Summary/objective: The Chief Development Officer of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans (Federation) will be responsible for developing and overseeing the execution of a high-level strategic plan for fundraising. The Chief Development Officer will oversee and drive the entire Financial Resource Development (FRD) for the organization and will lead the effort to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward the annual campaign, major donors, planned giving, sponsorships and grant writing.
Who Are We?: Since 1913, the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans has connected the human and financial resources which empower advocacy and social action, strengthen Jewish identity, and cultivate an inclusive an engaged community locally, in Israel, and around the world. The New Orleans Jewish is approximately 12,000 strong, and dates back to the early eighteenth century. Currently our Annual Campaign raises between $2.6 and $2.7 million, a consistent range over the past ten years. Our office is located in Metairie, LA.
Essential Functions: We want to expand on our track record of fundraising success, and the ideal candidate is eager to find creative avenues for growth. Therefore, to shine as Chief Development Officer, you need a passion for both fundraising and stewardship, matched by extensive knowledge of these respective crafts. You will have three key responsibilities: 1) reimagining Federation’s philanthropic capabilities and infrastructure, with a focus on end-to-end, donor-centric solutions; 2) drive financial resource development growth, and 3) work closely with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) to execute a clear vision and strategy.
As Chief Development Officer, you’ll work closely with staff to oversee sponsorship and grant opportunities, as well as legacy and supplemental giving opportunities - and match our members of the New Orleans Jewish community to their philanthropic passions. You will be able to articulate confidently the Federation’s mission and vision.
The ideal candidate will bring visionary fundraising leadership, marked by a solid track record of development planning and major portfolio management. You will develop and execute a long-range strategy for increasing private philanthropic support, with attention to meeting annual financial targets.
You will have a resume demonstrating your ability to identify, cultivate, solicit, steward, and secure charitable funds in New Orleans’ multilayered Jewish community. You will join a culture in which shared passion for the mission, excellence, transparent collaboration, respect, performance measurement, and accountability are guiding principles.
In addition, the Chief Development Officer will possess the professional maturity, stature, and flexibility to build productive relationships and alliances with philanthropic individuals and foundations. Moreover, you will have the proven ability to creatively engage, motivate, and thank donors and prospects and inspire confidence from internal and external constituencies.
General Skills
● Direct experience creating and executing annual campaigns and long-term affinity and alliance programs
● Direct experience soliciting and cultivating donors
● Keen knowledge of philanthropic trends across all aspects of charitable giving
● Proven ability to lead, manage, and work independently with accountability
● Excellent written and verbal communication skills
● Expert ability in Microsoft applications
● Understanding of social media best practices and basic graphic design knowledge
● Proven understanding of data analytics, including applicable software and other measurement tools – including CRMs (we are currently migrating to Neon One)
● Excellent time management and prioritization skills
● Ability to work collaboratively with other staff
Strategic Philanthropy
● Develop and implement an integrated Financial Resource Development (FRD) model, including major and planned giving (in collaboration with our partner organization, the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana [JEF]), which supports the mission of our organization
● Evaluate current event planning strategy and offer a fresh perspective to modernize our approach
● Build replicable processes for stewarding donor prospects, including astutely matching donors based on their areas of interest and our programs and initiatives
● Identify and implement new revenue streams with a focus on sustainable, unrestricted gifts
● Enhance donor understanding of our mission and increase investment in our work
● Lead planning and execution of Federation’s fundraising and philanthropic outreach, which supports operations, programs, and pass-through giving/allocations
● Develop opportunities for supplemental gifts to support specific Federation programs and activities
● Cultivate new strategies to broaden and deepen engagement of the next generation of Jewish philanthropists
● Craft relationships with a personal portfolio of major donors
Board and Senior Staff Leadership
● Together with senior staff, educate and train campaign volunteer leadership, board members and staff on donor identification, cultivation and effective stewardship
● Work with the CEO and COO to ensure campaign volunteer leadership and board members are engaged and energized by their association with Federation, and provide information as needed on donor cultivation, fundraising techniques, sponsorship opportunities and planned giving tactics
● Attend board meetings and board committee meetings and report on development activities as needed
● Serve as an ambassador for the organization, articulating our mission to constituents, partner organizations, and potential funders
● Collaborate closely with our partner organization, JEF, to coordinate planned giving strategies
● Develop and produce regular financial and fundraising reports for the CEO, COO, and the Board of Trustees that crystallize our financial progress and evaluate our trends in fundraising activities
Supervisory responsibilities: Will supervise the Director of Strategic Partnerships and the Grant Writer.
Work environment: Strong team culture and brainstorming sessions with competent staff; there is respect by lay leaders and staff for sick and vacation time, as well as Jewish holidays.
Physical demands: Ability to carry, push, and pull objects less than 20 pounds; bending, sitting, lifting, standing and driving.
Position type and expected hours of work: Full time – Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm and Friday 9am-4pm; must be able to work and/or participate in Federation and community-wide events on nights and weekends, out-of-town meetings, and travel to conferences and overseas missions.
Travel: Must have a valid passport and be available to travel to Israel specifically, overseas in general, and throughout North America; this position may attend conferences and missions worldwide.
Required education and experience: Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree and/or CFRE preferred; at least 5-7 years of progressively responsible experience as a leader in a combination of high-profile corporate, entrepreneurial and/or non-profit settings with major responsibility for business sales and/or fundraising and institutional advancement, and experience in innovating a significant fund-development program, organizational development and governance.
Preferred education and experience: Post graduate degree; past Federation involvement, either lay or professional.
Additional eligibility qualifications:
● Immersive understanding of the non-profit sector, the Jewish community, the Jewish Federations of North America, and the social impact of fundraising on Jewish organizations
● A personal commitment to and understanding of Jewish values and traditions, and broader civic and community issues – including a commitment to Israel
● Experience in New Orleans fundraising/philanthropic community
● Action-oriented, creative, analytical, and adaptable, bringing an innovative approach to fundraising and stewardship
● Ability to set and achieve strategic objectives
● Effective and persuasive communication skills, including an ability to prepare and deliver and adapt presentations to diverse audiences
● Must be a people-person who is relatable and who is an active listener, skilled at cultivating donor relationships
Compensation: Federation provides a fantastic benefits package, including health insurance with a refunded deductible, flexible spending accounts, a 401k with employer matching, life insurance, and generous paid time off – including Jewish holidays. Compensation is commensurate with experience – the salary is starting at $75,000.
If you believe you are the right candidate, share with us why, in one page or less, and send along with your resume and salary requirements to sherritarr@jewishnola.com.
