Managing Director, Philanthropy - Gift Planning & Endowment Funds

The Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund (the Federation) of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties is a philanthropic catalyst, connecting Bay Area Jews – of all ages, backgrounds, and perspectives – to the power we have as a community to improve the world. We partner with donors, organizations, and foundations to address the pressing issues facing our community and develop innovative strategies that result in a deep and lasting impact.

Our vision is a vibrant, connected, and enduring Jewish community that is a force for good locally, in Israel, and around the world. Our work is guided by the timeless Jewish values of kehilla (community), tzedakah (giving with just intention), and tikkun olam (repairing the world).

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.

As a key member of the Philanthropy Leadership Team, the Managing Director of Philanthropy, Gift Planning and Endowment Funds will have overall responsibility to grow and administer sustaining support for the Jewish community provided through endowment funds and to provide creative charitable giving solutions for our philanthropy partners. In this role, the Managing Director partners internally and externally to grow, manage and properly steward the legacy giving and endowment efforts of the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund, including its operations, programs, and activities, and the assigned staff resources and its subcommittees. The Managing Director will maintain and enhance relationships with donors and will have primary responsibility for identifying and cultivating new endowment donors, agency fund partners and leading the Centennial Campaign. The Managing Director will interact at the highest levels with members of the charitable giving community to promote collaborative partnerships. The Managing Director will interact with other Federation senior managers and members of the Federation staff and community to enhance charitable giving services at JCF. The Managing Director oversees endowment funds, the planned giving program, and estate administration and serves as liaison to external planned giving asset manager, State Street Global Advisors.

This role has managerial responsibilities for Gift Planning & Endowment staff.

• Lead the Centennial Campaign including directing and conducting development, solicitation, and marketing to create new endowment funds and managing the Centennial lay committee, and working with the Centennial campaign consultant.
• Increase gifts and commitments from current donors and obtain gifts such as bequests, gifts of retirement plans, charitable gift annuities, and split-interest trusts and other entities that will substantially contribute to the Federation’s unrestricted and restricted endowment funds.
• Enhance communication, offer educational opportunities, and maintain positive relationships with annual campaign donors and current fund holders so they continue to be a key source of additional endowments.
• Maintain and enhance relations with the professional estate and gift planning community.
• Contribute to and support the Professional Advisor’s Network (PAN), collaborating with the Philanthropy Advisory practice and PAN leadership.
• Advice and assist prospective donors and their professional advisors in their charitable gift and estate planning efforts.
• Continue to integrate East Bay activities for endowment funds and legacy society members.
• Oversee Salesforce resource development for the planned giving pipeline; planned gift and estate administration and tracking realized planned gifts and conversion activities.
• Oversee complex, non-cash gift review and acceptance for outright, split-interest, and estate gift opportunities.
• Supervise portfolio of endowment and restricted fund administration, including responsive account management, grantmaking, reporting, and fund by fund record-keeping across data platforms and awards management.
• Serve as key Federation advisor on the legal and fiduciary requirements for endowment funds and donor-imposed fund restrictions.
• Partner, coach, and advise the Community Impact team on endowment fund terms and use flexibility for grantmaking.
• Oversee estate settlement administration for all open estates to receive realized estate gifts in a timely fashion.
• Direct new endowment fund set up in partnership with Finance according to donor terms in establishing documents.
• Develop a thorough knowledge of local beneficiary agencies and synagogues, and overseas beneficiaries in order to accurately represent their financial needs to prospective donors.
• Demonstrate leadership, communication, mentoring, empowerment, and resource management within the Federation and the endowment department.
• Provide effective liaison with other departments to promote the integration of donor development, marketing, information technology, and fund distribution into successful Federation operations.
• Direct the operations of the endowment department to include record retention, fund distributions, events, and fund reporting.
• Oversee and grow new agency fund opportunity pipeline; prepare and deliver materials and Board presentations for potential agency partnerships; open, administer, and retain agency funds.
• Steward and build relationships with existing and new endowment donors in the Centennial Living Legacy Society and Quarter Century Society.
• Work closely with accounting on the legal gift, investment performance data, and fund processing.
• General legal work and review for the organization.

• Bachelor’s degree; a graduate degree in law, accounting, finance, business, or related field is preferred.
• 7-10 years of senior-level experience in gift and estate planning, planned giving program administration, and endowment fund.
• Experience in a multi-faceted fundraising environment (major gifts, planned gifts, donor-advised vehicles) desired.

QUALIFICATIONS (SKILLS, ABILITIES, LICENSES)

• Advanced technical knowledge and experience in the field of planned giving, financial planning, tax law, and/or tax accounting are desired.
• Exceptional donor-relations skills: proven ability in creating strategies to cultivate prospects and channel donor engagement.
• Demonstrates ability to establish and meet objectives and performance standards.
• Knowledge of and appreciation for the Jewish community, its customs, and practices.
• Proven track record of success with fundraising systems and prospect identification.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite, and various electronic communication tools.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively in a highly motivated goal-oriented team environment

For additional information on the opportunity, please send a copy of your resume with a cover letter to hr@sfjcf.org 

Competitive salary commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits — medical, dental, vision, vacation, sick pay, holidays (including Jewish), and retirement plan.