Chief Development Officer

The Neighborhood:
An Urban Center for Jewish Life is pleased to partner with DRG to conduct this search.

The Neighborhood:
An Urban Center for Jewish Life
, is a new model of community and cultural center designed to match the needs and spirit of the Jewish communities in Central and Northern Brooklyn. Since its inception five years ago, The Neighborhood has created hundreds of pop-up events where people can joyfully express themselves, learn together, and celebrate their individual experiences of being Jewish. Recently, The Neighborhood has secured a permanent space in Williamsburg that will serve as an artistic venue and community space designed to convene and showcase the best of Jewish life in Brooklyn and beyond.

To support the organization’s growth and vibrant programming, The Neighborhood seeks a Chief Development Officer (CDO) to lead fundraising and resource development. Under the leadership of a dynamic CEO and capable new COO, an energetic and creative team, and an intentional and active Board of Directors, The Neighborhood has begun its next chapter. The Chief Development Officer will be instrumental in actualizing the vision of The Neighborhood, creating systems to engage meaningful individual and major gifts as well as developing corporate partnerships.

The Chief Development Officer will be an experienced major gifts and campaign leader with at least seven years in major gift fundraising, including a minimum of three years in campaign leadership. The CDO will have a deep understanding of the major gift cultivation cycle, including how to message the varied programs of The Neighborhood to diverse audiences. The CDO will demonstrate leadership in research and network building required to fundraise for a growing organization.

The CDO will have managed or directed capital campaign execution and will bring a track record of building development systems. The ideal candidate will offer sophisticated CRM proficiency in Salesforce, Raiser's Edge, or an equivalent platform; persuasive written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to write a case, draft a briefing, and serve as a credible voice in donor meetings;

and the capacity to work in genuine partnership with a visionary founding team. Above all, this leader will bring meticulous precision and persistent engagement to foster profound donor connectivity and institutional stewardship.

• Conceptualize and implement the development function, building the fundraising capacity, infrastructure, and resources needed to support the organization's long-term growth and evolving strategic priorities.
• Design and execute the full capital campaign strategy including pitch materials, gift range chart, prospect pipeline, solicitation calendar, and public launch plan. Serve as the campaign's chief architect and primary relationship builder.
• Develop and maximize philanthropic opportunities associated with the organization's new facility, including major gifts, campaigns, membership programs, and donor recognition initiatives.
• Enable transformational gifts. Identify, research, and qualify gifts at the $100K+ level. Prepare the CEO and Board Members for meaningful participation in partnership meetings: develop necessary briefings, materials, strategy, and follow-through.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy encompassing major gifts, annual giving, campaigns, board engagement, donor research, prospect qualification, and stewardship.
• Expand and diversify the donor base by identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding new and existing donors across individual, family, philanthropic, and sector-specific networks.

• Build strong donor and stakeholder relationships, serving as a trusted ambassador who effectively bridges organizational culture, mission, and donor expectations while preserving authenticity through implementation of a high-touch communications cadence.
• Evaluate and strengthen fundraising events, appeals, and donor experiences to increase philanthropic outcomes, return on investment, and long-term donor engagement.
• Navigate complex donor relationships and diverse stakeholder perspectives with diplomacy, sound judgment, and a commitment to maintaining broad community support.
• Ensure all donor-facing communications, events, and engagement experiences reflect the highest standards of quality and professionalism while authentically representing The…