Senior Development Associate

About the Bender JCC:

The Bender Jewish Community Center in Rockville, Maryland is a premier community center at the heart of Jewish life in Montgomery County, operating a full-scale health and fitness center, pre-school, day camp and variety of education and arts programs.

We create a welcoming and inclusive environment, connecting the people of our Jewish community with each other, Israel, and the broader community. We inspire individuals of all ages and backgrounds to enhance their social, physical, intellectual and spiritual well-being through programs of excellence rooted in Jewish values.

Our core values are:

• Welcoming and inclusive (Hachnassat Orchim) – We open our doors to everyone and strive to create an inclusive and accommodating environment for people of different backgrounds, abilities and means.
• Respect (Kavod) – We seek to create a town square where our community can be exposed to diverse viewpoints and grapple with difficult issues in a respectful and civil manner.
• Jewish Peoplehood (Klal Yisrael) – We create connections to the people, history, culture, and land of Israel and with the Jewish people as a whole, welcoming all Jewish traditions and backgrounds.
• Community (Kehilla) – We facilitate relationship building and a sense of belonging to create communities across all stages of life.
• Working together (B’yachad) – We partner and collaborate with Jewish and secular organizations to build a stronger community.
• Wellness (Shmirat HaNefesh v’HaGuf) – We promote the well-being and fitness of every person.
• Spirit (Ruach) – We infuse spirit and fun into our activities and programs.

Why this role matters:

The Senior Development Associate is responsible for managing the fiscal year annual campaign, stewardship of midlevel donors, and overseeing major development events.

Core Responsibilities:

• Assist with the development of the annual fundraising plan, and implement the plans for events and annual giving to achieve development goals.
• Develop plans for donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, recognition and stewardship for events and annual giving campaign.
• Oversee communication to annual donors in tandem with marketing department.
• Develop annual fundraising calendar in consultation with Chief Development Officer and other key teams of the Bender JCC.
• Track and report on fundraising performance against goals.
• Events:
  • Manage and oversee all aspects of the Center’s major fundraising events (Dinner of Champions and Spring Event) as well as support smaller events, including recruiting and supporting volunteers.
  • Manage and oversee Bagels and Business networking speaker series.
  • Serve as primary liaison to Hall of Fame inductees, including notification/selections, through the Dinner of Champions event.
  • Develop sponsorship packages to engage past and current sponsors.
  • Identify potential new sponsors through work with lay committees and Development Team.
  • Solicit past and potential sponsors, tribute book ad purchasers, raffle and/or silent auction donors, ticket purchasers and in-kind donors.
  • Plan and coordinate the events.
• Annual Giving
  • Develop comprehensive annual campaign strategy for donors to include personal solicitation, direct mail, e-philanthropy, and social media.
  • Work closely with Chief Development Officer to close mid-level gifts.
  • Work closely with Chief Development Officer on cultivation and stewardship strategies including upgrade opportunities, outreach to major donor prospects and donor appreciation events/activities for current donors.
  • Lead corporate giving initiative and engagement.
  • Assist with targeted program fundraising efforts.

Qualifications

You are:

• Innovative and grounded. You love trying new things and devising creative solutions to persistent problems. Most importantly, you know how to make it happen.
• Discreet and respect confidentiality.
• Goal driven. You can set and work to achieve goals in a timely manner.
• Organized. You are able to handle multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment and bring a high level of attention to detail to your work.
• Passionate about the work. You are motivated by the mission of the Bender JCC and you have a deep connection and desire for this work to exist in the world. 
• Savvy and Intuitive. You are adept at communicating ideas to a range of stakeholders and you know that different settings often require different methods and tools.
• You believe that diversity is a strength. You account for the value of diversity in every aspect of your work and you understand the nuances of diversity that shape the experiences of students and families.

You should have:

• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office, Salesforce.
• Knowledge of funding communities including Jewish, secular, foundations.
• Ability to work in a team environment of various stakeholders (professional and lay combined).
• Strong ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to attend and support fundraising events and to work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Ability to perform other duties as assigned.
• Minimum bachelors degree with 3-5 years experience in non-profit organization and/or fundraising experience. Prior special events experience preferred.

Compensation & Benefits

This is a full-time exempt position, with an annual salary between $70,000 - $75,000, commensurate with experience. The Bender JCC provides a benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision benefits, and a flexible working environment. You’ll also receive a full family membership to the Bender JCC, including complete access to the entire fitness facility and pools, plus staff discounts on programs and services.

To Apply

Research shows that women and underrepresented groups apply to jobs only if they feel that they meet 100% of the qualifications. If this role sounds interesting to you, we encourage you to apply! The Bender JCC is committed to building a diverse team that draws on the strengths of people with a variety of identities, backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.

Please submit a resume and cover letter with your application.