Director, Leadership & Engagement
Chicago, IL
Founded in 1906, AJC seeks to enhance the well-being of the Jewish people and Israel, and to advance human rights and democratic values in the United States and around the world. Among Jewish advocacy organizations, AJC is the leader in the global arena. We are known for our unparalleled access to diplomats, government officials, and faith leaders in more than 100 countries. In addition to our New York headquarters and Office of Government and International Affairs in Washington, D.C., AJC has offices across the United States and around the globe, and maintains partnerships with Jewish communities worldwide concerns of Jewish communities around the globe.
The Director, Leadership & Engagement (“DLE”) will be responsible for growing AJC Chicago’s base of annual donors and activists. The DLE will oversee all development efforts connected to AJC Chicago’s annual campaign including major gifts and individual giving, planned giving, lay leader development, working with family foundations, and developing relationships with major area synagogues. The DLE will continue AJC Chicago’s steep growth trajectory by continuing and building on existing best practices and developing and executing new ones.
The Director, Leadership & Engagement (“DLE”) does all of this while adhering to AJC’s core values: Respect, Teamwork, Integrity, Excellence, and Accountability.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Envision and implement a comprehensive plan for managing and growing an approximately $2M annual campaign (separate from honoree-based fundraising dinners) with goals of increasing the campaign at least 10% each year
- Coordinate efforts with the Regional Director and National Development office, as part of the AJC National Development Team, to increase focus on $25k+ annual major gifts and donor engagement in AJC’s advocacy;
- Develop and support a lay leader Committee to assist with development and increase lay leader engagement;
- Coordinate efforts with Director of Special Events to ensure maximum cooperation and synergy with AJC’s honoree dinners and Campaign Cabinet;
- Utilize all tools for an effective major gifts process including Donor Recognition societies, targeted parlor meetings, solicitation strategies, and moves management;
- Manage a growing portfolio of donors and solicit new and increased gifts from those donors including connecting donors with the right local and national opportunities, events, missions etc, and assisting in creating AJC’s leadership pipeline;
- Advise and support solicitation efforts of the AJC Chicago Regional Office Director;
- Manage, advise and support staff members focusing on aspects of the annual campaign, including Donor Recognition programs and ACCESS;
- Oversee planned giving and foundation initiatives including coordinating follow up with AJC’s national planned giving office, and identifying and enrolling planned giving and foundation prospects.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree required
- 5-7 years of fundraising experience that includes major donor management and direct solicitations
- Passion for AJC’s mission
- Goal-oriented campaign strategist who can create and execute a multi-faceted vision and plan for increased financial resource development results
- Self-starter who can work independently and collaborate with professional colleagues and volunteer leadership;
- Flexible and creative and strategic thinker able to develop new ways to engage potential and existing donors, create new giving opportunities and programs;
- Pride and professionalism in work accomplishments
- Strong organizational and time management skills
- Excellent written and verbal communications skills
- Ability to creatively and practically solve problems, to multi-task and work on many projects simultaneously
- Excellent project management skills, ability to manage data and develop, implement and oversee budget
- Availability occasionally outside of business hours for events, programs and meetings
- Proficiency in Raiser’s Edge and Microsoft Office, particularly Excel
AJC is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Please submit your application on: https://ajchr.wufoo.com/forms/director-leadership-engagement-chi-2017/