THE ORGANIZATION

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Overview 

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In 1923, Rabbi Benjamin Frankel founded the world’s first Hillel at the University of Illinois with humble means, a noble mission, and a breathtaking vision: to convey Jewish civilization to a new generation. Today, Hillel International continues to enrich the lives of Jewish students and remains the largest Jewish campus organization in the world with a presence at more than 550 colleges and universities across North America and abroad. As Hillel evolves as an organization, its mission remains steadfast: to create lasting connections with and for every Jewish student that foster an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning, and Israel and to prepare them to become the next generation of Jewish leaders.

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Hillel at Stanford

 

Located at the heart of campus, Hillel at Stanford provides the foundation for Jewish life at Stanford University, one of the most vibrant Jewish campus communities in North America. Hillel at Stanford offers a wide array of opportunities for students of all backgrounds and interests to connect them with Jewish life and their own Jewish story and personal journey. Since its founding in the 1950s, Hillel at Stanford has experienced expansive growth – now sponsoring more than 300 programs each year in conjunction with numerous affiliated student groups and a variety of campus and community partners. It provides a variety of ways to engage and become part of a community from social events to social justice initiatives, cultural activities and religious services, immersion experiences, travel, and much more. 

 

Hillel’s physical plant, the Ziff Center for Campus Jewish Life, is comprised of two beautiful buildings that provide a home for 2,000 Jewish students and post-docs attending Stanford. Hillel at Stanford is a pluralistic organization supporting all Jewish movements as authentic expressions of Jewish life. It engages students, cultivates a Jewish community, develops leaders, complements the classroom, and embodies Jewish values all from the Ziff Center which includes meeting and event spaces. In 2017, Rabbi Jessica Oleon Kirschner was named Executive Director of Hillel at Stanford, leading a 10-person professional staff that supports students in creating compelling Jewish experiences for themselves and their peers. 

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THE POSITION

 

Reporting to and working in collaboration with the Executive Director, the Director of Development will be responsible for managing and providing strategic direction for key elements of Hillel at Stanford’s day-to-day fundraising program and operations. S/he will be responsible for planning, managing, and evaluating the organization’s yearly campaign, including major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, donor relations, events and other fundraising activities. The Director of Development will manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and work with the Executive Director, board, development committee and colleagues to ensure the coordinated building of a sustained base of donor-investors.

 

The DOD role provides the opportunity for an exceptional individual to join a growing organization and partner with a dynamic new executive director and group of committed volunteers. S/he will also be part of an exciting strategic thinking process to plan the future and expected growth of the organization. This is a tremendous opportunity for an enthusiastic professional to be part of a growing development program and to make a significant contribution to Hillel at Stanford and its work across campus. The position requires occasional evening and weekend work, a valid drivers license and the physical ability to drive a motor vehicle, to travel nationally and to lift 30lbs.

 

     Responsibilities

 

• Create and implement a comprehensive fundraising program to achieve Hillel at Stanford’s annual fundraising campaign goals ($1.7M+ for FY20)

• Oversee annual appeal initiatives including online, direct mail, and phonathon activities

• Develop and grow a major giving program to increase gifts of $1K+ to meet annual campaign goals and other fundraising priorities. Meet regularly with prospects and donors to cultivate and solicit support

• Identify and pursue opportunities to enhance planned/legacy giving as well as gifts that will help to build Hillel at Stanford’s endowment

• Provide strategic, long term vision in support of new and updated systems that will expand the donor and prospect base and streamline operations.

• Develop and implement an engagement plan to access constituencies throughout the country and on campus that are under-engaged and cultivated  

• Steward relationships with key donors and prospects and develop a more active donor recognition/acknowledgement program

• Explore opportunities to create more robust and lasting parent and alumni engagement programs that will translate into philanthropic support

• Build partnerships with campus administration and the campus development office, Hillel’s International Center and other campus communities

• Manage Hillel’s development communications program, developing content as well as a calendar of regular and strategic outreach  

• Oversee fundraising with corporate and foundation prospects/donors; including prospect research, proposal development and donor stewardship

• Design and implement a program of cultivation events regionally and nationally to increase engagement with Hillel at Stanford

• Provide leadership and guidance to professional and lay fundraising teams; supervise Development Interns

• Partner with Hillel’s board and development committee to achieve fundraising goals; Regularly update and engage the board in key fundraising activities
   

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE

 

     Experience

 

• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in development, including proven success in a leadership role

• Proven success in executing annual fundraising campaigns, including cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation through in-person, print, and online channels

• Demonstrated ability to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward prospects/donors and effectively move them through the development cycle leading to gifts of $1K+

• Proven success inspiring people and managing positive working relationships with boards, volunteers, and staff to meet organizational goals

• Experience identifying giving opportunities and thinking creatively to establish matches between donors and funding priorities

• Demonstrated ability to engage and support volunteer leadership with their efforts in fundraising, consultation, and advocacy

• Experience with developing and managing fundraising plans and budgets
   

         Education

 

• Bachelor’s degree is required. Master’s degree, preferred.

 

COMPETENCIES/ATTRIBUTES

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The successful professional will have or be:

 

• Strong entrepreneurial spirit and openness to trying new things and taking risks

• Ability to collaborate across teams both inside and outside of Hillel

• Willingness to facilitate conversations about Judaism to inspire stakeholders to invest in the work of Hillel at Stanford

• Understanding of current trends in philanthropy and the ability to recommend new or different approaches to increase donors, contributions, and identify new opportunities

• A high level of initiative, attention to detail and strong organization skills

• Strong verbal communication skills and the ability to write clearly and persuasively

• A successful record of meeting annual fundraising goals

• Unquestionable integrity and commitment to professional ethics, and the ability to responsibly handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion

• Significant level of computer proficiency, including MS Office and relational databases

• Knowledge of Bay Area and Jewish philanthropy and success in working with local philanthropic leadership a plus

• A creative team member with a clear commitment to the mission of the organization

• Able to undertake occasional weekend work for fundraising and donor recognition events

 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

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A competitive compensation package, including a comprehensive benefits package, will be offered. To be considered for this position or for additional information, please send resume to or contact:

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David N. Randall, Principal

Randall Search Associates

415 767 3814

david@randallsearchassociates.com