Director of Major Gifts

The Museum of Jewish Heritage seeks a dynamic, articulate, well-organized, and seasoned development professional to raise unrestricted and restricted gifts through the identification, engagement, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of a portfolio of high net worth families and individuals to expand and maximize giving across the institution through annual appeals and endowments. The Director of Major Gifts will manage a significant portfolio of principal and major gift donors and prospects, and will be responsible for personally cultivating, soliciting, closing and stewarding gifts of $10,000 to $1,000,000+. In collaboration with the EVP, Strategy and Development and with colleagues across the Museum, the Director of Individual Giving will formulate strategic direction and program development to enhance private individual philanthropic support. The position will supervise a direct report, who is responsible for the Young Friends, Patron, and other affinity groups.

Job Responsibilities:

Maintain a portfolio of up to 100+ major gift donors and prospects
Create and implement effective cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for donors and prospects;
Work with staff and consultants to revitalize and expand planned giving program;
Implement and maintain a moves management system across donor portfolios;
Establish fundraising goals, monitor overall expense budget, ensure donor database records are up-to-date, and aid in preparation of analytical reports to measure progress toward fundraising goals;
Design and implement creative strategies for building individual philanthropic support, including multi-year gifts opportunities for a wide range of institutional priorities;
Participate in all aspects of the principal and major gift cycle including initiating contacts with potential leadership and donors, developing cultivating strategies including working, moving potential donors toward solicitation and closure, making solicitations, and maintaining stewardship contacts with donors;
Lead major gift prospect identification, qualification and rating process. Assess and expand major gift prospect pool;
Administer the major gift portfolios and offer prospect strategy counsel to Development Department colleagues;
Support the President & CEO and the EVP, Strategy and Development in engaging existing Trustees and cultivating new prospects for the Board.

Requirements:

At least five years of experience in individual or major gift fundraising in the non-profit field, preferably in the arts and/or Jewish philanthropy;
Proven ability to personally cultivate, solicit, and steward principal and major gifts ($50,000+) from individuals;
Ability to ground relationships with donors and prospective donors in Jewish culture and values;
Superior written and oral communication skills, ability to write and speak in clear, crisp and compelling ways and to articulate the goals, mission and values of the Museum;
Intellectual depth, maturity and interpersonal skills to foster the trust and confidence of Museum leadership and donors;
Must adhere to the highest ethical standards; demonstrate an empathetic disposition, exhibit perseverance, and project an optimistic and positive attitude;
Willingness to work weekends and evenings as necessary;
Working knowledge of philanthropic vehicles to facilitate sophisticated philanthropic conversations, proficiency in Altru or Raiser’s Edge or other development technology for prospect identification and research;
Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.

Position reports to: Executive Vice President, Strategy and Development

The Museum of Jewish Heritage is an equal opportunity employer. As a cultural institution that teaches about the dangers of intolerance, the Museum is dedicated to promoting diversity, multiculturalism and inclusion in its hiring practices.

For consideration, qualified candidates should submit their resume and letter of interest including salary requirements to: humanresources@mjhnyc.org.