Development Officer - Community Engagement

American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% paid medical and dental insurance

20 vacation days, 20 sick days, 3 personal days

12 weeks of paid parental leave

403(b) with employer contributions

Commuter benefits

Food perks: Bagel Thursdays

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee seeks a Development Officer for Community Engagement in New York. This full-time role focuses on outreach to Jewish schools, synagogues, and organizations to create a new fundraising channel. The ideal candidate will have 4-6 years of experience in fundraising with strong ties to the Jewish community, excellent communication skills, and a proactive approach. The position offers a salary of $80,000-$90,000 per year, a hybrid work schedule, and a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Experience in community outreach and donor engagement.
• Strong connections within the Jewish community preferred.
• Excellent relationship building and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement outreach strategy to build donor pipeline.
• Identify and solicit small to mid-level gifts.
• Plan and execute events to support organizational mission.

Skills

Fundraising

Community relations

Public speaking

Event planning

Networking

Education

4-6 years of experience in fundraising or related field

Tools

Raiser’s Edge

Salesforce

Job description

Development Officer - Community Engagement

• RD/External Relations/Fundraising
• New York, NY
• Intermediate
• Full-time

Description

The Development Officer will spearhead outreach to Jewish schools, synagogues, and community organizations in the East Coast with the goal to grow outreach nationally, creating a new fundraising channel for the organization. This role blends relationship-building, 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 compelling storytelling skills.

This is a unique opportunity to shape a brand-new fundraising channel and leave a lasting imprint on the growth of our organization. You’ll join a passionate, mission-driven team and be empowered to build meaningful connections that make a real difference.

What will you do as a Development Officer?

• Develop and implement a targeted outreach strategy to introduce our work and build a strong donor pipeline in this untapped sector
• 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
• Manage a portfolio of prospects and donors, tracking engagement, pledges, and follow-up
• Plan and execute events and presentations to increase awareness and support for our mission
• Build and Strengthen partnerships with community leaders, clergy, and educators
• Work closely with the Senior Development Officer and development team to align strategies and leverage best practices
• Represent the organization at community events, meetings, and relevant forums

What qualifications are required to be our Development Officer?

• 4–6 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 (schools, synagogues, and/or community networks preferred)
• 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 on one’s own 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
• Interest in fundraising, curiosity, and a learning/growth mindset
• Passion for the work of JDC and global Jewish issues
• Willingness to travel within the New York area and across the East Coast initially and then across the United States as the role evolves.

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)

Additional Details

• Employment Type: Full-time
• Hours: 35 hours/week, 8:45 AM – 4:45 PM 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
• Day-to-day travel within the New York Metro Area required; Some travel across the east coast and nationally anticipated

What are the compensation and benefits for a Development Officer?

This is a full-time position paid semi-monthly at a salary of $80,000-$90,000 per year; in determining where a candidate falls in that range JDC considers several factors, including skills and experience, internal equity, and cost of living in location of work. This role is exempt per the FLSA.

We offer an excellent benefits package, including but not limited to:

• 100% paid medical and dental insurance for employee coverage
• Paid time off, including 20 vacation days, 20 sick days, 3 personal days, 10 national holidays, and up to 14 Jewish holidays depending on the Jewish calendar for any given year
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave for full-time staff who have worked with JDC for at least 1 year
• 403(b) with JDC contributions of 6.5% of salary
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), commuter benefits, and life insurance
• Learning & Development: Ongoing opportunities for professional development through workshops and trainings with our internal L&D program
• Food Perks: Bagel Thursdays and beverages/snacks in the office for on-site and hybrid employees

Equal Employment Opportunity

JDC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. As the world’s leading global Jewish humanitarian organization, we are committed to treating people with compassion and respect. All qualified applications will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, reproductive health decision-making, marital status, height, weight, disability, mental disorder, familial status, veteran status, genetic information, AIDS/HIV-positive status, victim of domestic violence, sex offenses or stalking, or any other protected characteristic as established by law.