Chief Development Officer

The Jewish Museum:

The Jewish Museum serves people of all religious, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds through world-class art exhibitions ranging from ancient to contemporary. Founded in 1904 and located on New York City's Museum Mile, the Jewish Museum aspires to be the global leader at the center of Jewish culture.

The Museum maintains a unique collection of nearly 30,000 works of art, ceremonial objects, and media reflecting the global Jewish experience over more than 4,000 years. The Museum's thought-provoking, innovative, and intellectually stimulating exhibitions and education programs serve a wide range of audiences, including families, teens, students, educators, and visitors with disabilities. As an identity-based institution, the Museum plays an important role among cultural institutions, challenging all forms of bigotry and discrimination and promoting understanding among wide audiences. The Jewish Museum invites applicants of all backgrounds to consider joining the Museum in its work.

The Jewish Museum is committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all and to promoting a positive work culture that celebrates difference, challenges prejudice, and ensures fairness. Integrity, collegiality, and excellence are central to the Museum's values. These values, along with an institution-wide commitment to Diversity, Equity, Access & Inclusion (DEAI), are embedded in the Museum's strategic plan and will be the focus of a comprehensive DEAI action plan.

The Position:

The Jewish Museum seeks an extraordinary leader to oversee its Development division and diverse philanthropic initiatives. Reporting to the Museum’s Director, the successful candidate will play an integral role on the Museum’s senior leadership team and will bring a unique blend of energy, creativity and strategy to the task of expanding the Museum’s support base through fundraising. An enthusiastic collaborator and thought partner, the Chief Development Officer will lead a team of nineteen development professionals with expertise in major gifts, institutional giving, membership, special events, and development operations. The successful candidate will thrive in dynamic settings with dedicated stakeholders and Trustees and serve as an impassioned ambassador for the Museum and its growth. A desire to sustain and enhance the Museum’s active donors while cultivating new relationships will be critical. The Chief Development Officer will embrace the creative culture of the institution and enjoy collaborating with curators and programmers to advance support for the exhibitions and educational programs that are at its core. They will have a proven track record of closing significant gifts of six figures, working in close coordination with the Director and senior team. Professionalism, trustworthiness, honesty, and belief in the institution’s mission will be hallmarks of the Chief Development Officer’s success as an essential member of the Museum’s staff and key contributor to its financial future.

The Museum’s artistic and educational programs have generated critical acclaim and excitement from the communities it serves. With its notable collection, acclaimed exhibitions, meaningful public programs, and talented staff, the Jewish Museum is poised to embark on a new chapter in its history. At a time when its mission as an identity-based organization is more important than ever, this is an exciting opportunity to help strengthen the institution and its impact.

Responsibilities Include:

Develop and execute a strategic, comprehensive fundraising plan that ensures effective results and meets both annual and long-term financial goals Successfully lead the development team in securing $13+ million in annual support, in addition to endowed and capital gifts Take a central role in cultivating, soliciting and closing gifts, including identifying and stewarding prospective donors and new Trustees Oversee efforts in securing financial resources which will support the Museums Strategic Plan and ambitious Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion Plan goals Serve as the staff liaison to the Board Development Committee and Committee on Trustees Represent the Museum at key donor and foundation meetings and events Establish revenue plans and implement performance goals, objectives, and action plans; generate buy-in around a data-driven approach to goal-setting and benchmarking Produce detailed reports on the Museum’s fundraising for the Director, executive team and Board Supervise and mentor a department of nineteen full-time staff with five direct reports Serve as part of the Director’s senior leadership team

Requirements:

A minimum of 10 years of proven fundraising experience, preferably in the non-profit, Museum or cultural sectors, with five or more years demonstrated success at the director level of a similarly-sized organization Experience in the planning, implementing and managing comprehensive fundraising campaigns, including experience with capital campaigns Demonstrated experience with multiple categories of giving such as major gifts, foundation and corporate support, planned giving, and special events A demonstrated capacity to lead, manage and motivate a large team Superior written and oral communication skills Ability to attend evening and weekend events and to travel as needed Proficiency in CRM systems, Salesforce preferred A passion for and commitment to the Jewish Museum’s mission Bachelor’s degree required. Advanced degree desirable. Fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) or World Health Organization (WHO) authorized vaccine (or approved for an exemption as a reasonable accommodation due to a qualified disability or sincerely held religious belief or other legal basis)  

Send Resume with Cover Letter To:

Director, Human Resources

The Jewish Museum

1109 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10128

Email: jobs@thejm.org 

The Jewish Museum is committed to diversifying its staff and encourages individuals of all ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds to apply for this position. The Museum is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic prohibited by applicable law.