Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Greater Philadelphia is seeking a Major Gifts Officer. We are seeking an experienced, talented, and enthusiastic development professional to partner with the Chief Business and Resource Development Officer and the Director of Institutional Advancement to grow the Agency’s development, fundraising, and Institutional Advancement activities, forging new relationships to build JFCS’ visibility, impact, and financial resources.
The Opportunity
The Major Gifts Officer will execute a comprehensive plan for developing key external alliances by cultivating individual and philanthropic support. They will have the responsibility for helping to cultivate and steward the major donors needed to grow a $12 million dollar budget through the solicitation of major gifts, corporate and foundation support, and special events. The Major Gifts Officer will report directly to JFCS’ The Director of Institutional Advancement.
This position will collaborate with a dedicated and highly talented staff to help set a solid institutional vision for JFCS’ development strategy. They will shape a philanthropic impact strategy, enabling philanthropists to do more with their giving. With this strategy, the Major Gifts Officer will support donors in being community-centered and guided by the community on how to move resources to where they are needed most. The Major Gifts Officer will also be responsible for aligning all fundraising efforts and is expected to plan and manage JFCS’ donor engagement plan, focusing on building, cultivating, and engaging new individual, corporate, institutional funders, and investor partnerships.
In addition, this role will participate in external communications, marketing, community sponsorships, and signature events. The Major Gifts Officer engages, cultivates, and solicits new business and major investments from high-net worth individuals to increase philanthropic capital that will drive JFCS’ visionary efforts for transformational, sustained, community-led impact. To be successful, the Major Gifts Officer will need to focus on attracting the next generation of philanthropists, major donors, and prospects. Furthermore, they will help transform existing philanthropic relationships into collaborative, long-term investment partnerships that drive greater regional equity and opportunity through data analysis and reporting and donor recognition programs.
Candidate Profile
Enthusiastic Team Player
This individual will be an inspiring, empathetic, approachable, and inclusive team player with an infectious optimism and adept ability to support and grow through periods of change. They will be a lifelong-learner, excellent listener, and a strong multi-generational communicator with the propensity to take initiative and be proactive. They will understand and deeply respect the nuances of the communities and people JFCS serves. They will be able to work within a diverse team with a broad set of ideas and skills and achieve organizational impact by contributing and partnering their individual strengths and expertise with others within JFCS.
Expertise in Fundraising and Philanthropic Services
The Major Gifts Officer will be a results-driven and experienced producer in the development field with a measurable track record of success. This individual will ensure that all fundraising and development activities they focus on for JFCS are in alignment with the vision and overall objectives of the Agency. This candidate will have broad and deep knowledge of philanthropy with a proven track record of securing major gifts, working through campaigns and annual giving activities, and showing evidence of exceptional cultivation and stewardship. Through strong written, oral, and presentation skills, this individual will be a natural partner to JFCS’ internal and external communities and constituencies. Finally, the Major Gifts Officer will have high standards for integrity, productivity, professionalism, and cooperation in the workplace.
Relationship Builder with Strong Emotional Intelligence
This individual will possess highly developed interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence and be skilled at listening to and learning from a broad set of stakeholders. They will be able to develop a powerful sense of shared purpose in others and motivate donors at all levels to engage in the opportunities and challenges ahead. They will have demonstrated experiencebuilding effective relationships at multiple levels within a complex environment, including JFCS’ external community of donors and fund holders. Experience working with diverse populations, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds is important to us.
Passion for the Mission and Our Future Impact
The Major Gifts Officer will have a passion for the mission of the Agency and the potential for future impact in supporting communities in the Philadelphia region. They will feel a sense of ownership to accelerate change by motivating and empowering others to contribute to a shared vision and purpose. They will carry a growth mindset and model openness, humility, clarity, and accountability to colleagues.
Qualifications, Experience, and Skills
- Experience leading in a collaborative work environment; developing, motivating, and managing professional staff; managing strategy and budgets.
- A proven track record of partner prospect identification, cultivation, and stewardship in the realms of donors, donor-advised fundholders, nonprofit fundholders, legacy donors, and/or professional advisors.
- Experience communicating with various constituents across different platforms, issues, backgrounds, and cultures.
- Excellent written, verbal, and organizational skills, including attention to detail, strong writing and copy-editing skills, and exceptional presentation and speaking skills.
- A creative and strategic thinker who brings new ideas to systems, processes, and structures.
Required
- At least three years of donor services experience in a multi-faceted nonprofit or financial services organization.
- Experience managing relationships with stakeholders, working with high-net worth individuals, major gift solicitation, wealth advising, and applying analytics to inform and evaluate targeted strategies.
- A bachelor’s degree, or commensurate life and career experience
- An understanding of, commitment to, and an ability to articulate JFCS’ mission and Jewish values of Repairing the World, Community, and Dignity.
- A working knowledge of charitable and planned-giving strategies and vehicles.
- An understanding of how to strengthen organizations through endowment building and other sustainable revenue opportunities.
- An affinity for nonprofit, philanthropic, and relationship work, including donor identification, prospecting, cultivation, stewardship, and moves management.
- A deep understanding of philanthropic operations, administration, and prospect research systems.
- Knowledge of the Greater Philadelphia community, including strengths, challenges, trends, and the regional philanthropic sector.
Preferred
- History of community engagement and developing/leveraging networks.
- Experience with, or understanding of, policy, regulatory, and legal matters relating to state and federal tax laws impacting donor-advised funds, community foundations, charitable giving, and/or the philanthropic sector.
- Experience with a diverse range of grantmaking processes, approaches, tools, and tactics
Salary and Benefits
This full-time, exempt position’s hiring range is $85,000 to 90,000. The offered salary will be commensurate with internal parity, internal salary ranges, local and national sector benchmarks, and the candidate’s relevant qualifications, experience, and skills. JFCS offers a robust benefits package that includes employer-covered medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage, 403B match, and generous paid leave programs. JFCS’ office is in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. The position is on site with remote working opportunities and requires some travel throughout Greater Philadelphia region and Florida to meet with current and potential philanthropic funders.