Director of Development

Position: Director of Development
Organization: Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston
Location: Boston, MA (Hybrid)

About the Organization:
The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston (www.jcrcboston.org) is a leading voice and convener of the Greater Boston Jewish community. We build relationships, foster understanding, and mobilize partnerships to address the issues that matter most to our community and the broader society.
Through our work in combating antisemitism, advancing educational initiatives, building civic and interfaith partnerships, and strengthening connections with Israel, JCRC brings people and organizations together to create meaningful and lasting impact.
With an annual budget approaching $3 million, JCRC's work is made possible through philanthropic investment, with approximately two-thirds of funding coming from institutional and foundation support and one-third from individual contributions. As JCRC enters an exciting period of strategic growth, we are focused on expanding and diversifying our philanthropic community, strengthening individual giving, and building a sustainable funding model that will support our mission and impact for years to come.

Overview:
JCRC is seeking a dynamic, relationship-oriented Director of Development to help grow and strengthen our philanthropic community.
This is an exciting opportunity for a development professional who loves connecting with people, believes in the power of relationships, and is energized by the opportunity to build something.
Working closely with the Chief of Strategy and Impact, the Director of Development will be an active contributor to JCRC's fundraising strategy and will play a central role in expanding our individual giving program. A particular focus will be identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding new and emerging donors, including individuals who have not historically been part of JCRC's philanthropic community.
The Director will also help shape how JCRC engages and communicates with its donors, developing thoughtful strategies that connect supporters to the organization's work, demonstrate impact, and inspire increased philanthropic investment.
The ideal candidate is both a strategic thinker and an enthusiastic doer. They can see the big picture while taking ownership of the daily relationship-building and follow-through necessary to achieve ambitious fundraising goals.
This is a role for someone who is ready to grow professionally, contribute ideas, develop meaningful donor relationships, and help shape the future of philanthropy at JCRC.

Qualifications:
- Minimum of 5 years of professional fundraising or development experience, ideally including individual giving, donor cultivation, and direct solicitation.
- Experience developing donor communications, fundraising appeals, or other philanthropic engagement strategies.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to connect authentically with individuals from varied backgrounds and interests.
- An entrepreneurial mindset, with the confidence and initiative to identify opportunities, build relationships, and move ideas into action.
- Ability to think strategically while independently managing priorities, relationships, and follow-through.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex issues into compelling and accessible philanthropic opportunities.
- Comfort making direct fundraising asks and engaging donors in conversations about meaningful financial commitments.
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and experience using donor databases or CRM systems.
- A collaborative and flexible approach, with enthusiasm for working across teams and alongside organizational and volunteer leadership.
- Interest in JCRC's mission, Jewish communal life, and the issues facing the Greater Boston Jewish community.
- Knowledge of the Greater Boston philanthropic or Jewish communal landscape is a plus but not required. We welcome candidates who bring relevant relationships, fresh perspectives, and experience from other mission-driven organizations.

Key Responsibilities:
Donor Cultivation and Portfolio Growth
- Build and manage a growing portfolio of individual donors and prospects, with particular emphasis on new donors, emerging philanthropists, and individuals beyond JCRC's traditional donor base.
- Proactively identify and qualify prospective supporters, developing individualized strategies to introduce them to JCRC's mission and impact.
- Cultivate authentic, long-term relationships through personal outreach, one-on-one meetings, meaningful engagement opportunities, and thoughtful stewardship.
- Build a consistent pipeline of prospective donors, ensuring strong follow-through and measurable progress from initial engagement through solicitation and stewardship.
Fundraising Strategy and Implementation
- Identify opportunities to connect JCRC's programs, public presence, and community relationships with philanthropic engagement.
- Collaborate on annual giving initiatives, special campaigns, fundraising events, and other development efforts.
- Monitor portfolio performance, donor engagement, and fundraising progress, using data to refine strategies and strengthen results.
Donor Communications and Engagement Strategy
- Partner with the Marketing team to plan and execute fundraising appeals, donor engagement campaigns, and other philanthropic communications.
- Oversee donor-focused newsletters and regular communications, ensuring supporters receive timely, meaningful updates about JCRC's work, impact, and opportunities for engagement.
- Guide the development of donor-facing materials, including solicitation proposals, impact reports, case statements, and other cultivation and stewardship collateral.
- Ensure donor communications are aligned with JCRC's broader organizational messaging while reflecting the distinct goals and priorities of the development strategy.

Salary:
$100,000

Note:
This is a permanent, hybrid position.