Regional Director, Southern California

ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND

The New Israel Fund (NIF) protects and advances equality and liberal democracy in Israel. Long credited with seed-funding and founding progressive civil society in Israel, NIF now leads the fight for democratic institutions and a socially just society that is truly shared by every Israeli. Read more about NIF here.

PURPOSE

NIF seeks a talented, entrepreneurial, and creative fundraising professional to lead the effort to grow and reinforce NIF’s presence in the Southern California region. The Regional Director is responsible for working with NIF’s existing donors in the region, reaching out to potential new sources of funding, and positioning the organization as the home for those seeking to advance democracy and equality in Israel.

Qualified candidates will have extensive experience in fundraising, including individual and major gift experience, or parallel skills in community engagement or political organizing that are transferable to a fundraising role. The candidate will also have outstanding skills in verbal and written communication and in cultivating long-term working relationships with stakeholders. They will also possess a deep understanding of NIF’s work and of Israeli progressive civil society and current issues facing the region.

NATURE AND SCOPE OF WORK

The Regional Director will craft and drive forward a strategy for growing the region’s overall fundraising campaign and strengthening NIF’s presence in communities throughout Southern California. Stewarding the existing donor file and identifying and cultivating new major donor prospects is the primary focus. They will manage and develop local volunteers and will personally represent NIF in public settings, raising the organization’s profile and serving as a compelling point of personal contact for supporters, prospects, and organizational partners. The Regional Director is also responsible for spearheading efforts in the region to raise estate commitments from our local supporters as part of NIF’s Legacy Campaign.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop a comprehensive cultivation and fundraising plan for the region, with measurable goals for total revenue and number of donors
• Devise and carry out individualized engagement and fundraising plan for each donor giving $2,500 or more and select donors giving $1,000 or more
• Meet benchmarks for number of meetings (phone calls/zoom)
• Identify, cultivate, and solicit new major donor prospects of $25,000+
• Develop NIF’s presence and handle organizational relationships in key communities
• Execute a local event strategy in collaboration with NIF’s national Public Engagement team and local volunteers, representing NIF in public for events
• Engage with and help develop strong volunteer leaders to partner with professional staff in advancing NIF’s work in Southern California
• Prepare written materials, reports, and proposals for funding consideration by major donors and foundations
• Identify, cultivate, and help solicit prospects for endowment and legacy giving
• Handle donor servicing requests for information, background, and connecting to Israel’s social change community
• Contribute to organization-wide development team efforts to build knowledge, strategize collectively, and seek and provide support and advice for one another
• Administer NIF’s Elissa Froman Memorial Fellowship for LA based rabbinical students, including recruiting fellows, supervising learning sessions, and assisting fellows in implementing capstone event for the broader rabbi and rabbinical student community
• Supervise and mentor the Development & Program Coordinator

REQUIREMENTS

The position requires a person with an outstanding understanding of contemporary Israel and of the Southern California Progressive Jewish Community; a strategic thinker who sees the potential for NIF’s continued growth, who has an ability to communicate NIF’s mission in public fora, and who has experience working with and mobilizing volunteer leadership. The ideal candidate will be highly self-motivated, have strong written communication skills, and will have a minimum of 5 years relevant experience.

This position must be based in Southern California and requires reliable transportation to travel the region.

REPORTING & SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIPS|

This position reports to the Vice President of National Development, and works closely with NIF’s Public Engagement, Communications, and Fundraising staff, and the NIF Executive Team.

The Regional Director will supervise the Development & Program Coordinator.