Director of Advancement - JCDS

Director of Advancement Position Description

Jewish Community Day School of Greater New Orleans (www.jcdsnola.org) is seeking a dynamic, strategic, and community-minded Director of Advancement to lead our philanthropic, fundraising, and communication efforts. As a key member of the leadership team, the Director of Advancement will be responsible for designing and executing a comprehensive strategy to enhance the school’s visibility, foster deep communal roots, and secure the financial resources necessary to provide an exceptional  Jewish education. This is a unique "hybrid" role ideal for a storyteller who understands that in a small school, fundraising and communication are two sides of the same coin.

The Director of Advancement should be committed to promoting JCDS specifically and Jewish education generally, understanding our school’s history, attracting supporters committed to the school’s mission, and keeping the larger community informed about the operation and successes of the school.  This candidate should be engaging, highly organized, and analytical with exceptional communication skills.  The Director of Advancement will proactively identify sources of funding in support of Jewish Community Day School’s priorities and participate in outreach to prospective funders as well as foundations and organizations. This position also plans, manages, and executes the School’s annual

Jazz Brunch, supports the annual Brisket, Babka, & Beats fundraiser with the Shaya Barnett Foundation, and runs our annual GiveNOLA Day campaign. Other responsibilities include working with volunteer leadership for maximum impact, supporting school events, and coordinating alumni relations and programming.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the development and implementation of annual multi-year development goals and strategies for all sources of philanthropic support by becoming familiar with the JCDS long-term strategic development plan;
• Support Development Committee Chair;
• Support volunteer relationship managers to increase the major donor base and fundraising efforts through outreach and building relationships, including face-to-face meetings, solicitations, telephone contact, and follow-up;
• Manage the donor database, including  data entry and gift processing;
• Work closely with the JCDS Director of  Business and Operations, Development Chair, and Head of School, sharing all necessary information, adhering to budgetary constraints, and developing and monitoring revenue projections for contributed income;
• Effectively communicate goals and processes to Head of School and Board of Trustees;
• As part of the school’s senior leadership team, play a major role in determining and facilitating strategic priorities and monitoring the budget and resources of the school’s financial resource development efforts;
• Forge relationships to cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts from a personal portfolio of major donors and prospects, and guide relationships of the Head of School to do the same;
• Ensure consistent branding and messaging throughout the organization for all programs and agency communication, including high-quality fundraising deliverables: appeals, case statements, brochures, proposals, and grant applications;
• Establish and accomplish clear goals and objectives with measurable outcomes;
• Create and execute a communications  plan that regularly and positively places the school in the forefront of the community;
• Develop knowledge of best practices and market trends for the competitive education landscape of our area.
• Partner with leadership team, including the Director of Admissions, to develop strategic donor communications, including constituency-based key messages and the case for support;
• Serve as Advancement staff liaison to Board of Trustees;
• Collect and count monies for fundraisers, fees and other activities; prepare and make bank deposits; create and submit reports as directed;
• Serve as visible ambassador for the school in the community;
• Facilitate and support a convivial and collaborative professional environment;
• As part of Leadership Team, responsible for oversight of common spaces for appearance and functionality;
• Participate in all school events and Board meetings;
• Maintain confidentiality of information regarding students, families, staff, and donors;
• Any other duties as assigned by Head of School.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree;
• Either established relationships within the Jewish community of Greater New Orleans or a willingness to actively develop those relationships;
• Experience in education and/or in the Jewish nonprofit world preferred;
• Basic understanding of independent school operations;
• Willingness to attend community events outside of school hours;
• Strong interpersonal, presentation, networking, and communication (oral and written) skills;
• Ability to be highly confidential in handling sensitive personal and institutional knowledge;
• Self-starter who has the capacity to plan, execute, and evaluate enrollment plans;
• Proficiency with a Google apps environment and the ability to learn new computer applications;
• Proficiency with social media applications (currently Facebook and Instagram);
• Marketing experience is desirable.

Interested applicants should email Head of School Brad Philipson at bphilipson@jcdsnola.org.

JCDS considers all applicants for employment and admission without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, citizenship, or any other protected status.