Associate Director, Institutional Advancement

Position Summary

The Associate Director, Institutional Advancement, is a key member of the Institutional Advancement team, serving as a pivotal writer in communications with individual and foundation donors that align with Birthright Israel Foundation's organizational messaging. The Associate Director will develop strategy, prepare grant proposals and reports, draft key written communication, and play an important role in the moves management of philanthropic foundations and principal gift-level individual donors. Additionally, this role will build strong relationships with regional fundraisers and both foundation and Federation professionals.

Organizational Overview

Birthright Israel began with a bold idea in 1999 — to offer young Jewish adults a life-changing trip to Israel to build their Jewish identity and, by doing so, transform the Jewish future. In turn, Birthright Israel Foundation was founded to raise the necessary funds in the United States to support this critical mission and to ensure that all young Jews have an opportunity to visit their ancestral homeland and forge a connection to their heritage that can last a lifetime. Since its founding, Birthright Israel has sent over 850,000 young adults on this transformational trip. Our work has become even more important in a post-October 7th world.

Location

• New York, NY (On-Site)

Reports To

• Associate VP, Institutional Giving
• Institutional Advancement

Compensation

• $90,000-$110,000
• FLSA: Exempt

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and develop key communications with major foundations and Jewish federations through report, proposal, and letter writing, taking a lead role in many complex grants.
• Partner with Institutional Advancement department team members and other national and regional fundraisers to effectively maintain grants and proposals to increase campaign revenue.
• Develop new written language and communication for the Institutional Advancement team in line with organizational messaging.
• Build and maintain relationships with foundation professionals and other advisors in partnership with national and regional fundraisers.
• Participate in growing the portfolio of professional foundations and principal giving donors, including the stewardship of high level donors, foundations, and other institutional giving partners, through written and verbal communication.
• Conduct prospect research on current and prospective foundations, and other high net worth donors and prospects.
• Liaise with management — including the CEO and the CFO — to create budgets and reports for grants and grant proposals.
• Mark and track institutional giving efforts through Salesforce (grants management).
• Create and customize reports in Salesforce.
• Support the AVP of Institutional Giving and VP of Institutional Advancement as requested.

Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum 5 years related work experience.
• Strong business writing, proposal writing, and editing skills, with the ability to adapt messaging to a range of audiences.
• Proficiency in CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce); ability to pull reports and present data in thoughtful and dynamic ways.
• Experience (or interest in learning) Generative AI integration with written communications and grant management processes.
• Knowledge of the Jewish communal landscape and the stakeholders in the Jewish/Israel private foundation and Federation world.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to effectively present information to major donors, foundation professionals, top management, and staff.
• Excellent attention to detail, responsiveness, and creative problem-solving skills.
• Skilled at multi-tasking; able to organize, manage, prioritize, and execute responsibilities in the face of conflicting priorities or unexpected situations.
• Superior professional presentation and interpersonal skills.
• Highly motivated and able to work independently while also supporting a team.
• Experience with the Microsoft Office suite of programs, including: Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Passion for the mission of Birthright Israel.