Philanthropy Assistant

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

As the largest Jewish philanthropic organization in California, the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund connects donors, changemakers, and community partners to build a thriving, resilient future. The Federation serves as a trusted partner and advisor for those seeking to make an impact today while shaping a better tomorrow. We invest in education, social services, and security while mobilizing crisis relief worldwide. With over a century of leadership, we empower individuals and families to give strategically, building a thriving and resilient future for generations to come. Whether strengthening Jewish life in the Bay Area, safeguarding communities worldwide, or ensuring a safe and democratic Israel, we empower people to take meaningful action that echoes for generations.

The Federation is seeking a highly motivated and qualified individual with a variety of skill sets who wants to join a team working to build a new model of 21st century and next generation Federation engagement.

ROLE SUMMARY OF ROLE

The Philanthropy Assistant plays a key role in supporting the Federation’s mission by ensuring exceptional service to donors and seamless coordination across the Philanthropy team. This role serves as the operational backbone for the Philanthropy team, combining administrative excellence, strong communication skills, and donor-centered service. The Philanthropy Assistant supports critical donor processes—from specialized donor communications and acknowledgments to grant reports and portal support—while partnering with internal departments to ensure accurate and timely donor stewardship. The role reports to Managing Director, Philanthropy and is expected to be on-site 2-3 days a week.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Donor Service & Stewardship

• Deliver exceptional service to donors by responding to inquiries, supporting the donor portal, reissuing acknowledgments and tax receipts, and generating grant and impact reports.
• Oversee acknowledgment processes for high-level donors, including tracking gifts, drafting notes for leadership, and ensuring timely delivery of communications.
• Support the preparation and distribution of lifecycle communications and contribution acknowledgments.

Administrative & Team Support

• Provide high-level administrative support to the Philanthropy team, including coordinating meetings, managing agendas, tracking follow-ups, and handling logistics for internal and external gatherings.
• Support Philanthropy Advisors in preparing for donor meetings and responding to external meeting requests.
• Contribute as a member of the broader administrative team, including occasional on-site event and board support.

Data, Reporting & Operations

• Maintain accurate donor records in Salesforce and run reports for staff, board members, and lay leaders.
• Partner closely with Data, Finance, and DAF Operations to ensure accurate and timely donor transactions.
• Support special projects and continuously improve processes to enhance team efficiency and donor experience.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES

• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and build efficient systems.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including drafting polished donor correspondence.
• Experience participating in the management of philanthropic grant programs preferred.
• Team-oriented mindset with a strong service orientation and desire to enable others to succeed.
• Strong technical aptitude; comfort learning new systems. Salesforce or similar CRM experience preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across departments and build strong working relationships.
• Reliable with strong follow-through and the ability to meet deadlines.
• Curious, proactive, and committed to continuous learning and improvement.
• Familiarity with, or openness to learning about, the Jewish community and its philanthropic traditions preferred.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s Degree required
• 3-5 years of direct donor or client service experience in a multifaceted, complex environment such as a community foundation, non-profit development office, financial advisory firm, wealth management firm, travel agency or similar setting.

Salary commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits — medical, dental, vision, vacation, sick pay, holidays (including Jewish), and retirement plan.

EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES

The Federation views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a company culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible talent pool to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values. The Jewish Federation Bay Area is an equal opportunity employer.

Salary Description

$34 - $39/hour