Senior Director, Endowment Funds

At the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund (the Federation), we envision diverse, dynamic Bay Area Jewish communities, deeply engaged in Jewish life and doing good locally, in Israel, and around the world. We create opportunities for people in the Bay Area to connect with and contribute to their communities. Our work is guided by the timeless Jewish values of kehilla (community), tzedakah (giving with just intention), and tikkun olam (repairing the world).

Together, our community is shaping Jewish life in the Bay Area by focusing on three main priorities. First, we’re working to foster and facilitate more impactful philanthropy. Second, we’re working to ensure security and resilience for local Jewish families. And third, we’re engaging the next generation of Bay Area Jews, so they too can find connection and meaning in the values and traditions of Judaism.

The Federation seeks highly motivated individuals with a variety of skill sets to build the next generation of Federation engagement. We are especially interested in forward-thinking, collaborative, and open-minded candidates who are willing to take risks, possess a high level of integrity, and model a positive attitude that inspires confidence.

The Federation helps donors make their philanthropy more effective. Through the generosity of over 1,100 donors, the Federation grants close to $200 million a year, both locally and globally, to a variety of Jewish and non-sectarian causes. Federation Philanthropy Partners works with these donors, who all have unique situations and varying degrees of need for our guidance.  Our aim is to be a trusted advisor and to inform, educate, inspire, and challenge philanthropy driven by Jewish values and the philanthropists in our communities. 

Reporting to the Managing Director, Gift Planning and Endowments of the Federation, the Senior Director, Endowment Funds (“Senior Director”) will be responsible for the development, administration, and fiduciary oversight for the Federation’s restricted endowment fund program, which provides on-going support to a variety of Jewish community needs. Senior Director manages a portfolio of endowment fund prospects and donors that includes permanent funds established by individuals, families, and Agency and Synagogue partners. This position will oversee and strengthen restricted fund grantmaking through collaboration with Community Impact, Finance, Marketing, and Philanthropy teams in fulfillment of Federation’s stewardship and legal responsibilities pertaining to endowment funds; ensure that donor intent is honored and followed; lead outreach and support to our Agency Synagogue partners interested in legacy and endowment funds; ensure that funding available maximizes impact to enhance and support a vibrant Jewish community.

The Senior Director, Endowment Funds, initiates and sustains relationships with a range of agencies, synagogues, individual donors, surviving family members, and internal partners connected to the 400+ restricted fund portfolio and its administration. In administering the grants from the portfolio, Senior Director directs all programs required to select grant recipients, such as the scholarship funds and leadership awards programs. This position may personally administer some funds and awards programs and also partners closely with the Community Impact Program Officers, Leadership Development, Marketing and Communications to create materials, direct administrative processes, and including work with selection committees, and to create and implement timelines needed to facilitate each fund’s purpose and required recipient(s) selection.

Senior Director is responsible for legal review and understanding of each fund purpose; education, direction, and collaboration with staff and lay leadership to match fund restrictions with funding opportunities; and the design and implementation of strategies and processes to maximize philanthropic impact while honoring the legal requirements of donor-imposed fund restrictions.

As a member of the Federation’s Gift Planning & Endowment Funds team, Senior Director will lead the design and implementation of projects focused on creating fundholder-centric operational efficiencies within multiple data systems for reporting, fund inquiries, and meeting customer service needs. Senior Director collaborates with lay and staff solicitors on legacy and endowment funds, including new estate commitments; drafts fund language to establish new funds; and oversees new endowment fund setup process using a variety of giving vehicles, record keeping, gift acknowledgment, and reporting activities. 

• Directs and manages our efforts to continuously improve client operations and administrative functions required to administer 400+ restricted endowment funds.
• Directs restricted fund administration, including the administration of scholarships and awards, in fulfillment of donor intent and in collaboration with Federation Community Impact, Finance, Philanthropy, and /or Leadership Development teams. 
• Directs Agency Fund client-facing customer service activities with staff and volunteer leadership of organizations who house their endowments – or are exploring placing their endowments – in a restricted fund at the Federation. 
• Leads Agency Fund development efforts; participates in legacy and endowment fund training with existing and potential agency and synagogue partners in our community. 
• Directs, develops, and streamlines multi-year processes for administration of scholarships and awards funds in coordination with Philanthropy, Marketing, Leadership Development teams, and selection committees.
• Leads client-facing work with individuals, professional advisors, and Philanthropy team members on legacy gift development and stewardship.
• Serves as department lead providing finance, accounting, investment information, updates, and reporting to current fundholders and donors.
• Participates in Philanthropy Team and donor education and engagement and other development-related programs.

• Law degree or master’s degree in business, non-profit administration, social policy, Jewish communal service, public administration, or related field preferred. 
• 5-7 years’ minimum work in the philanthropic, public, or non-profit sector.
• Knowledge of or experience in Jewish communal services and programming.
• Experience working with philanthropic funds and various giving vehicles such as DAFs, charitable trusts, gift annuities, and estate gifts through bequests and beneficiary designations. 
• Knowledge of legal documents such as contracts, fund agreements, wills, and trusts; finance; accounting; and philanthropic fund management.