Chief Advancement Officer

The CAO will set high standards and lead, develop, and direct a comprehensive and integrated fund development and communication plan to secure unrestricted and restricted contributed income to advance the vision, mission, strategic plan, and annual goals of the Center for Jewish History.

The salary range for this position is $175,000 – $200,000.

Responsibilities

• Motivate, mentor, and manage a team of five.
• Serve at the Chief fundraiser for the Center for Jewish History.
• Maintain a personal portfolio of major donors. Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual gifts, personally raising $3M annually.
• Oversee all fund development programs to raise $8M in coordination with others, taking on the responsibility to create or revise approaches as necessary. Programs to include major gifts, planned giving, annual fund (direct mail and affinity group strategies), online giving, special events, cause related marketing, institutional giving, corporate giving, grants (including matching opportunities), and an upcoming capital campaign.
• Monitor philanthropic trends and develop short- and long-term fundraising strategies aimed at maximizing contributed income from individuals, foundations, corporations, and government agencies, as appropriate.
• Create a vision to increase philanthropic support to $10M.
• Work closely with the President, CEO, Vice President, Board of Directors, and department heads to assess fundraising needs as determined by business plan goals, operating needs, and annual plan priorities.
• With the President, CEO, and Vice President, prepare the annual income plan for unrestricted and temporarily restricted funds; collaborate to develop annual fundraising budgets; prepare and monitor income projections, progress reports, and long-range/business plan forecasts.
• Keep all fundraising data management systems and fundraising records up to date.
• Manage the Marketing and Communications Department to develop and publish fundraising-related materials (annual report, newsletters, brochures, website content). Ensure effective communications around activities including special events, honorees and spokespersons, and cultivation and marketing opportunities. Ensure that all communications are driven to support the development function.

Required Qualifications

• Seven or more years of experience, or equivalent, in diversified fundraising with demonstrated experience in strategic philanthropy, individual and major gift solicitation, donor stewardship, long-range fund development planning, and proposal development and presentation.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills. Keen observer of others, especially donors, with the ability to establish good rapport quickly and remember details.
• Strong leadership and collaboration skills, with the ability to create and sustain strong working relationships with donors, Board members, and staff.
• Demonstrated success in a leadership role.
• Ability to serve as an articulate and compelling spokesperson for the Center, with a clear understanding of and interest in our mission.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Exceptional organizational skills.
• Interest in Jewish history.
• Experience in museums, libraries, archives, or similar organizations preferred.