Director of Advacement

Spirit League; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Wilshire Boulevard Temple seeks a Director of Advancement to lead its annual giving, mid-level and major donor programs. The role oversees the Annual Fund, donor appeals, and portfolio management, partnering with senior leadership to grow planned giving and endowments.

The Director supervises two Associate Directors and collaborates with Clergy, Membership, Communications, and Accounting. The position offers a flexible, hybrid schedule and a dynamic, mission-driven environment at a historic Los

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years in nonprofit development with 3+ years supervising fundraising staff.
• Experience leading multi-channel annual campaigns and growing mid-level/recurring giving.
• Proven ability to directly close major gifts and manage donor portfolios.

Responsibilities

• Develop annual fundraising plan with clear revenue goals and benchmarks.
• Maintain donor portfolio assignments and moves management processes.
• Oversee Annual Fund, mid-level, and major donor programs; coordinate with Clergy, Membership, and Communications.
• Lead development events with fundraising goals and measurable ROI.
• Prepare Clergy and volunteers for advancement meetings; report to Advancement Committee and Board.

Skills

Donor portfolio management

Major gift solicitations

Strategic fundraising

Portfolio planning

Team leadership

Relationship building

Communication and influence

Data-driven fundraising

Integrity and judgment

Operational excellence

Adaptability and initiative

Mission alignment

Education

Bachelor’s degree

CFRE or advanced degree preferred

Job description

Position Overview

Founded in 1862, Wilshire Boulevard Temple is the oldest Jewish congregation in Los Angeles and a preeminent pillar of Jewish life in the United States. For more than 160 years, the Temple has served as a spiritual home, a civic landmark, and a vital cornerstone for Southern California. Today it is a multi-campus institution encompassing schools, summer camps, social services, and cultural programming, operating at the intersection of spiritual leadership, community building, education, and public impact.

Wilshire Boulevard Temple seeks a Director of Advancement to lead the Temple’s annual giving, mid-level, and major donor programs to strengthen the operational foundation of the development department during a period of growth and transformation. The Director owns the Annual (Temple) Fund, appeals, member-to-donor conversion, and a portfolio of mid-level and major donors; builds the Temple’s donor portfolio and prospect management system; and partners with the Chief Engagement and Advancement Officer to grow planned giving and endowments. The Director also supervises the department’s two Associate Directors and may supervise other professionals.

Reporting to the Chief Engagement and Advancement Officer, the Director works closely with the Clergy, the Advancement Committee, and colleagues in Membership, Communications, Information Systems, and Accounting. This is an exceptional opportunity for an accomplished development professional to help shape the future of one of the country’s most historic and respected Jewish institutions. The position offers a flexible, hybrid schedule.

Duties and Responsibilities

Annual Giving and Fundraising

• Build and manage a portfolio of mid-level and major donors, with emphasis on prospects capable of gifts of $25K+, using prospect research to qualify new prospects and grow giving.
• Lead the Annual (Temple) Fund across the full donor lifecycle (cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship), including appeals, direct mail, and digital giving campaigns, partnering with Communications on messaging and creative.
• Design and drive member-to-donor conversion strategies in partnership with Membership.
• Work in partnership with the advancement team to identify, cultivate, and solicit major and principal donor prospects.
• Build and grow planned giving and endowments with the Chief Engagement and Advancement Officer.
• Oversee grant opportunities, proposals, and reports.
• Oversee development events and cultivation gatherings, ensuring each has clear fundraising goals, strong donor engagement, and a measurable return on investment.
• Work with the team to brief and prepare Clergy and lay leaders for advancement meetings and appearances; engage Advancement Committee members as effective partners in outreach, cultivation, and solicitation; and attend and report at committee and Board meetings as requested.

Strategy and Planning

• Develop an annual fundraising plan with clear revenue goals, benchmarks, and evaluation tools, and report progress to the Chief Engagement and Advancement Officer and the Advancement Committee.
• Develop and maintain donor portfolio assignments for the Chief Engagement and Advancement Officer, the Director, and Clergy, establishing a portfolio management process that includes prospect identification and ratings, moves management, regular portfolio reviews, and activity tracking in the database.
• Set an annual calendar of cultivation activities and stewardship touchpoints for Temple Fund donors and major donor prospects, carried out in partnership with the Associate Director responsible for donor relations.
• Partner with the Chief Engagement and Advancement Officer and the Directors of Membership and Marketing/Communications to align engagement strategies and deliver a cohesive experience for stakeholders.
• Collaborate with senior leadership and Clergy to ensure fundraising priorities and messaging support the broader mission of the Temple’s schools, camps, and programs.
• Implement strategic planning recommendations to enhance the annual campaign.

Team Leadership and Supervision

• Supervise, mentor, and develop the two Associate Directors, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Champion a culture of philanthropy across staff, Clergy, and lay leadership.
• Ensure every development function has a clear process and documented standard.
• Provide oversight of prospect research and monthly giving.
• Set annual goals with each direct report, hold regular one-on-ones, and conduct performance reviews.

Development Operations, Data, and Systems

• Ensure gift coding, acknowledgments, tribute and benefit fulfillment, and pledge tracking are accurate and timely, coordinating with Accounting and Information Systems.
• Ensure gifts, pledges, and grant funds are managed in accordance with donor intent, Temple policy, and applicable regulatory and ethical standards.
• Participate in the Salesforce migration, ensuring the database supports data integrity, segmentation, and reporting.
• Use data analytics to drive segmentation, personalized outreach, and informed decision-making, and support the responsible adoption of AI-enabled donor engagement tools.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators for the development department, and track, forecast, and report fundraising results.
• Manage the development budget and external vendors and consultants supporting annual giving.

Professional Conduct

• Relationship Building: Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to establish trust and cultivate lasting relationships with donors, congregants, Clergy, lay leaders, colleagues, and community partners.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to translate institutional priorities into actionable fundraising strategies, establish meaningful goals, and evaluate results.
• Collaborative Leadership: Commitment to working across departments and campuses, fostering mutual respect, shared accountability, and a unified organizational culture.
• Emotional Intelligence: Demonstrated empathy, discretion, self-awareness, and sensitivity in navigating complex relationships, competing priorities, and challenging conversations.
• Integrity and Judgment: Unwavering commitment to ethical fundraising practices, confidentiality, responsible stewardship, and sound professional judgment.
• Communication and Influence: Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to articulate compelling philanthropic opportunities and inspire others to participate.
• Operational Excellence: Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, effective prioritization, and the ability to balance strategic initiatives with day-to-day responsibilities.
• Adaptability and Initiative: Intellectual curiosity, openness to innovation, willingness to challenge established practices constructively, and commitment to continuous professional growth.
• Mission Alignment: Genuine enthusiasm for the Temple's mission and a commitment to supporting a welcoming, inclusive, and vibrant Jewish community.

Qualifications and Experience

• Experience: Minimum of 5 years in nonprofit development, with at least 3 years supervising fundraising staff and a proven record of meeting significant revenue goals.
• Fundraising: Demonstrated success leading multi-channel annual campaigns, growing mid-level and recurring giving, and personally closing major gifts.
• Portfolio Management: Experience building and managing donor portfolios and a moves-management process, including prospect qualification and regular portfolio review.
• Planned Giving: Working knowledge of planned giving vehicles and endowment building; experience growing a legacy society a plus.
• Operations: Experience building or managing gift processing, acknowledgment, and stewardship systems, with a strong eye for detail and follow-through.
• Communication: Excellent writing and speaking skills; the ability to translate institutional needs into case-for-support messaging that inspires action.
• Cultural Competency: Deep understanding of Jewish traditions, communal values, and the rhythms of the Jewish calendar.
• Technical Literacy: Proficiency with donor CRM systems (Salesforce strongly preferred) and an interest in emerging AI tools for philanthropy.
• Confidentiality: Discretion and professionalism in handling confidential donor and congregant information.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree required; CFRE or advanced degree preferred.
• Preferred: Experience within a large synagogue, Jewish communal organization, or complex multi-campus institution (e.g., university or hospital), and familiarity with the Los Angeles philanthropic landscape and Jewish civic ecosystem.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work environment: Work will be performed in an office, education, and religious environment, catering/event spaces, kitchens, and in communities served. The physical arrangement of the office may require the position to work in an open environment within close proximity to other colleagues. Workspace must be organized and reflect efficiency. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.
• Schedule: This position offers a flexible schedule, including the ability to work remotely on a regular basis. Regular on-site presence is expected for team meetings, donor and Clergy meetings, High Holidays, and Temple events, some of which take place on evenings and weekends.