Chief Development Officer; CDO

CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Congregation Beth Elohim | Brooklyn, NY ABOUT CBE

Congregation Beth Elohim (CBE) is one of Brooklyn's largest and most vibrant Reform Jewish congregations, founded in 1861. Located on Garfield Place in Park Slope, CBE draws members from across the borough — multi-generational families, young professionals, interfaith families, and those exploring Jewish life for the first time. Through worship, learning, social justice, and community-building, CBE creates meaningful Jewish experiences that strengthen our members and the broader community.

The Chief Development Officer (CDO) is a new senior executive role responsible for shaping CBE's philanthropic vision and long-term financial sustainability. On the senior leadership team, the CDO partners with the Executive Director, Senior Rabbi, clergy, lay leadership, and Board of Trustees to execute a development strategy spanning annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, the Spring Fundraiser, and a transformational eight-figure capital campaign to renovate CBE's Garfield Place campus.

The campaign is the CDO's defining priority, led end-to-end from case-for-support through launch, solicitation, and stewardship. Its success will reshape CBE's home and build the infrastructure for the next generation of Reform Jewish life in Brooklyn.

The ideal candidate is a seasoned fundraiser with proven success leading capital campaigns, closing transformational gifts, and building high-performing teams — a strategic thinker and skilled communicator who engages donors, clergy, and lay leaders with warmth and professionalism.

• Capital Campaign: eight-figure renovation of the Garfield Place campus - the flagship priority 1,400+ member households; 567+ individual donors $800,000+ raised in FY 2025-26 annual support fundraising
• Spring Fundraiser: ~$400,000 raised annually
• Early Childhood Center: 239 students across two locations - largest in CBE's history
• Yachad youth education: 555 students - record enrollment

Core hours are 9:00 AM-6:00 PM, Tuesday-Friday (40-hour week); evenings and weekends are required for events, donor cultivation, and religious observances. This position is in-person at CBE; candidates must reside within commutable distance of Brooklyn, NY.

Set the vision, strategy, and multi-year roadmap for development, aligned with CBE's mission and financial goals. Partner with the Executive Director, Senior Rabbi, and Board to align fundraising with institutional priorities. Establish and continuously improve development goals, policies, and procedures. Provide fundraising guidance to clergy, staff, lay leaders, and volunteers.

Serve as chief architect, lead solicitor, and public face of the campaign, partnering with the Executive Director, Senior Rabbi, Board, and volunteer leadership. Identify, cultivate, and personally solicit lead and principal gifts; build a pipeline across the membership and beyond. Recruit, train, and support campaign cabinets and volunteer solicitors. Oversee campaign communications, donor reporting, pledge management, and coordination with the renovation.

Oversee all development efforts: annual fund, major gifts, planned giving, capital campaign, endowment, grants, and project-specific fundraising. Partner with lay leadership to grow revenue and refresh the donor experience. Personally manage a major gift portfolio through the full cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship cycle. Build CBE's planned-giving program, including Legacy Society stewardship and bequest cultivation. Meet annual budget goals; monitor performance and adjust strategy.

Oversee prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship — including donor events, trips, and personalized engagement plans. Manage CBE's donor recognition program, including events, plaques, and naming opportunities. Work with clergy to cultivate new prospects and deepen giving through personalized outreach. Partner with the Directors of Membership and Engagement to…