The Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County is seeking a dynamic Vice President of Development to lead our growing frontline development team. Reporting to the Executive Vice President and serving as a key member of the Federation Management Team, this role is pivotal in driving philanthropic growth and fostering a culture of excellence within our organization.
The successful candidate will oversee the Annual Campaign, manage a diverse team of development professionals, and cultivate strong donor relationships. They will lead emergency campaigns and spearhead the integration of the Annual Campaign with Planned Giving & Endowments and Targeted Giving for Agencies and Programs. With a focus on staff management, growth, and volunteer leadership, the VP of Development will play a key role in achieving our fundraising goals and advancing our mission to enhance the well-being of the Jewish community locally and globally.
The Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County is the center for Jewish philanthropy in the Palm Beaches. With a mission to enhance the well-being and continuity of the Jewish community locally, in Israel, and worldwide, we are committed to combating antisemitism, supporting Israel, aiding those in need, and nurturing Jewish life. Serving the largest Jewish community in Florida and the fourth largest in North America, our Federation stands at the forefront of growth and development in the Palm Beaches. The Federation has more than doubled total giving from $27 million in 2019 to $67 million in 2024. The Federation is known to many donors for its personal and high-touch engagement approach, where donors feel welcomed and valued. Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
1. Strategic Annual Campaign Leadership:
Oversee the core work of the annual campaign, including Individual Giving ($1,000 to $100,000+), Gated Community and Country Club Campaigns, Affinity Campaigns (Women's Philanthropy, Business & Professionals), and Major Gifts (King David Society, Jewish Palm Beach Leadership Circle). Note: These are some but not all of the campaign divisions.
Develop a comprehensive strategy for the annual campaign targeting donors contributing $1,000 and above. Oversee strategy implementation and track progress. Accountable for implementing the campaign strategy and accomplishing the annual calendar of campaign activities.
Serve as the liaison between Development and Events Services, Strategic Marketing, Donor Information Services, and Information Technology Services.
Analyze, organize, and execute the annual campaign effort including performance measures, monitor results for reporting Annual Campaign goals. Make a recommendation for the Annual Campaign goal on an annual basis.
Ensure seamless execution of critical campaigns in the absence of designated personnel.
Lead emergency campaigns.
Lead the development and execution of an integrated "constituent journey" aligning philanthropic efforts with Federation's engagement programming.
2. Staff Management:
Direct reports include the Vice President for Women's Philanthropy, Senior Director of Development, Director of Missions, and a Director of Development, and an administrative assistant. Indirect reports include several other development officers and administrative assistants.
Serve as a leader, resource, and mentor for a team of development and administrative professionals. Manage all day-to-day aspects for the development team, including weekly 1:1 meetings, ensuring development officers are tracking towards their goals using metrics as one tool to celebrate successes and opportunities. Give consistent, timely feedback and positive reinforcement to foster a culture of learning and development. Strategize with development officers on prospect strategies and join development officers on prospect meetings periodically.
Assess training needs, implement individualized training and development plans and curriculum utilizing internal and external resources to provide education and professional development opportunities for development officers.
Provide clear performance goals and ongoing support to development officers. Identify and communicate training needs and foster cross-training among development officers and administrative professionals. Develop tailored training programs for fundraisers to enhance solicitation skills and maximize donor engagement.
3. Volunteer Leadership:
Serve as the primary professional partner to the Annual Campaign Chair and Campaign Cabinet.
Fully embrace and integrate peer solicitation into our fundraising operation. Ensure that all solicitors are prepared to carry out their assignments. Oversee peer solicitation efforts, ensuring all solicitors have assignments, are motivated, and trained to carry out their assignments. Prepare for future campaign transitions by onboarding incoming leadership. Provide necessary training, support, and resources for their future roles. Tailor training content to engage donors within specific communities.
Recruit, motivate, train, and manage key campaign volunteers.
4. Frontline Fundraising:
Personally manage a portfolio of major giving, planned giving, and foundation prospects, conducting approximately 75 visits annually. This includes prospect strategy development, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
Develop and implement detailed cultivation and solicitation strategies in collaboration with the development team. Lead the development and execution of strategies with these prospects and ensure that relevant Federation colleagues are consistently involved and informed.
5. Federation Management Team:
As a key member of the Federation Management Team, the Vice President of Development holds a multifaceted role that extends beyond leading the development department.
Responsible for managing the department's budget, the VP ensures expenses align with program-related costs and support associated activities. This entails detailed spending projections and close collaboration with Finance.
The VP is expected to act with diplomacy, grace, and confidentiality, considering the needs of the entire organization, not just the development team. The VP collaborates closely with other team members to address organizational priorities and contribute to the Federation's overarching mission
Qualifications and Success Factors:
10+ years in development with proven fundraising and campaign management success. Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred. Senior leadership experience in nonprofit organizations, especially within the Jewish community, is a plus.
Ability to lead and inspire a diverse team, fostering excellence and collaboration.
Strong strategic planning skills with a history of setting and achieving ambitious goals. Proven experience in budget management and fiscal responsibility.
Expertise in designing and executing fundraising campaigns, including annual, major, and planned giving. Knowledge of fundraising best practices and a history of securing major gifts. Ability to integrate philanthropic efforts with engagement programming.
Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills for building strong donor, volunteer, and community relationships. Experience working with volunteer leadership and supporting peer solicitation efforts.
Commitment to the mission and values of the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County. Ability to act with diplomacy, grace, and confidentiality. Willingness to be cross-trained and serve as a back-up for core functions to ensure team continuity.
Strong analytical skills for measuring and reporting on campaign performance. Proven track record of achieving fundraising goals and contributing to organizational growth
Compensation and Benefits: In addition to a competitive salary, Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County currently offers the following benefits:
A comprehensive benefits package including 15-25% of employee-only premiums paid for medical and dental and 100% of premiums paid for vision insurance.
Medical and dependent-care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).
Hybrid work schedule.
Professional development and training opportunities.
Paid vacation and sick leave.
Generous paid holiday schedule.
The Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Federation strongly encourages applications from individuals with varied identities and backgrounds. As an equal opportunity employer, all individuals are encouraged to apply without regard to race, color, religion, age, disability, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, ancestry, genetic information, medical condition, veteran status, financial status, or any other class protected under federal, state, or local laws. Federation is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals.