Development Officer - Community Engagement

Description

Position Overview

The Development Officer will spearhead our outreach to Jewish schools, synagogues, and community organizations in the East Coast with the goal to grow the outreach nationally, creating a new fundraising channel for the organization. This role will dedicate approximately 60% of time to increasing awareness and engagement and fundraising with Jewish schools, synagogues, and community organizations; 40% of time to supporting and advancing new fundraising campaigns.

This role blends relationship-building, event planning, donor engagement, and solicitation of small to mid-level gifts. The successful candidate will be a self-starter who thrives on forging new partnerships, inspiring community involvement, and compelling storytelling skills. This is a unique opportunity to shape a brand-new fundraising channel and leave a lasting imprint on the growth of our organization. You’ll join a passionate, mission-driven team and be empowered to build meaningful connections that make a real difference.

Thinking about applying?

Frequently cited statistics show that certain applicants may hesitate to apply for positions due to a false perception that they must meet 100% of the qualifications. We encourage you to apply if you meet a majority of the requirements. We look forward to your application.

What will you do as a Development Officer?

Community Outreach & Awareness (Approx. 60%)

• Develop and implement a targeted outreach strategy to introduce our work and build a strong donor pipeline in this untapped sector
• Lead efforts to increase awareness and fundraising for JDC’s mission and impact within Jewish schools, synagogues, youth groups, and community organizations
• Identify, cultivate, and solicit small to mid-level gifts from individuals, schools, synagogues, and community organizations within the Jewish community in New York and expanding nationally over time
• Plan and execute events, educational presentations, and engagement opportunities to increase awareness and support for our mission
• Build and strengthen partnerships with community leaders, clergy, and educators
• Represent the organization at community events, meetings, and relevant forums
• Collaborate with colleagues across regions to identify and support cross-regional engagement opportunities that amplify impact and donor participation
• Contribute to the development of scalable outreach models that can be adapted nationally
• Work closely with the Senior Development Officer and development team to align strategies and leverage best practices

Campaign & Initiative Support (Approx. 40%)

• Support the development and execution of new fundraising campaigns
• Partner with the Campaign Director and broader Resource Development team to align outreach strategies with campaign goals
• Manage a portfolio of prospects and donors, tracking engagement, pledges, and follow-up
• Liaise with different stakeholders (professional and lay) across the organization to ensure alignment and success of the campaign (legal, finance, marcom etc)
• Project manage the different campaign components to ensure success

What qualifications are required to be our Development Officer?

• 4–6 years of experience in fundraising, community relations, or a related field, with proven success in donor engagement or community outreach
• Strong knowledge of and connections within the Jewish community (schools, synagogues, and/or community networks preferred)
• Basic knowledge of American Jewish culture
• Excellent relationship building, listening, communication, and public speaking skills, with the ability to inspire and engage diverse audiences
• Proactivity, entrepreneurialism, and resourcefulness
• Comfortable working both independently and within a team; ability to work cross-functionally with staff at all levels
• Highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Interest in fundraising, curiosity, and a learning/growth mindset
• Passion for the work of JDC and global Jewish issues
• Willingness to travel within the New York area and across the East Coast initially and then across the United States as the role evolves

Additional Preferred Skills and Competencies:

• Experience in event planning and/or grassroots fundraising campaigns.
• Familiarity with donor database systems (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, or similar CRMs)
• Familiarity with Israel and global Jewry

Additional Details

• Employment Type: Full-time
• Hours: 35 hou