DEPARTMENT:  Development
REPORTS TO:  President & CEO

The Jewish Community Board of Akron (JCBA) commits to creating Jewish Connections for Life - ensuring that all Jews can participate in Jewish life in any way that fits their interests and passions, at every stage of life. Supporting and enriching the lives of Jews locally, nationally, in Israel and worldwide, the JCBA supports multiple local, national, and global Jewish organizations and initiatives. Additionally, JCBA oversees the operations and administration of The Schultz Campus for Jewish Life – a 55-acre campus that houses the JCBA, The Shaw JCC, The Lippman School, Congregation Beth El, Center Towers, and JFS of Akron.

The Greater Akron community is growing and there is a need to enhance and build upon the rich tradition of philanthropy in the Jewish community. We seek an experienced fundraiser, with a proven track-record of developing and successfully implementing a fundraising strategy.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
Summary:
The CDO has primary responsibility for implementing a clear and compelling vision for growing the Financial Resource Development (FRD) platform for the agencies of the Schultz Campus for Jewish Life. S/he will design and execute a comprehensive and diversified fundraising plan which includes working with special events, major gifts, corporate sponsorships, direct response communications (direct mail, e-philanthropy, telemarketing, etc.) missions, volunteer leadership recruitment, affinity group campaigns and planned giving. This plan will be inclusive of the development needs of the JCBA Annual Campaign, The Shaw JCC of Akron, and The Lippman School, and more generally, The Schultz Campus for Jewish Life.

S/he will play a key role in identifying, cultivating, and soliciting major donors. The candidate should have outstanding organizational and communication skills necessary to build strong and trusted relationships with staff, donors and volunteers. The individual will lead a both a professional and lay development committee. This person will also serve as part of the senior management team.

Primary Responsibilities include:
STRATEGIC

• Be a thought partner with the CEO and key lay and professional leadership to develop short term and long-term strategies for fundraising growth and success for the affiliated agencies on The Schultz Campus for Jewish Life.
• Develop and execute the overall strategic plan for an integrated philanthropy model which supports the mission of the organization including endowment and legacy cultivation.
• Create and execute an annual development plan which outlines and highlights the roles, responsibilities, and objectives of each member of the development team, both volunteer and professional, as well as highlights the strategies and milestones that will be measured to attain success.
• Develop and implement donor recognition and campaign volunteer training programs. This
• includes recruitment of and retention of campaign volunteers, campaign volunteer meetings,
• trainings, and contacts as well as the ongoing stewardship of all donors.

TACTICAL
Management

• Staff the Campus Development Committee and subsequent sub-committees.
• Develop a plan to ensure the professional development committee members are tasked with the appropriate duties to ensure the success of the campus development plan.
• Provide mentorship and direction to the professional development committee and individual team members to enhance their ability for success in executing the campus development plan.
• Work with the Controller and CFO to develop annual departmental budgets

Reporting

• Track all proposals, due dates and reports for foundation and corporate donors and prospects
• Drive the process for all grant proposals and reports, ensuring they are assigned to appropriate staff and are prepared in a timely manner
• Oversee all weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual and ad hoc reporting for timeliness and accuracy
• Develop a dashboard containing key development metrics for development team and executive team
• Assure there is timely, accurate reporting to donors and campaign volunteers
• Present the development plan and ongoing metrics to the board of directors and other key committees as needed.

Fundraising and Donor Relations

• Develop and lead the execution of the campus annual, endowment, and special project development plan, safeguarding the achievement of annual revenue goals
• Develop, and steward all donors, as measured by the number of contacts designated in the development plan for each member of the professional development committee, enabling successful solicitations and fund development
• Create and execute a strategy for creating and sustaining a base of new annual donors
• Create a Major Gifts Plan that includes volunteer and professional participation and support
• Create a New Grants Plan which addresses the local and national grants the Federation is eligible for and draft and submit these grants
• Lead the organizational fundraising events held in support of campus development plan
• Meet annual goals for soliciting assigned donors and prospects
• Oversee the corporate sponsorship activities to ensure the annual goal is met
• Develop strategy and calendar and oversee direct mail, telemarketing, and e-philanthropy initiatives
• Work with key leadership and CEO to strategically assign donors to volunteer donor engagers and professional staff

Other duties and special projects may be assigned by the CEO.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree required with preference given to professionals with advanced education in business, marketing, or related areas.
• A minimum of 7-10 years of experience in financial resource development, including donor development and major gift solicitation.
• Experience leading a development team. Equivalent experience in sales, marketing or business development will also be considered.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Proven success building and maintaining trusted relationships with key stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to interact successfully with multiple constituencies
• Demonstrated ability to succeed under pressure in a dynamic environment and comfortable with change and working in undefined situations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and collaboratively manage a professional team.
• A leader who can positively impact strategic fundraising and is willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done
• Preference will be given to candidates with deep knowledge of Judaism, Jewish culture, and a personal commitment to Jewish values and knowledge of Jewish traditions
• While knowledge about the Jewish Federation is desirable, it is not a pre-requisite for this position.
• Candidates with significant foundation, corporate sales and marketing experience and a client-focused mindset are particularly welcome.

For more information or to apply, please contact sgalat@jewishakron.org.