Director of Development

Just Vision is seeking a full-time Director of Development (DoD) to scale our major gifts program and development efforts. This role will drive the overall growth of private philanthropy, including with individuals and foundations, and every aspect of our donor lifecycle, including identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship. The DoD will sustain and maximize our current base of support and increase both the quality and size of Just Vision’s prospect pool, with a focus on the United States. They will be responsible for a portfolio of active major donors who need to be engaged and solicited annually, alongside individuals who need to be qualified annually, and will support a secondary portfolio of Just Vision’s top donors for the leadership team.

The Director of Development is charged with developing strategy, planning and execution of all external development-related activities including but not limited to: annual campaigns, events, fundraising appeals, major and medium gifts, monthly donor program, planned giving, and donor stewardship. The DoD will also be the staff lead for the Board’s Development Committee, helping to agenda set, drive strategy and ensure execution. They will also play a vital role in shaping Just Vision's internal culture through thoughtful, collaborative and effective supervision of the development team (which includes staff and consultants) and will be an integral member of an ambitious leadership team.

Candidates must have impeccable oral, written and interpersonal skills, strong organizational and problem-solving skills, experience as a people manager, and a passion for working on social change efforts, storytelling, journalism and/or the Israeli-Palestinian context. They will report to the Executive Director and be part of a fast-paced and collaborative environment as an integral member of a nimble, thoughtful and high-performance team.

The position requires travel to meet with donors and prospects and to coordinate development efforts across the United States, with occasional trips to Europe, Israel-Palestine and/or the broader Middle East.

About the Organization

Just Vision fills a media gap on Israel-Palestine through independent storytelling and strategic audience engagement. We aim to contribute towards a just, rights-respecting and pluralistic future for everyone in the region. We place documentary filmmaking and journalism at the center of our mission because we believe that stories have the power to shape public norms, equip audiences with vital information, undermine stereotypes and inspire engagement and action.

We are a dynamic team of filmmakers, journalists and human rights advocates based across Israel-Palestine and the US. Our team reaches tens of thousands of people through direct engagements and screenings, moving fluidly from refugee camps and villages to top-tier film festivals and high-level talks with global decisionmakers. We touch millions more through television broadcasts, digital distribution and international press coverage. Founded in 2003, Just Vision is nonpartisan and religiously unaffiliated.

Responsibilities

With broad latitude for independent judgment, and in coordination with the Executive Director, the DoD will oversee:

Strategic Planning & Execution (20%)

• Develop and continuously update the strategic plan for both long-, medium- and short-term development initiatives, with the goal of significantly increasing the size and quality of the prospect pool and meeting our fundraising goals annually.
• Ensure Just Vision’s development strategic plan includes coordination of activities with all relevant verticals at Just Vision, including communications, public engagement and media, and all relevant Board committees.
• On an annual basis in alignment with the strategic plan, drive Just Vision’s overall development goals, including setting performance metrics across their own portfolio.
• Design and implement a plan for growth with an eye towards retaining and significantly expanding a diverse major donor base so that we are able to sustain a growing organization.
• Develop and execute Just Vision’s annual fundraising plan ensuring cohesion in our development strategies across multiple revenue streams, including major, medium and grassroots gifts, institutional grants and our legacy and recurring donor programs.

Internal Coordination, Leadership & Management (20%)

• Serve as the primary liaison and staff lead with the Board Development Committee, with the aim of strengthening the board’s engagement in our development efforts and raising the organizational resources to sustain Just Vision.
• Skillfully manage key Development staff members and collaborate across communications, program, finance and production teams to ensure the integration of our development strategies across the organization and seamless implementation toward our goals.
• Lead the Development team and wider Just Vision staff in opportunities to grow and strengthen our fundraising efforts, including through internal trainings and discussions that engages relevant staff and board

Portfolio Management, Prospecting & Organizing (50%)

• Effectively manage our major prospect solicitation pipeline, including initiating and/or strengthening relationships with major gift prospects, and creating and executing strategies to solicit donors at this level.
• Drive the strategy and execution of Just Vision’s major donor engagement program and oversee relationships with all key stakeholders, including individuals and foundation partners. This includes leading and participating in all aspects of individual giving, including identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of donors (with an emphasis on major gifts).
• Ensure that the organization maintains and grows key relationships within networks of influence and help to identify and secure strategic partnership opportunities.
• Craft a strong and compelling case for support in external facing communications for donor-related efforts, including but not limited to crafting compelling emails, mailings, events, strategic outreach and online fundraising campaigns.

Development Systems & Operations (10%)

In tandem with Just Vision’s Development Operations Manager, the Director of Development will:

• Oversee the maintenance and optimization of development systems, including Just Vision’s CRM solutions and online giving platforms, so that they are working efficiently and advancing our development goals effectively.
• Ensure our systems are up-to-date and that our workflows for prospect and pipeline management, data entry, gift processing and acknowledgments are seamless.
• Ensure accurate, timely and personalized acknowledgement of our supporters.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of individual gift fundraising and experience in cultivating and soliciting major donors and prospects.
• 3+ years as a people manager and in a leadership and decision-making role.
• Excellent time and field management skills. Preference for individuals who have worked in leadership roles in development and have experience with, and a passion for, working “on the road.”
• Broad knowledge of the principles of development, including the ability to participate in all aspects of the gift cycle to:
  • Initiate contact with potential donors;
  • Develop appropriate cultivation strategies for them including organizing Board members, donor partners and others to help advance our aims;
  • Move potential donors in an appropriate and timely fashion toward solicitation and closure;
  • Make solicitations when appropriate;
  • Maintain, nurture and steward relationships with donors over time.
• Exceptional relationship-building and interpersonal skills that allow for meaningful engagement with a diverse range of stakeholders, donors, and strategic partners.
• Excellent English written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong research and prospecting skills.
• In consultation with supervisor, availability to make one or two multi-day trips per month sufficient to meet the goal of ~100 visits/meetings with key stakeholders per year.
  • Ability/comfort working and communicating effectively virtually with remote team members.
• A track record in leading successful fundraising and marketing campaigns.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects seamlessly, simultaneously.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and a solutions-oriented approach.
• Ability to work independently and within a team.
  • Appetite for working on and an understanding of the social, cultural and political landscape in the US, as it relates to the Israeli-Palestinian context, social justice issues and/or foreign policy matters.
  • Detail-oriented and organized with a track record of consistently meeting deadlines.
  • Strong familiarity with regional dynamics related to the Israeli-Palestinian context is a plus.

Experience working in the documentary and/or media landscape is a plus.