Senior Vice President & Chief Development Officer - Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford
West Hartford, Connecticut | Full-Time
About the Greater Hartford Jewish Community
The Greater Hartford Jewish community offers a compelling opportunity to lead philanthropy in a connected, collaborative community with a strong network of Jewish organizations, engaged lay leadership, and a deep philanthropic tradition.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford's Annual Campaign raises more than $5.5 million, with a goal of $5.75 million in FY2027. Federation is also advancing Now & Forever, a joint $15 million endowment campaign with the Jewish Community Foundation, initially focused on long-term communal security and combating antisemitism.
Federation plays a central role in strengthening Jewish life across Greater Hartford, mobilizing resources, supporting those in need, advancing Jewish education and engagement, strengthening community security, deepening connections with Israel, and investing in the community's future.
The next SVP & CDO will join Federation at an important moment of opportunity, building on a strong philanthropic foundation while helping shape the community's future.
The Position
The Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford seeks an accomplished, strategic, and relationship-driven Senior Vice President & Chief Development Officer (SVP & CDO) to lead its philanthropic enterprise into its next phase of growth. This is an opportunity for an experienced development leader to make a meaningful and lasting impact alongside committed professionals, donors, volunteers, and community partners.
Reporting to the President & CEO and serving as a member of Federation's senior leadership team, the SVP & CDO will set the strategic direction for Federation's philanthropic enterprise, driving revenue growth, deepening donor engagement, expanding and diversifying the donor base, and strengthening the people, systems, and practices needed for sustained success.
The ideal candidate is both a strategic fundraiser and an effective organizational leader, equally comfortable cultivating a major donor, coaching a development professional, partnering with volunteer leadership, and collaborating across the organization to translate vision into results.
Building on the strengths of a committed Development team, engaged volunteer leadership, and a new CRM, the SVP & CDO will bring strategic focus, operational discipline, and a collaborative approach to creating a cohesive, donor-centered, high-performing development operation.
The SVP & CDO will provide strategic leadership across Federation's full development portfolio, including:
- Annual Campaign
- Major and principal gifts
- Women's and Men's Philanthropy
- Real estate and corporate partnerships
- Sponsorships and targeted philanthropic initiatives
- Planned and legacy giving
- Endowment, including the Now & Forever Endowment Campaign
- Development operations, data, and CRM
The SVP & CDO will establish clear priorities, measurable goals, and a culture of accountability, ensuring that fundraising remains grounded in authentic relationships and Federation's mission. As an active frontline fundraiser, they will personally cultivate, solicit, and steward significant donors and prospects; develop strategies for top philanthropic families; build a pipeline of new major donors and next-generation philanthropists; and partner closely with the CEO and volunteer leadership on high-level donor relationships.
In the first year, the SVP & CDO will focus on building a strong foundation for sustained philanthropic growth while maintaining momentum in the Annual Campaign. Priorities will include strengthening major and principal gift strategies, advancing the Now & Forever Endowment Campaign, building an integrated pipeline for legacy and endowment giving, clarifying team priorities and accountability, and ensuring effective adoption of the new CRM.
Success will be reflected in sustained philanthropic revenue growth, stronger donor acquisition and retention, deeper major-donor relationships, meaningful progress on campaign priorities, and a collaborative, high-performing Development team.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Team Development
- Lead, coach, and develop the Development team, establishing clear roles, goals, portfolios, performance expectations, and accountability.
- Foster a collaborative, results-oriented team culture characterized by trust, clear communication, sound decision-making, professional growth, and shared accountability.
- Establish performance metrics, revenue projections, and regular reporting practices to inform strategy, track progress, and support organizational decision-making.
- Strengthen collaboration across Development and with Marketing & Communications, Finance, Impact, Technology, and other areas of Federation.
- Serve as a trusted strategic partner to the CEO and senior leadership team, aligning philanthropic strategy with Federation's evolving communal priorities, organizational goals, and long-term vision.
Philanthropic Growth
- Drive growth in the Annual Campaign through strategies that strengthen donor retention, increase giving, and expand participation.
- Develop and execute major and principal gift strategies, including personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding significant donors and prospects in partnership with the CEO and volunteer leadership.
- Identify, cultivate, and engage new donors and next-generation philanthropists, building a sustainable pipeline of philanthropic support.
- Integrate annual giving, major gifts, planned and legacy giving, and endowment strategies into a comprehensive approach to lifetime donor engagement.
- Advance the Now & Forever Endowment Campaign in close collaboration with the Jewish Community Foundation, campaign leadership, and key volunteer partners.
- Create meaningful opportunities for donors to connect with Federation's mission, priorities, and impact.
- Leverage data, technology, and disciplined portfolio and pipeline management to strengthen donor engagement, inform strategy, and improve fundraising results.
- Introduce creative and innovative approaches to fundraising that deepen relationships and strengthen donors' long-term connection to Federation.
Community & Volunteer Leadership
- Serve as a highly visible and trusted representative of the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, building relationships across the Jewish community and beyond.
- Partner closely with the Board, Development Chair, campaign chairs, and other volunteer leaders to advance philanthropic priorities and engage volunteers as active partners in fundraising.
- Build and sustain strong relationships with synagogues, agencies, schools, businesses, foundations, community organizations, and other partners throughout Greater Hartford and beyond.
- Inspire donors, volunteers, and community partners through a compelling articulation of Federation's mission, impact, and vision for the future.
- Represent Federation with credibility, warmth, sound judgment, and a genuine commitment to the community.
Qualifications
The ideal candidate will bring:
- Progressively responsible fundraising experience, including leadership of a development function, comprehensive fundraising program, or complex campaign.
- A demonstrated track record of personally securing significant major gifts, including six-figure commitments, and developing long-term donor relationships.
- Experience leading, coaching, and developing high-performing fundraising teams.
- Broad experience across multiple fundraising disciplines, with demonstrated expertise in major gifts, donor cultivation and stewardship, and comprehensive development strategy. Familiarity with annual giving, endowment, planned and legacy giving, and volunteer-driven philanthropy is highly desirable.
- Strong strategic planning, forecasting, budgeting, and financial management skills, including the ability to establish measurable goals and evaluate fundraising performance.
- Experience leveraging CRM systems, moves management, data, and development operations to support fundraising effectiveness.
- A demonstrated ability to build trust and strong working relationships with donors, volunteers, boards, CEOs, colleagues, and community partners.
- Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills, including the ability to inspire donors and articulate a compelling philanthropic vision.
- Strong emotional intelligence, sound judgment, resilience, discretion, and the ability to navigate complex organizational and interpersonal dynamics.
- The ability to translate broad philanthropic strategy into clear priorities, disciplined execution, and measurable results.
- A deep appreciation for Jewish values, Jewish community, Israel, and the diversity of Jewish life, along with a commitment to Federation's mission.
- Experience in Jewish communal organizations or the Federation system is strongly preferred; accomplished candidates from other mission-driven philanthropic environments who demonstrate a strong connection to Jewish communal values are also encouraged to apply.
- A bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience is preferred. Advanced education or relevant professional credentials are valued.
Compensation & Application
Compensation: The anticipated salary range for this position is $175,000–$200,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications.
Benefits:
- Health care
- Dental care
- Disability insurance
- Life insurance
- Vision insurance
- 403b
- Gym membership
- On-site parking
- Paid time off.
- Statutory and Jewish holidays off
This is a full-time, exempt position based in West Hartford, Connecticut. The role requires significant in-person donor and community engagement, regular attendance at meetings and events, occasional evening and weekend commitments, and periodic travel.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford is an equal opportunity employer. Reasonable accommodations will be made in accordance with applicable law.