Position Summary The Director of Development is a senior leader responsible for designing and executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy to support capital completion, endowment growth, and sustainable annual operations for AZJHS and HFHEC.
This role requires a strategic relationship builder who understands that philanthropy is not transactional - it is mission-driven. The Director of Development will partner closely with the President and CEO and Board of Directors to secure transformational gifts, steward major donors, and build a culture of philanthropy that reflects the moral urgency of Holocaust education.
Reporting directly to the President and CEO, the Director of Development will lead capital campaign strategy, major gifts, foundation and corporate engagement, annual giving, and development operations.
Strategic Leadership & Capital Campaign - Partner with the President and CEO to achieve multi-year capital and endowment goals.
- Lead strategy for principal and major gifts ($50,000+), including identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
- Provide strategic guidance to the Board on fundraising priorities and campaign progress.
- Develop campaign messaging and case materials aligned with HFHEC's mission and vision.
- Build long-term sustainability plans beyond the 2027 opening.
Major Gifts & Donor Relationships - Manage and grow a portfolio of high-capacity individual donors and prospects.
- Design personalized engagement strategies for major and principal gift prospects.
- Oversee naming opportunities and donor recognition strategies.
- Ensure thoughtful stewardship that reflects the dignity and seriousness of the mission.
Foundation & Corporate Engagement - Identify and pursue foundation and corporate funding aligned with education, security, civic engagement, and capital priorities.
- Oversee grant proposal development and reporting.
- Cultivate long-term institutional partnerships.
Annual Fund & Community Campaigns - Develop annual giving strategies to broaden donor participation.
- Lead community-based fundraising initiatives and special campaigns.
- Strengthen donor retention and pipeline development systems.
Development Operations & Infrastructure - Oversee donor database (CRM) integrity and reporting systems.
- Establish performance metrics and dashboard reporting for leadership and board review.
- Ensure compliance with nonprofit best practices and ethical fundraising standards.
- Build internal development systems scalable for long-term growth.
Team Leadership - Supervise development staff and consultants.
- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and mission alignment.
- Work cross-departmentally with Education, Marketing, and Operations to align fundraising and programmatic priorities.
Qualifications - 8-12 years of nonprofit development experience, preferably within a cultural, educational, or mission-driven institution.
- Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred in nonprofit management, philanthropy, business administration, public administration, communications, Jewish studies, history, or related field; CFRE credential a plus.
- Demonstrated success securing six- and seven-figure gifts.
- Capital campaign experience strongly preferred.
- Exceptional relationship management and communication skills.
- Strategic thinker with entrepreneurial mindset suited for a growing institution.
- Deep respect for Holocaust history and the ethical responsibilities of this work.
