Director of Philanthropy

DescriptionAre you ready to make a difference in our community? At Jewish Community Services of South Florida (JCS), you’ll join a team of passionate professionals dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives of those we serve. Joining our team means contributing to a well-respected organization with over a century of service to the South Florida community, rooted in the values of compassion, inclusivity, and resilience. Our team members find purpose in empowering individuals and families through meaningful programs and initiatives. We foster a collaborative environment where your talents are valued, and you’ll have opportunities for personal and professional growth. If you’re looking to be part of an organization that values your contributions and promotes a culture of unity and support, JCS is the place to be.

Jewish Community Services of South Florida, Inc. (JCS) seeks a Director of Philanthropy to strengthen philanthropic support and cultivate meaningful relationships with key stakeholders. This position is instrumental in advancing the mission of JCS by securing financial resources and fostering donor engagement that supports programs for South Florida's diverse communities.

The Director will identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors contributing between $10,000 and $100,000+ annually. The person in this role will spearhead all JCS philanthropic initiatives, including but not limited to: re-design and implementation of annual solicitation strategies, future capital campaigns, and harnessing significant year over year philanthropic growth. Reporting to the CEO, the Director will lead philanthropic planning and serve as a key partner in achieving fundraising and engagement goals.

This is a full-time professional role requiring flexibility, including some evenings, weekends, and early mornings. As a representative of JCS, the Director is expected to uphold the organization’s values in all interactions.

Essential DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Responsibilities include the following, and other duties may be assigned:

Manage a portfolio of approximately 85+ high-level, major gift prospect donors, cultivating relationships and soliciting contributions between $10,000 and $100,000+
Achieve an annual fundraising goal of $1,000,000+
Create and implement data-driven annual fund strategies, identifying new donor prospects and increasing support from recurring donors and affinity groups
Department Fundraising Performance: Lead the Philanthropy team in achieving annual contributed-revenue goals established through the organization's annual development plan and budget
Major Gift Pipeline: Maintain a qualified major-gift pipeline sufficient to support current-year goals and future revenue growth, with measurable movement of prospects through identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship
Personal Revenue: Establish an annual individual fundraising goal based on the assigned portfolio, with emphasis on major gifts
Donor Retention: Achieve an agreed-upon annual retention target for donors within the Director's portfolio and oversee strategies designed to improve organization-wide donor retention
Donor Upgrades: Increase the number and/or percentage of existing donors who move into higher giving levels annually, by at least 10%, particularly donors transitioning into major-gift status
Team Performance: Establish individual fundraising goals, portfolios and performance expectations for philanthropy staff and conduct regular pipeline and portfolio reviews to ensure progress toward department goals
Forecasting: Maintain an accurate fundraising forecast and regularly report progress, pipeline health, risks and opportunities to the CEO and Board of Directors
Affinity Group Performance: Establish annual goals for affinity groups that measure fundraising, donor acquisition, retention, upgrades and meaningful engagement

SupervISION:

The Director will provide oversight and guidance to the Philanthropy Team.

PERKS: We are proud to offer a competitive benefits package to all full-time employees, including medical and dental plans. A generous vacation and holiday pay benefit and a 401(k) match is available. Staff receives monthly in-service training and CEU opportunities. This is a one of a kind opportunity for leadership in talent management to contribute to a team of mindful, caring and passionate people at work every day in service to our community!

ABOUT: Jewish Community Services of South Florida (JCS) is the foremost non-profit, human services agency whose mission is to improve the quality of life and self-sufficiency of the Jewish and broader communities throughout South Florida in accordance with Jewish values. Founded in 1920, JCS delivers exemplary social services through compassionate and comprehensive programs that help people stay healthy and productive.

JCS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, or veteran status.

JCS strictly enforces a Drug-Free Workplace Policy, which prohibits the use, possession, distribution, or sale of controlled substances and alcohol on company premises, during work hours, or while representing the company. Pre-employment and random drug testing may be required as part of our commitment to a drug-free workplace.

All Full-Time staff members are required to attend and work from start to end, JCS' Milk and Honey, Matzah Mitzvah and other similar events, which are typically held on Sundays and/or evenings. These events are essential to our organizational culture and participation is key to fostering team unity, supporting our values, and engaging with our community. By attending, it helps to set the standard for involvement and demonstrate our commitment to these meaningful traditions.

**Please be advised, if selected for this position, you will be required to submit to a level II background screening through the DCF Clearinghouse: <https://info.flclearinghouse.com>

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree, required
Minimum of ten (10) years of demonstrated success in a fundraising or development role, preferably in social services or healthcare
Experience with fundraising/donor databases, preferably Raiser’s Edge
Proven ability to secure major gifts from corporations, foundations, and individuals
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to create compelling proposals and donor correspondence
Exceptional relationship management skills, with the ability to connect meaningfully with diverse stakeholders
Highly organized, detail-oriented, and adept at managing multiple priorities
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams)
Familiarity with South Florida’s philanthropic community
CFRE certification is a plus