Foundations and Family Philanthropy Officer

POSITION SUMMARY

The Foundations and Family Philanthropy Officer position requires a dynamic individual with exceptional relationship and communication skills, strategic thinking abilities, and a deep understanding of the Jewish philanthropic landscape, including familiarity with Jewish communal organizations and funding priorities.

This position includes two major components, which are often interrelated:

Foundation Manager: Assisting in the management, stewardship and grantmaking of 10-15 supporting foundations, with the expectation that over the next 1-2 years, s/he moves into the role of primary foundation manager for several of them. This role includes providing day-to-day management and strategic support while ensuring effective governance, grantmaking, and stewardship across generations of a family (when relevant). Stewardship will span varied activities and connections, from exploring grantmaking interest areas, first-time individual gifts to Federation, and through endowment/legacy development. The goal for all being a broader and deeper involvement with the community, Federation, and its agencies.

Development Officer: Secure campaign, supplemental, and planned gifts. Provide donor stewardship/development for those associated with the foundations as well as others as assigned. This position will include an annual campaign assignment.

This position is full-time and reports to the Senior Director, Foundations and Family Philanthropy.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Foundation Manager:

• Manage the foundation grantmaking cycle from opportunity identification through grant consideration, approval, notification, and stewardship.
• Help trustees and families evaluate grant opportunities in the context of the foundation's mission, values, history, and philanthropic priorities.
• Prepare grant materials, research, recommendations, and background information for foundation trustees.
• Facilitate thoughtful discussions that enable trustees to make informed and strategic grantmaking decisions.
• Track grant commitments and ensure effective communication and follow-through with grantees.
• Identify opportunities to deepen the foundation's impact through strategic partnerships, collaborative grantmaking, and engagement beyond financial support.
• Coordinate and prepare for foundation board and committee meetings, including agendas, meeting materials, minutes, action items, and follow-up.
• Partner with foundation leadership to establish meeting calendars, annual work plans, and priorities.
• Maintain accurate foundation records, governing documents, and policies.
• Ensure that foundation activities are conducted in accordance with applicable governing documents, organizational policies, and fiduciary responsibilities.
• Support trustees in understanding their roles and responsibilities and provide information necessary for thoughtful decision-making.
• Connect families and trustees of foundations with the broader activities of the Federation including the annual campaign, events, missions and other engagement opportunities.
• Collaborate with finance department to ensure smooth operation of grant payments, investment allocations, and reporting.
• Learn and understand the intersection of, and maximization of, giving vehicles and sources such as donor advised funds, IRA funds and endowment funds, both independently and as they relate to supporting foundations.
• Develop comfort level with the use of multigenerational tools and dynamics to be used with families and adapted for other purposes.
• Attend Federation and other community events.
• Provide the highest level of customer service to community members.

Development Officer:

• Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit and steward multiple generations of foundation family members and others, taking into account their individual desires and interests as well as the community’s needs and priorities. Create customized solicitation strategies based on strategic objectives of the Federation and the interests of the donor. Secure gifts to the campaign, supplemental gifts, as well as secure legacy commitments.
• Serve as the staff liaison for each assigned donor prospect, ensuring that each donor development plan encompasses the broad spectrum of Federation activity and that each donor is provided with technical planning and fiscal support in the creation and implementation of their plans. Work collaboratively with other members of the Federation staff and lay leaders, Federation partner agencies and synagogues to ensure the best outcome for the donor and the community.
• Participate fully in the Federation’s annual Campaign for Jewish Needs and manage a portfolio of campaign prospects and campaigners.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Participate in ongoing professional development.
• Assist in all capacities as appropriate on behalf of Federation development (community building and fundraising) efforts, including the Federation’s annual campaign.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Personal Characteristics:

• Knowledge of Jewish community and culture
• Demonstrated experience working with high-capacity individuals, families, foundations, or volunteer leaders
• Ability to listen deeply, demonstrate curiosity, intuit meaning and reflect back
• Navigate complex family dynamics with discretion and sound judgment
• Sensitivity to different generational viewpoints
• Team player
• Emotional Intelligence
• Creative problem-solving skills, solution oriented
• Strong facilitation skills and the ability to create trust and openness among people with differing perspectives
• Good decision-making skills
• Organizational skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Grant proposal analysis
• Ability to meet deadlines

Education, Training and/or Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Master’s degree preferred
• 2-5 years of experience preferred

ABOUT THE FEDERATION

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland is the only organization in Cleveland that focuses on the health and vitality of the entire Jewish community. For more than 120 years, the Federation has created the critical scale necessary to drive meaningful social change and provide relief in times of crisis in ways no one person or organization could do alone. As Jewish Cleveland’s hub for innovative solutions and collaborative services, the Federation is able to change and improve lives in Cleveland, Israel, and around the world.