Job Description

Director of Development

Yeshiva Har Torah – a thriving, Centrist Orthodox yeshiva for boys and girls, serving nearly 820 students, founded in 1989 and located in Little Neck, New York - seeks a dynamic, experienced, collaborative development professional with strong interpersonal skills to serve as its Director of Development . The leadership of Yeshiva Har Torah views this appointment as a unique opportunity to advance the school at a turning point in its history.

POSITION:

Yeshiva Har Torah seeks a dynamic and strategic leader with superior relationship skills and demonstrated success in major gifts fundraising and growing donor bases. The successful candidate must have an authentic passion for our mission, demonstrated success in development operations and as an engaging fundraiser, and be a highly articulate communicator skilled at making a compelling case for school support. The successful candidate will be the principal architect of a development program that supports the organization’s mission and programs, both current and future. The Director of Development will guide all of the school’s fundraising efforts, working closely with lay leaders (including staffing the Development Committee) and professional colleagues, while also cultivating and stewarding relationships with donors, grant funders, and volunteers. It is important to note that this is a newly created position; a successful candidate will need to be a self-starter who has the ability to create systems to support development functions while simultaneously raising new dollars. This is a 12-month, salaried position, with competitive compensation and benefits.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead and direct all aspects of the development department; including implementing consistent research, cultivation, stewardship, recognition, and acknowledgement program for donors;

• Assess the current state of philanthropy as well as the potential of the organization; compile historical and current donor/donation information as well as wealth screening and other research to build a pipeline;

• Initiate outreach to alumni as new and prospective donors;

• Amplify grandparent giving;

• Maintain existing donor relationships and deepen those alliances through regular, relevant communications and stewardship;

• Craft a multiyear fundraising effort that will generate short-term results as well as sustainable long-term growth and include ways to deepen and diversify the funding base;

• Amplify the potential of YHT’s capital campaign;

• Enlist board members and senior professionals, as appropriate, in cultivating current and prospective donors in ways that raise funders’ insights about the YHT’s mission and impact. Collaborate to create an environment that nurtures and integrates an annual gift fundraising mindset throughout the organization, which is a significant shift from the current events-based fundraising model;

• Evaluate and drive the use of new technology funding vehicles including social media and revamping the organization's online tools for supporters;

• Cultivate effective relationships with the YHT’s board, development committee members, principal gift donors, and others who can positively impact the generation of revenue streams;

• Serve as an ambassador and spokesperson for the organization and articulate the mission to external constituents;

QUALIFICATIONS:

The ideal candidate will have a proven history of major gifts and other fundraising successes. He or she will possess excellent strategic thinking, relationship-building and communication skills. S/he will have experience in a collaborative work environment, and must be comfortable in working across an organization, with hands-on responsibilities. The candidate must be results-oriented, taking initiative and able to work in a fast-paced, competitive environment. The successful Director will bring a command of fundraising best practices, fundraising tools, and enthusiasm for fund development. S/he must have an authentic commitment to the strategic goals of YHT. A superior project manager, the Director of Development will contribute to significantly raising the bar on the efforts to shift the development needle. S/he will be an intuitive planner with a demonstrated ability to set priorities and to develop and implement thoughtful, clear, action-oriented growth strategies for YHT.

Qualifications include:

• An established paid professional or volunteer leader, with at least 5 years of demonstrated experience in asking for philanthropic gifts and broad knowledge of fundraising;

• Demonstrated ability to build a comprehensive and effective development and communications program, aligning all aspects of revenue development, including: annual, major, and capital giving;

• Deep understanding of the Jewish educational system and Modern Orthodox Jewish values;

• Strong management skills, both strategic and operational, and a demonstrated ability to build, manage, mentor and motivate a team;

• Demonstrated experience training and working with lay and professional leadership in development-related activities, providing them with quality support, and increasing their comfort with and success in fundraising;

• Proven ability to personally develop strategies, cultivate, solicit and steward major and institutional donors;

• Creative, innovative, entrepreneurial and independent self-starter with strategic inclinations;

• Outstanding stewardship and relationship management skills;

• Strong written and oral communication skills;

• A strong work ethic, ability to inspire trust; ability to maintain and model high personal, ethical, and professional standards, as well as having an outgoing and positive personality;

• Active engagement in professional learning, including currency with best practices;

• Sensitivity and discretion, creativity and flexibility, attention to detail and ability to manage competing priorities, with sense of humor preferred and customer-orientation a must;

• A Bachelor’s degree is required.

Interested candidates should apply by sending a cover letter and resume to [email protected], including the job title in the subject heading.

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