Senior Philanthropic Officer

Combined Jewish Philanthropies; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 167,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) in Greater Boston seeks a Senior Philanthropic Advisor to lead frontline fundraising for principal and major gifts, including $1M+ commitments. The role partners with the CEO, leadership, and volunteers to secure transformational gifts and guide donors through Donor Advised Funds.

The ideal candidate has a track record of closing gifts at the $250k+ level, strong relationship building, and a deep understanding of Jewish philanthropic giving.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 7-10 years in portfolio management and development.
• Proven success soliciting/closing gifts at $250k+.
• Familiarity with Donor Advised Funds and planned giving.
• Ability to work with donors and their advisors; strong communication.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of 100–125 principal/major gift prospects with regular contact.
• Lead cultivation, solicitation and stewardship, often with the CEO and volunteers.
• Drive lead gift solicitations within the comprehensive campaign strategy.
• Identify and qualify new major gift prospects; contribute to pipeline.
• Advise donors on DAFs and giving vehicles in collaboration with Gift Planning.

Skills

Portfolio management

Major gifts

Donor relations

Fundraising strategy

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Salesforce

Job 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 senior philanthropic investor, CJP mobilizes people, resources, and skills to make a bigger difference locally and globally.

Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) seeks a Senior Philanthropic Advisor to serve as one of the organization’s lead frontline fundraisers. This role focuses on securing principal and leadership gifts, including the transformational commitments that will anchor CJP’s comprehensive campaign. The ideal candidate is a seasoned major and principal gift professional with a record of closing seven-figure gifts, who inspires donors and builds lasting relationships at the highest levels of philanthropy.

About the Opportunity

The Senior Philanthropic Advisor is a highly experienced, strategic, and results-oriented development professional. They serve as a trusted partner to a portfolio of CJP's highest-capacity donors. The role works closely with the VP, Philanthropic Strategies; the Gift Planning and Annual Campaign teams; lay leaders; and the broader development team. You will identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of principal and major gift prospects at the $250,000+ level, with a focus on gifts of $1M+. The Philanthropic Advisor connects donors to CJP's mission of caring for our Jewish community locally, in Israel, and around the world, and serves as an expert resource for donors looking to establish or grow their giving through CJP's Donor Advised Fund.

Essential Functions

Principal & Major Gift Portfolio Management

• Proactively manage a defined portfolio of approximately 100-125 principal and major gift prospects. The expectation is 12-15 meaningful donor contacts per month, through personal visits and phone calls. Maintain complete and timely records of all donor interactions in CJP’s CRM system. Build authentic, long-term relationships that lead to the highest-level gifts aligned with each donor's interests and CJP's funding priorities.

Cultivation, Solicitation & Stewardship

• Develop and carry out individualized strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward each donor in the portfolio. Lead complex, high-stakes solicitations, often in partnership with the CEO, senior leadership and top volunteers. Help donors build meaningful connections with CJP leadership, program staff, and key lay leaders. Help plan special events, missions, and engagement opportunities that deepen donor involvement.

Campaign Lead Gift Solicitation

• The Senior Philanthropic Advisor will be a key 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:
• Develop and carry out individualized campaign strategies for assigned top prospects
• Lead solicitations for leadership and principal gifts
• Ensure each donor's commitment reflects both their capacity and their deepest philanthropic goals
• Keep campaign donors engaged as long-term partners in CJP's vision

Prospect Identification & Qualification

• Identify and qualify new principal and major gift prospects, both independently and with colleagues. Take an active part in prospect management meetings and contribute to pipeline development. Proactively identify donors who may be strong candidates for opening a DAF or make greater use of an existing one.

Philanthropic Counsel & Donor Advised Fund Advising

• Serve as a resource for donors exploring CJP's Donor Advised Fund. Guide them through establishing, funding, and strategically using their DAF for maximum impact. Advise donors on the full range of giving vehicles: annual campaign commitments, major gifts, endowment funds, DAFs, and planned giving instruments such as bequests, charitable remainder trusts, and IRA charitable rollovers. Partner closely with the AVP, Gift Planning on planned and blended gifts, including gifts of complex assets such as appreciated securities, real estate, or business interests.

Jewish Community Knowledge & Donor Engagement

• Develop and maintain a strong understanding of the Jewish organizations, agencies, and programs across CJP’s service area. Act as an informational resource for donors, including DAF participants, who want to learn more about the local Jewish community. Where it’s helpful, share information, arrange introductions, site visits, and learning opportunities, and help donors connect their values with the work of community partners. Support donors as they shape their own giving, and respect the direct relationships they and our partner organizations already have.

Volunteer Engagement

• Recruit, manage, and support volunteer solicitors, and serve as staff liaison to fundraising committees as appropriate. Build and strengthen relationships between top prospects and CJP trustees, campaign volunteers, and other key lay leaders.

Strategic Contribution & Peer Leadership

• Contribute to short- and long-term planning for the major and principal gifts program and CJP's overall development effort. Serve as a mentor and resource to less experienced fundraisers, share best practices, and help build a culture of philanthropic excellence. This role has no direct reports.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred
• 7-10 years of portfolio management and development experience, including demonstrated success soliciting and closing gifts at the $250,000 level and above
• Proven track record of building lasting donor relationships and achieving ambitious fundraising goals
• Familiarity with Donor Advised Funds, planned giving, and an ability to work effectively with donors and their professional advisors
• Working knowledge of the tax benefits and strategic uses of DAFs, including funding through appreciated assets
• Superb organizational, interpersonal, and written and oral communication skills
• High level of discretion when handling sensitive donor information
• Strong familiarity with Jewish culture, values, communal life, and the local Jewish nonprofit landscape

Preferred

• Campaign experience, including principal gift solicitation within a comprehensive campaign
• Experience advising donors on DAF establishment, grantmaking strategy, and multigenerational philanthropic planning
• Knowledge of local Jewish communal organizations and the ability to serve as a credible connector between donors and those organizations
• Experience in a Jewish communal organization or the CJP system
• Knowledge of the annual campaign model and the Jewish philanthropic landscape
• Familiarity with Salesforce or a similar fundraising database
• Experience working with high-net-worth individuals, family foundations, and professional advisors such as financial planners and estate attorneys

Key Competencies

• Strategic Thinking: Sees the big picture while executing tactical plans; develops creative approaches to complex fundraising challenges.
• Relationship Building: Connects authentically with people, builds trust, and inspires philanthropic investment; demonstrates emotional intelligence and cultural competency.
• Results Orientation: Sets and achieves ambitious goals; persistent and resilient in pursuing principal gifts over extended timeframes.
• Collaboration & Peer Leadership: A curious, flexible team player who inspires volunteers and colleagues across the organization and helps others grow.
• Judgment & Decision-Making: Makes sound, timely decisions; knows when to seek guidance and when to act independently.
• Adaptability: Manages competing priorities and complex situations in a fast-paced environment; stays flexible and solutions-oriented when facing obstacles.
• Integrity: Holds the highest ethical standards; builds credibility through authenticity and follow-through.
• Mission Commitment: Passionate about strengthening the Jewish community through philanthropic engagement; eager to engage donors in person; open to feedback and ongoing professional development.

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.

Annual Compensation Range

Annual Compensation Range: $167,000-$200,000

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