Development Officer - Community Engagement

Development Officer

Position Overview

The Development Officer will spearhead outreach to create new fundraising channels for the organization as well as partner with JDC's development team to play a role in advancing new fundraising campaigns. We are seeking an entrepreneurial Development Officer to build and grow a new fundraising channel from the ground up, engaging Jewish schools, synagogues, and community organizations across New York and beyond. If you're energized by building something new, love working with people, and want your work to have real-world impact, this role offers both ownership and purpose.

This role blends relationship-building, campaign organization, event planning, donor engagement, and solicitation of small to mid-level gifts. The successful candidate will be a self-starter who thrives on forging new partnerships, inspiring community involvement, and has compelling storytelling skills. You'll join a passionate, mission-driven team and be empowered to build meaningful connections that make a real difference.

Thinking about applying?

Frequently cited statistics show that certain applicants may hesitate to apply for positions due to a false perception that they must meet 100% of the qualifications. We encourage you to apply if you meet a majority of the requirements. We look forward to your application.

What will you do as a Development Officer?

Community Outreach & Awareness

• Develop and implement a targeted outreach strategy to introduce our work and build a strong donor pipeline in this untapped sector
• Lead efforts to increase awareness and fundraising for JDC's mission and impact within Jewish schools, synagogues, youth groups, and community organizations
• Identify, cultivate, and solicit small to mid-level gifts from individuals, schools, synagogues, and community organizations within the Jewish community in New York and expanding nationally over time
• Plan and execute events, educational presentations, and engagement opportunities to increase awareness and support for our mission
• Represent the organization at community events, meetings, and relevant forums

Campaign & Initiative Support

• Play a role in the development and execution of new fundraising campaigns
• Partner with the Campaign Director and broader Resource Development team to align outreach strategies with campaign goals
• Manage a portfolio of prospects and donors, tracking engagement, pledges, and follow-up
• Liaise with different stakeholders (professional and lay) across the organization to ensure alignment and success of the campaign (legal, finance, marcom etc)
• Project manage the different campaign components to ensure success

What qualifications are required to be our Development Officer?

• 5–7 years of experience in fundraising, community relations, or a related field, with proven success in donor engagement or community outreach
• Strong knowledge of and connections within the Jewish community in the New York area (schools, synagogues, and/or community networks preferred)
• Ability to navigate Jewish spaces, across cultures and dominations
• Excellent relationship building, listening, communication, and public speaking skills, with the ability to inspire and engage diverse audiences
• Proactivity, entrepreneurialism, and resourcefulness
• Comfortable working both independently and within a team; ability to work cross-functionally with staff at all levels
• Highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Passion for the work of JDC and global Jewish

Additional Preferred Skills and Competencies:

• Experience in event planning and/or grassroots fundraising campaigns.
• Familiarity with donor database systems (e.g., Raiser's Edge, Salesforce, or similar CRMs)
• Familiarity with Israel and global Jewry

Additional Details

• Employment Type: Full-time
• Hours: 35 hours/week, 8:45 AM – 4:45PM with a 1-hour lunch break
• Location: Hybrid from New York, NY in office Tuesdays and Thursdays
• Reports to: Senior Development Officer
• Job Function/Department: Resource Development
• Other: Day-to-day travel within the New York Metro Area required; Some travel across the east coast and nationally anticipated