Regional Director, Washington DC

ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND

The New Israel Fund (NIF) protects and advances equality and liberal democracy in Israel. Long credited with seed-funding and founding progressive civil society in Israel, NIF now leads the fight for democratic institutions and a socially just society that is truly shared by every Israeli. Read more about NIF here.

PURPOSE

NIF seeks a talented, entrepreneurial, and creative fundraising professional to lead the effort to grow and reinforce NIF’s presence in the Washington DC region. The Regional Director is responsible for working with NIF’s existing donors in the region, reaching out to potential new sources of funding, and positioning the organization as the home for those seeking to advance democracy and equality in Israel.

Qualified candidates will have extensive experience in fundraising, including individual and major gift experience, and will have outstanding skills in communication and developing relationships relevant to the responsibilities of the position. They will also possess a deep understanding of NIF’s work and of Israeli progressive civil society and current issues facing the region.

NATURE AND SCOPE OF WORK

The Regional Director will craft and drive forward a strategy for growing the overall campaign and strengthening NIF’s presence in communities throughout the Washington DC Region. Stewarding the existing donor file and identifying and cultivating new major donor prospects is a primary focus. They will manage and develop local volunteers and will personally represent NIF in public settings, raising the organization’s profile and serving as a compelling point of personal contact for supporters, prospects, and organizational partners. The Regional Director is also responsible for spearheading efforts in the region to advance the Legacy Campaign, which encourages donors to include NIF in their estate plans.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop a comprehensive cultivation and fundraising plan for the region, with measurable goals for total revenue and number of donors
• Devise and carry out individualized engagement and fundraising plan for each donor giving $2,500 or more and select donors giving $1,000 or more
• Meet benchmarks for number of meetings (phone calls/zoom)
• Identify, cultivate, and solicit new major donor prospects of $25,000+
• Develop NIF’s presence and handle organizational relationships in key communities
• Execute an NIF event strategy in collaboration with NIF’s Public Engagement team and local volunteers, representing NIF in public for events
• Manage and strengthen volunteer Regional Council
• Prepare written materials, reports, and proposals for funding consideration
• Identify, cultivate, and help solicit prospects for endowment and legacy giving
• Handle donor servicing requests for information, background, and connecting to Israel’s social change community
• Contribute to development team efforts to build knowledge, strategize collectively, and seek and provide support and advice\
• Supervise and mentor the Development & Program Officer

REQUIREMENTS

The position requires a person with an outstanding understanding of contemporary Israel; a strategic thinker who sees the potential for NIF’s continued growth, who has an ability to communicate NIF’s mission in public fora, and who has experience working with and mobilizing volunteer leadership. The ideal candidate will be highly self-motivated, have strong written communication skills, have knowledge of and experience with progressive Jewish communities, and will have a minimum of 5 years relevant experience.

This position must be based in the Washington DC region.

REPORTING & SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIPS

This position reports to the Vice President of National Developments, and works closely with NIF’s Public Engagement, Communications, and Fundraising staff, and the NIF Executive Team.

The Regional Director will supervise the Development & Program Officer.