Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement
The Opportunity
The Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement role is an exceptional opportunity for a relationship builder to create and drive fundraising strategies that generate significant results during an exciting time for The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS). As the leading development professional for JTS, a storied as well as forward-thinking institution, the Vice Chancellor will partner with the Chancellor in expanding JTS’s reach. Reporting to the Chancellor and working closely with the Board of Trustees, the Vice Chancellor will be self-motivated, tenacious, and inspirational in interacting with all levels of leadership, key stakeholders, institutional partners, alumni, and high-capacity donors.
As a member of the Senior Executive Team, the Vice Chancellor will participate in a groundbreaking strategic planning process. They will lead a strong 15-person development staff that generates approximately $13 -$15 million annually in international philanthropic gifts. Collaborating with the Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer, the Vice Chancellor will support resource allocation to educate future leaders and further scholarship in Jewish thought, culture, and religion, and its application to the contemporary Jewish world and beyond.
The ideal candidate will foster interdepartmental collaboration and synergy to advance JTS’s mission of bringing Jewish learning and values into the conversation around the key topics of our times and facilitating respectful and informed discourse. This is an exciting moment for philanthropy at JTS as the institution has a new future-minded Chancellor. JTS recently completed of its nine-figure capital campaign, The Crossroads Campaign, which has financed a gorgeous campus addition. This fortified JTS’s role as a preeminent institution of Jewish higher education. The new spaces included a state-of-the-art library, residence hall, conference facilities, and auditorium/performance space.
The Vice Chancellor will think dynamically to build upon the current philanthropic excitement and sense of community to generate philanthropy for innovative programming, student and faculty support, and state-of-the-art upgrades to select areas of the existing facility. The Vice Chancellor will lead the development team in cultivating and soliciting gifts and in advancing philanthropy in the New York region, nationally, and internationally.
Professional stature, an entrepreneurial and collaborative style in perpetuating accountability and JTS’s distinct culture, and an in-depth knowledge of New York philanthropy and beyond across the full spectrum of the Jewish world will be essential to succeed in this role.
The Jewish Theological Seminary
Founded in 1886, The Jewish Theological Seminary has evolved from an institution dedicated to training rabbis and promoting Jewish scholarship in America to a Jewish university with a world-class faculty, diverse student body, and unrivalled library. JTS grants undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees and offers enriching programs for the Jewish community in the United States, Israel, and around the world. JTS is also the intellectual and spiritual center of Conservative Judaism. Instruction at JTS centers on the critical study of texts in their original languages and the lived experience of Jews and Jewish communities over time. JTS’s library is one of the greatest Judaic studies libraries in the world. Comprising 400,000 circulating volumes, an exceptional collection of rare materials that includes the world’s largest collection of Hebrew manuscripts, extensive archives, and more, it is an invaluable treasure for the Jewish people.
By educating students through a variety of degree and adult education programs, JTS prepares leaders for hundreds of congregations, schools, universities, federations, summer camps, and Jewish cultural organizations worldwide.
JTS’s academic and programmatic offerings are organized into three divisions.
Division of Religious Leadership
- This division includes The Rabbinical School and the H. L. Miller Cantorial School, as well as independent programs and initiatives that focus on religious leadership, such as the Low-Residency Mekhina and Nishmah.
Division of Academic Jewish Studies
- This division houses List College, our signature undergraduate program which offers dual- BA program in which students earn a BA in Jewish studies from JTS and BA from Columbia University or Barnard College, and the Gershon Kekst Graduate School. Bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees are offered in a wide variety of areas such as Bible, Hebrew language, Jewish history, Jewish literature, Rabbinics, Jewish ethics, and more.
Division of Lifelong and Professional Studies
- Our newest division includes the growing portfolio of programs that prepare leaders and practitioners for the field, as well as those geared to teen and adult learning. This includes the MFA in Creative Writing, pre-College programs, MA in Spiritual Care and Counseling Hebrew learning programs, and the William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education and more.
Our graduates serve as religious, academic, communal, and lay leaders in a variety of settings, enriching and animating communities throughout the world. Many of JTS’s more than 62 full-time and adjunct faculty members are top scholars and experts in their fields.
In addition to its degree programs, JTS also offers professional training programs through its various institutes and centers—including the Center for Pastoral Education and the Hendel Center for Ethics and Justice. It also offers extensive community-focused learning, including online classes, a pre-college summer institute, and public lectures and events.
Vice Chancellor and Chief Development Officer
The Vice Chancellor and Chief Development Officer is responsible for a resource development operation that supports The Jewish Theological Seminary’s mission and programs, building on existing advancement efforts and successfully pursuing new opportunities to grow funding and engagement.
The Vice Chancellor plays a crucial leadership role and is a member of the Senior Leadership team led by the Chancellor. In addition to raising substantial endowed funds, JTS currently raises $15 – $18 million annually, restricted, and endowed funds from individual donors and foundations. The Vice Chancellor will supervise an overall team of 15 employees to develop and implement a fundraising strategy throughout North America, one designed to increase revenue, identify new donor populations, and create greater visibility for JTS.
The Vice Chancellor works closely with the Board Chair and members of the Board as well as lay leaders to activate their networks and engage them in the overall fundraising effort. The Vice Chancellor is a staff representative to the Board of Trustees Development Committee and Governance Committee and is a participating member of the Community Engagement Committee.
The Vice Chancellor will be an experienced professional who leads with integrity and is capable of clearly articulating the case for JTS and raising both private and institutional funds to further the organization’s mission and values. The Vice Chancellor will bring new approaches and innovative strategies that complement JTS’s culture. The new Vice Chancellor must be a persuasive communicator and an excellent team player and team builder. The position requires an individual who can work across a complex organization to drive brand awareness among disparate communities throughout the United States and Canada. The Vice Chancellor must have a clear and authentic commitment to the mission and strategic goals of JTS and be keenly attuned to the current issues and trends in the Jewish community.
Responsibilities
- Create, implement, and oversee all aspects of philanthropic outreach, including developing a solid fundraising plan aligned with the institution’s strategic priorities and multi-year planning, emphasizing the diversification and growth of the donor base.
- Cultivate, solicit, and steward high-level gifts from a portfolio of current and prospective donors while partnering with and supporting the Chancellor, Board, and senior leaders in their philanthropic outreach.
- Build and lead a team of highly motivated development professionals who raise funds across all channels: major gifts, events, grants, alumni giving, direct mail, stewardship, planned giving, lay leadership advisory boards, Conservative synagogues, and the grass-roots Conservative Movement Torah Fund campaign.
- Effectively and thoughtfully manage development systems, processes, and metrics to monitor, project, and guide fundraising results and activities with accountability to the Board and institutional leadership.
- In close collaboration with the Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer, monitor financial projections throughout the year to deliver on budgetary expectations and oversee the interface between Development and Finance.
- Work closely with the communications team to develop and execute a strategic marketing and communications plan that effectively drives growth, awareness, and visibility to JTS’s work.
Qualifications
- Demonstrated success in all aspects of fundraising including the solicitation of principal gifts, foundation support, and program-specific giving.
- Experience managing a portfolio of current and prospective major donors and executing a capital campaign.
- Experience managing and supervising a large team of fundraisers including the ability to inspire, motivate, influence, and hold a team accountable to high standards and goals.
- Success partnering with institutional leadership to achieve ambitious philanthropic goals.
- Ability to learn and gain deep understanding of the diverse range of programs at JTS and their impact to meaningfully engage philanthropic support.
- Possess a collaborative, team-driven orientation with the ability to partner internally with deans, program directors, and administration.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with an emphasis on the ability to persuade and influence others around ideas, decisions, and financial support.
- Deep understanding of the Jewish philanthropic landscape and demonstrated commitment to and knowledge of the organized Jewish community., including the Conservative Movement.
- Ability to organize, prioritize, and execute responsibilities in the face of conflicting priorities or unexpected situations
- Possess the qualities of a sophisticated diplomat including a high level of discretion.
- New-York based; willing to travel to engage high-end donors.
Compensation
$225,000 or commensurate with experience
Procedure for Candidacy
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. For fullest consideration, applicant materials should provide a resume; a cover letter of application that addresses the responsibilities and requirements described above; and the names and contact information of three references. This search will be conducted with great respect for confidentiality, and references will not be contacted without prior knowledge and approval of candidates. Please e-mail your resume and cover letter to jtsaresumes@jtsa.edu.
