experience. We offer generous paid vacation, sick leave, and parental leave, and the ability to take part in our medical insurance, vision, dental plans, and the TSA and flexible spending programs. In addition, you will be eligible to participate in our pension program.
To Apply:
Interested applicants should email a resume and cover letter to [email protected]. The cover letter should state why you are interested in this position and how your experience makes you the right fit.
Candidates are encouraged to submit early, but no later than May 31. Qualified applicants will be interviewed by members of the Search Committee on a rolling basis and the position is available until it is filled. For more information about BHS, please visit https://bhsbrooklyn.org. No phone inquiries, please.