Development Director

Organization Description:

New York Solidarity Network (NYSN) is a New York-based 501(c)4 membership organization that works to promote the American alliance with Israel and the tight-knit relationship the majority of New Yorkers, including Jewish New Yorkers, have with Israel. NYSN’s members receive recommendations about how they can further advance our mission. NYSN is currently hiring for several positions. We are looking for individuals with professional experience and the skills to work collaboratively with existing staff, a team of seasoned operatives, consultants, and an active board of directors.

NYSN, founded in 2022, empowers elected and civil leaders while expressing solidarity with the Jewish community/Israel and creates a strong and sustainable donor network among our members to support the leaders, organizations, committees, and charities who align with our values.

NYSN makes numerous philanthropic recommendations to our members and provides an easy, accessible way to help pro-Israel voters and donors make an informed decision about who they would support in an election based on their values. New York’s primary elections are typically low turnout contests and are decided by incredibly small margins (less than a hundred votes in many cases), and this means even a small number of voters or donors or activists can make a tremendous impact.

Position Overview:

The Development Director is a senior leadership team position for NYSN that is responsible for managing the organization's fundraising efforts and relationships with donors, foundations, and donor advisors.

This position reports to the Executive Director. NYSN is based in New York City with the scope of work covering the entire state of New York.

Responsibilities

Fundraising

• Develop and manage annual fundraising strategy; including planning and executing fundraising events, engaging with funder cycles, and assessing strategy effectiveness, implementing revisions to improve outcomes at every opportunity.
• Plan and execute strategic fundraising efforts with a focus on building relationships with new and existing donors and foundations.
• Develop and execute a fundraising plan that includes individual donor development, with an emphasis on family offices and family foundation giving.
• Develop and execute a fundraising plan for Jewish and Community foundations.
• Develop and implement a pitch process for Board members and C-Suite prospects.
• Report fundraising results to key stakeholders, in collaboration with Executive Director and Chief of Staff.

Donor Relations

• Build and maintain relationships with donors, including former donors.
• Manage the implementation of the development donor database.
• Develop and manage donor recruitment, recognition, and stewardship processes that include Executive Director and Board participation.
• Identify foundations with compatible portfolios, develop relationships with program officers and directors, and manage the grant and funding application process.

Staff Management

• Engage in regular supervision of team members including regular check-ins, performance feedback, and corrective measures when necessary.
• Ensure staff meet performance metrics and adhere to budget.
• Actively participate in all staff meetings, retreats, and other activities as directed.
• Actively participate in leadership team meetings, working closely with the Executive Director and Chief of Staff to execute on public affairs priorities.

Qualifications

• A commitment to pro-Israel advocacy.
• A commitment to upholding the IHRA definition of antisemitism, including the bedrock principle of anti-Zionism falling into the category of antisemitic behavior.
• A firm understanding of the New York state and city political landscape.
• A minimum of 5 years nonprofit or political development office experience.
• Advocacy, political, or campaign finance experience is a plus.
• Proven track record of developing and implementing successful fundraising strategies.
• A strong understanding of current trends and the landscape for major donors, family foundations, and traditional foundations.
• High energy and enthusiasm.
• Expert working knowledge of Twitter/X and other social media.
• Ability to multitask, manage multiple projects, plan backward, anticipate obstacles, troubleshoot, and make smart judgment calls as needed in a fast-paced and changeable environment
• Ability to communicate effectively and to work both independently and collaboratively in both in-person and remote professional environments.