Congregation Shearith Israel (CSI) is a warm, welcoming, and dynamic Conservative Synagogue of more than 1,000 member families and a fulltime staff of 25 people. Located in the heart of Dallas’ Preston Hollow area, it is a caring, inclusive, and sacred community. Its mission is to provide pathways to enrich its member’s lives and embrace their Judaism. CSI is also important in promoting relationships and understanding with non-Jewish congregations. Having served our community for over 140 years, Shearith Israel is experiencing very exciting growth and momentum in all facets that include but are not limited to its dynamic leadership at all levels, growing membership, significant religious school enrollment, proactive programing, and generous support from our congregation. CSI is proud to be run by a cohesive group of leaders, Congregants, and staff - some with significant tenure.
Opportunity
With an annual campaign close to $1 million and an endowment at more than $10 million and actively growing, CSI is positioned to deepen our culture of philanthropy with the addition of its first ever full-time staff member exclusively devoted to stewardship. The Director of Development (DOD) will learn all aspects of the Synagogue’s activities and operations and will evaluate, create, lead, and implement all fundraising plans and activities for the Synagogue and its Foundation. The DOD will develop and implement comprehensive plans, goals, and cultivate relationships with Congregants with gifting capacity balanced among all size levels with particular focus directed to sizeable gifting that encompasses immediate, testamentary, and planned giving. Maintaining and growing relationships are imperative to establishing ongoing continuity and success.
The DOD will report to the Chief Operating Officer while cultivating collaborative relationships with the Foundation and CSI Leadership and Clergy to develop and execute strategic and tactical fundraising plans. As an integral part of CSI, the DOD will attend CSI and Foundation Board meetings. The DOD will develop, execute, and track Congregant relationships and stewarding and evaluate the results, including donor communication, recognition and giving-level programs and activities.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
Operational
- Work closely with CSI and the Foundation to define and execute clear goals to create a strong future vision while building and managing relationships with Synagogue and Foundation leaders
- Produce actionable plans to support the strategic and tactical fund-raising initiatives
- Serve as a proactive liaison for CSI and Foundation Boards and Committees
- Work with Foundation to develop and maintain Foundation policies, procedures, records, endowment fund agreements, documents, etc. to be stored and administered at the Synagogue
- Develop and manage strategic and daily budgets and objectives with CSI finance department
Stewardship of Donor Relationships
- Establish and implement gifting strategies tailored for all categories of Congregants
- Develop relationship(s) with Congregants with recommendations on gifting programs and opportunities
- Develop, propose, and implement ongoing donor engagement and recognition programs to enhance and strengthen relationships with donors of all levels
- Create communications strategies that aid the leadership with donors of all levels
- Research, install, and manage Donor Management Software
Development & Revenue Strategy
- Develop and implement long and shorter - term fundraising strategies with defined goals
- Build and maintain an active pipeline of potential donors
- Synthesize and summarize prospect information clearly and concisely for leadership
- Identify and manage grant opportunities to increase funding, overseeing the writing and submission of grant proposals and reports
Marketing & Public Relations
- Lead the communication effort and strategies to advance leadership and Congregant awareness of CSI and Foundation gifting
- Collaborate with communications department to align marketing strategies to expand and enhance the shared presence and image of the Foundation and CSI
- Educate and engage congregants in opportunities to express their Jewish values through philanthropy to CSI and the CSI Foundation; steward and solicit gifts in partnership with professional and lay leadership
- Coordinate and maintain a working knowledge of policies and procedures to assist CSI & the Foundation
Required Experience, Skills, and Abilities
- Bachelor’s degree in philanthropy, marketing, non-profit management, business management, communications, or related field
- At least five (5) years of experience in development and fundraising
- Strong leadership, management, and people skills
- Dedicated, professional worth ethic
- Unwavering dedication to handling confidential information with discretion
- Demonstrated excellence in building relationships
- Ability to engage and motivate others to achieve goals
- Inherent desire to roll up one’s sleeves daily and become a part of the mix while having fun
- Ability to think strategically, tactically, and intertwine the two
- Demonstrated excellence in building relationships
- Proven success in soliciting and stewarding major gifts
- Experience in event planning and implementation
- Ability to interpret policies, procedures, and data with an eye for detail
- Highly detailed and able to manage multiple projects with deadlines simultaneously
- Superior verbal and written communication skills
- Proven experience in writing proposals, grant applications, and securing institutional funding
- Strong working knowledge of database management, Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint and donor management software
Other Qualifications
- Commitment to the community served by Congregation Shearith Israel
- Represent Shearith in a positive, professional manner
- Knowledge of the Dallas Jewish philanthropic community preferred
- Familiarity with Judaism and/or eagerness to learn
Shearith offers a competitive salary and benefits package with bonus opportunities.
