Director of Advancement at Queens Hillel
About The Position
Queens Hillel is seeking a strategic, relationship-driven Director of Advancement to build and lead a comprehensive fundraising program for one of the largest and most diverse Jewish student populations in the nation. Reporting directly to the Executive Director and serving on the senior leadership team, the Director of Advancement will design and execute an annual giving strategy, cultivate and steward a growing portfolio of donors, and partner closely with the Board and Executive Director to secure the resources that sustain Jewish life across the borough of Queens. This is a rare opportunity to build a development function from a position of real institutional momentum, in the run-up to Queens Hillel's 80th anniversary in 2027.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree required; relevant graduate degree a plus.
- 6+ years of fundraising experience in higher education, Jewish communal life, or comparable nonprofit development.
- A track record of managing annual campaigns, individual solicitation, major gifts and donor stewardship
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills and a natural storyteller's instinct.
- Strong proficiency in donor CRM systems, data-driven decision-making and financial oversight.
- Passion for the Jewish community, familiarity with the NYC and Queens philanthropic landscape and an understanding of the Jewish calendar and practices.
- Ability to work independently in a growing, entrepreneurial organization while staying closely aligned with senior leadership.
Responsibilities
- Build and lead our annual development plan alongside the Executive Director, one that keeps pace with Queens Hillel's operating budget, fuels growth across our sites, and grows revenue year over year.
- Exercise daily oversight of progress toward fundraising goals and financial health.
- Oversee the annual campaign, including grassroots fundraising, direct mail, digital appeals, and the Queens Hillel Annual Report.
- Personally cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of donors.
- Curate a portfolio of major donors for the Executive Director.
- Build and execute stewardship plans for all donors, ensuring timely and meaningful gift acknowledgment.
- Identify, write, and manage grant proposals and reports as assigned.
- Manage donor-facing communications across email, social media, and direct outreach channels.
- Serve as the professional staff partner to the Board's development-related committees.
- Equip board members and lay leaders with the tools to support fundraising and organizational growth, through training, engagement, and board recruitment.
- Work with the Director of Operations to ensure donor data, gifts, and interactions are accurately recorded in Queens Hillel's donor database and reconcile gifts and revenue with financial records.
- Serve as staff lead for alternative giving vehicles, including matching gifts, donor-advised funds, and planned giving.
- Plan and execute donor-centric community initiatives, including Queens Hillel's 80th anniversary campaign in 2027.
- Serve on the senior leadership team and contribute to organization-wide strategy alongside the Executive Director, Managing Director, and Director of Operations.
- Represent Queens Hillel to Federation, foundation, and university partners as needed.
- Attend select evening and weekend programs, such as Shabbat dinners, student leadership training and staff retreats.
Benefits
- Health insurance
- retirement plan
- Life, AD&D, and Long Term Disability insurances
- generous vacation and Jewish/secular holiday time off
- parental leave
- Paid professional development
- mentorship
- participation in Hillel International's support systems
- Queens Hillel’s Talent Investment Fund which awards $2,000 yearly for additional professional development
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
