POSITION SPECIFICATION
Chief Development Officer
New York, NY
ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY:
Educational Alliance seeks a Chief Development Officer (“CDO”) to build, develop and manage a comprehensive and ambitious fundraising program and departmental operations. The CDO develops and propels Educational Alliance’s critical fundraising strategies to serve the people of our community while furthering a vibrant and inclusive Jewish organization.
Reporting directly to Rich Baum, the President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), the CDO will set the vision and strategy for all development activities, including individual donors, major gifts, foundations, government funding, events, planned gifts, direct mail, and online contributions.
The CDO will serve on the organization’s highly collaborative, six-person executive leadership team and will also build, strengthen, and directly manage the Development team.
This is an ideal opportunity for an experienced and strategic fundraiser and relationship builder to drive a high-performing fundraising program and continue to build a culture of philanthropy.
Key responsibilities include:
Organizational Leadership
· Advise the CEO on relationship building and high priority fundraising opportunities, ensuring that the CEO’s time is meaningfully engaged in fundraising and donor cultivation.
· Collaborate with the executive leadership team and Executive Directors across the Educational Alliance network, providing accurate fundraising updates and forecasts, and offering sound thought leadership on key, organizational priorities.
· Work with the Development Committee of the Board of Directors; collaborate with the Chief Strategy Officer on Board stewardship.
Development Planning and Strategy
· Develop, launch, and manage a comprehensive annual development plan.
· Expand and oversee funding sources, including fundraising campaigns for foundations, government, corporate sponsorships, and new business initiatives.
· Build and strengthen a robust major gifts program.
· Personally identify, cultivate, and solicit major individual and institutional gifts.
· Evaluate the fundraising activities annually to ensure quality, productivity and relevance towards meeting goals.
· Oversee the full lifecycle of grant proposals and report writing.
· Create and launch an anticipated capital campaign.
Team Management
· Provide day-to-day leadership and management of the Development department, including overseeing the department budget.
· Inspire a rigorous yet innovative culture for overall fundraising initiatives and strategically grow, recruit, mentor and motivate a strong team.
· Optimize the Development department structure and systems to support ambitious fundraising goals.
EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:
The successful candidate will bring significant senior leadership and fundraising experience. They will have exceptional major gift fundraising and relationship building skills, as well as a demonstrated ability to use data to set strategic priorities and achieve ambitious goals.
Key experience includes:
· Demonstrated track record of building and growing a fundraising program, including cultivating major gifts and securing corporate, foundation, and government funding.
· A highly skilled and knowledgeable fundraiser, current on funding trends, activities, and techniques.
· Experience working in close partnership with and advising a CEO/Executive Director on fundraising activities.
· Well-honed board relations and engagement skills. Ability to collaborate with fellow senior leaders on high-level organizational priority-setting and decision-making.
· A strong, capable, inclusive, and transformative manager and leader able to build, motivate, develop, and inspire a team.
· An understanding of Ed Alliance’s legacy and commitment to the core values that guide the agency’s work.
EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree required.
COMPENSATION: Salary range is $215,000 – $230,000. Salary and benefits are competitive and commensurate with experience.
LOCATION: This position will report in-person at the Ed Alliance Headquarters, located at 197 East Broadway.
TO APPLY: Qualified candidates should submit their resume and a thoughtful cover letter here.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION:
Educational Alliance, one of New York City’s original settlement houses, was founded in 1889 to offer educational, social, and cultural services to Jewish immigrants arriving to the Lower East Side. Today, Educational Alliance is a proudly Jewish institution that partners with diverse communities throughout Lower Manhattan. We provide New Yorkers of all backgrounds with high-quality, transformational programs that enhance their well-being and socio-economic opportunities, reflecting our belief that everyone in our city should be given the tools to thrive.
Across our network of community centers, our staff empowers people of all backgrounds to flourish. Our vast array of programs include supports for newly arrived asylum seekers, free meals for seniors, addiction treatment and recovery, innovative early childhood education, art classes, Jewish cultural and educational events, and more. We remain committed to recognizing the intrinsic value of each individual and the importance of building community.
Educational Alliance is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Educational Alliance is committed to workplace diversity and inclusion. We are equal opportunity employers and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity and expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Educational Alliance takes affirmative action in support of its policy to employ and advance in employment individuals who are minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities.
