Philanthropic Advisor

CJP - Combined Jewish Philanthropies; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Professional development opportunities

Generous paid time off

Job summary

Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) seeks a Philanthropic Advisor to join its Philanthropic Strategies team as a frontline fundraiser focused on six-figure and above gifts, including $1M+ principal gifts. This role builds CJP’s pipeline and advances donor engagements for a comprehensive campaign.

The ideal candidate will manage a $250k+ donor portfolio, qualify new prospects, and collaborate with senior leadership to close significant gifts while growing the Donor Advised Fund program.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of development experience with frontline major gift portfolio management.
• Proven success soliciting and closing gifts at $100,000+ level and upgrading donors.
• Knowledge of Donor Advised Funds, planned giving, and gift planning.
• Familiarity with Jewish culture, values, and local nonprofit landscape.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of major gift donors and prospects at $250,000+ level, including principal gift prospects.
• Lead discovery, qualification, and pipeline development; participate in prospect management meetings.
• Independently solicit major gifts at $250,000+ and co-lead principal gift solicitations with senior leaders.
• Support the comprehensive campaign by advancing prospects toward commitments and developing solicitation strategies.
• Grow DAF usage and guide donors through gifts and giving vehicles with senior partners.
• Build relationships with donors and lay leaders, coordinate events, and deepen engagement.
• Collaborate across Philanthropic Strategies, Gift Planning, and Annual Campaign; no direct reports.

Skills

Major gift portfolio management

Prospect identification &qualification

Donor relations & stewardship

Strategic fundraising

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Brief Description

Passion. Purpose. Impact. CJP is at the heart of Greater Boston’s Jewish community, and our reach is felt around the world. The BBJ ranks CJP as Massachusetts’ largest nonprofit organization. As a philanthropic investor, CJP mobilizes people, resources, and skills to make a bigger difference locally and globally.

Brief Description

Passion. Purpose. Impact. CJP is at the heart of Greater Boston’s Jewish community, and our reach is felt around the world. The BBJ ranks CJP as Massachusetts’ largest nonprofit organization. As a philanthropic investor, CJP mobilizes people, resources, and skills to make a bigger difference locally and globally.
Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) seeks a Philanthropic Advisor to join its Philanthropic Strategies team as a frontline fundraiser focused on securing six-figure and above gifts, including principal gifts of $1M+. This role combines principal gift work with growing CJP’s pipeline of $250,000+ donors, soliciting select principal gift prospects, qualifying new high-capacity prospects, moving engaged donors to their first major or campaign commitment, and helping donors use CJP’s Donor Advised Fund to grow their giving. The ideal candidate is an accomplished major gift officer with a strong record of closing six-figure and above gifts who is ready to take on larger, more complex commitments as part of CJP’s comprehensive campaign.

About The Opportunity

The Philanthropic Advisor manages a portfolio of major gift donors and prospects at the $250,000+ level and works closely with the VP, Philanthropic Strategies, the Gift Planning and Annual Campaign teams, lay leaders, and the broader development team. The role blends principal gift work with pipeline building: stewarding and soliciting a select group of principal gift prospects, while discovering and qualifying new prospects and deepening relationships with donors who are poised to make significant gifts. The role offers direct exposure to campaign-level fundraising, close collaboration with senior leadership and lay leaders, and a clear path for professional growth.

Essential Functions

• Major Gift Portfolio Management Manage a defined portfolio of approximately 125-150 major gift donors and prospects, including principal gift prospects ($1M+) alongside a meaningful share of newly identified and not-yet-qualified prospects. The expectation is 12-15 meaningful donor contacts per month, with an emphasis on in-person visits. Maintain complete and timely records of all donor interactions in CJP’s CRM system.
• Discovery & Qualification Lead discovery outreach to unassigned and newly identified high-capacity prospects, including referrals from research, lay leaders, and the DAF program. Assess capacity, inclination, and interests; qualify or disqualify prospects promptly; and bring qualified prospects into active cultivation. Participate actively in prospect management meetings and contribute to pipeline development.
• Cultivation, Solicitation & Stewardship Develop and carry out individualized strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward each donor in the portfolio. Independently solicit major gifts at the $250,000+ level, and lead or co-lead principal gift solicitations in partnership with the VP, Philanthropic Strategies, the CEO, and top volunteers. Connect donors with CJP leadership, program staff, and lay leaders, and help plan events, missions, and engagement opportunities that deepen involvement.
• Comprehensive Campaign Support Serve as a frontline fundraiser in CJP’s comprehensive campaign, a 5-7 year effort to strengthen and expand Jewish communal life locally, in Israel, and around the world. Working within the campaign strategy set by the Chief Philanthropy Officer and campaign leadership, the Philanthropic Advisor will:

• Advance assigned prospects toward first-time, upgraded, and principal-level campaign commitments
• Develop solicitation strategies, briefings, and proposals for assigned major and principal gift prospects
• Steward campaign donors so they remain engaged long-term partners in CJP’s vision
• Donor Upgrade Partnership with Annual Campaign Partner with the Annual Campaign team to identify leadership annual donors with major gift potential and manage a thoughtful transition into integrated major gift relationships, ensuring each donor’s annual commitment is protected and grown alongside any campaign, endowment, or DAF gift.
• Donor Advised Fund Growth & Philanthropic Counsel Serve as a resource for donors exploring CJP’s Donor Advised Fund, guiding them through establishing, funding, and strategically using their DAF. Identify donors who are strong candidates to open a DAF or make greater use of an existing one. Introduce donors to the full range of giving vehicles, including annual campaign commitments, endowment funds, DAFs, and planned gifts, and partner with the AVP, Gift Planning on planned and blended gifts and gifts of appreciated assets.
• Jewish Community Knowledge & Donor Engagement Build a working knowledge of the Jewish organizations, agencies, and programs across CJP’s service area. Share information, arrange introductions and site visits, and help donors, including DAF participants, connect their values with the work of community partners.
• Volunteer Engagement Support volunteer solicitors and staff fundraising committees as assigned. Build relationships between prospects and CJP trustees, campaign volunteers, and other lay leaders.
• Team Contribution Contribute to planning for the major gifts program, share pipeline insights with the team, and collaborate closely with colleagues across Philanthropic Strategies. This role has no direct reports.
• Other duties as assigned with or without accommodation.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred
• 5-7 years of development experience, including at least 3 years of frontline major gift portfolio management
• Demonstrated success soliciting and closing gifts at the $100,000 level and above, with a record of upgrading donors to larger commitments
• Experience with discovery and qualification of new prospects and building a pipeline from the ground up
• Working knowledge of Donor Advised Funds and planned giving, and comfort engaging donors and their professional advisors
• Superb organizational, interpersonal, and written and oral communication skills
• High level of discretion when handling sensitive donor information
• Familiarity with Jewish culture, values, communal life, and the local Jewish nonprofit landscape

Preferred

• Experience in a comprehensive campaign, including partnering on principal gift solicitations
• Experience in a Jewish communal organization or the CJP system
• Knowledge of the annual campaign model and how it integrates with major, endowment, and DAF giving
• Familiarity with Salesforce or a similar fundraising database
• Experience working with high-net-worth individuals and family foundations

Key Competencies

• Initiative: Self-starter who opens doors, pursues new prospects with persistence, and moves relationships forward.
• Relationship Building: Connects authentically, builds trust, and inspires philanthropic investment; demonstrates emotional intelligence and cultural competency.
• Results Orientation: Sets and meets ambitious activity and dollar goals; resilient over long cultivation timeframes.
• Strategic Thinking: Develops thoughtful donor strategies and knows when to bring in senior colleagues and leadership.
• Collaboration: Curious, flexible team player who works seamlessly across Philanthropic Strategies, Gift Planning, and Annual Campaign.
• Growth Mindset: Open to coaching and feedback; eager to take on larger and more complex gifts over time.
• Integrity: Holds the highest ethical standards; builds credibility through authenticity and follow-through.
• Mission Commitment: Passionate about strengthening the Jewish community through philanthropic engagement.

Working Conditions

• Hybrid Work Schedule: CJP staff follow a hybrid work model. On-site work is required on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Remote work is an option on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, with occasional in-person meetings on those days.
• Donor Engagement & Travel: This role requires regular local travel to meet donors in person, along with occasional evening events and travel outside the region.
• Physical Requirements: When in the office, this role involves working at a computer and sitting or standing for long periods. Staff need to be able to carry a laptop and bag to and from the office.
• Inclusivity: We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for individuals of all abilities and backgrounds.

Compensation & Benefits

Competitive salary commensurate with experience. Comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, retirement plan, professional development opportunities, and generous paid time off.

Summary

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and experiences.

We are not able to offer visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without visa sponsorship.

CJP provides a unique opportunity to leverage your skills, talents, and experience to benefit the greater good while fostering your professional growth. You will work in a dynamic environment with a diverse group of individuals who share your commitment and enthusiasm. Together, we make a difference for both Jews and non-Jews in Greater Boston and worldwide. We offer competitive salaries, comprehensive benefits, and a supportive, family-friendly work environment.

CJP Core Commitments

CJP is guided by our Core Values— Respect, Caring, Collaboration, Integrity, and Innovation— that ground our work and shape the culture we create together.

Equal Opportunity Statement

CJP is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

Accommodation Disclaimer

CJP is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment for individuals of all abilities and backgrounds. We provide reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

CJP conducts background checks as part of the hiring process.