Development Associate

About American Friends of ELEM

Founded in 1982, ELEM/Youth in Distress in Israel is the country’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to treating and transforming the lives of troubled and at-risk youth.

The 15,000 young people we serve annually face-to-face and online deal with tremendous challenges, such as domestic violence, substance abuse, neglect, bullying, homelessness and prostitution.

ELEM works with secular and religious Jews; Christian and Muslim Arabs, including Bedouins; immigrants, including those from the Former Soviet Union and Ethiopia; and the LGBT community, most of whom live on the streets and will not seek help from traditional social service groups. ELEM’s hundreds of professionals and thousands of volunteers don’t wait for referrals to treat these youth but seek them out on their turf — on the streets, in schools, on the Internet and at bars and nightclubs.

Role Description

- Donor Engagement & Fundraising

• Manage and cultivate a portfolio of small and emerging donors
• Conduct donor outreach through calls, emails, meetings, and personalized follow-up
• Build meaningful donor relationships with the goal of increasing engagement, retention, and annual giving
• Identify opportunities to upgrade donor giving and deepen involvement with ELEM
• Support donor solicitations and stewardship efforts
• Maintain ongoing communication and relationship strategies for assigned donors

- Donor Relations & Stewardship

• Draft donor acknowledgments, impact updates, stewardship communications, and follow-up correspondence
• Prepare donor meeting materials and briefing documents
• Support donor cultivation and stewardship activities
• Help create meaningful donor experiences and engagement opportunities

- Community Outreach & Partnership Support

• Research and identify synagogues, community organizations, businesses, and potential partners aligned with ELEM's mission
• Conduct outreach to prospective community partners, sponsors, and supporters
• Support sponsorship recruitment efforts for fundraising events and initiatives
• Build and maintain pipelines of prospective sponsors, community partners, and supporters
• Assist in developing relationships with synagogues, Jewish organizations, and community leaders
• Support outreach efforts related to Lunch & Learns, chapter activities, parlor meetings, and special events

- Prospect Research & Pipeline Development

• Conduct donor, corporate, and sponsorship prospect research
• Identify new opportunities for donor acquisition and community engagement
• Research prospective attendees, sponsors, and supporters for ELEM events and initiatives
• Support portfolio development efforts by identifying potential future major donors

- NextGen Engagement

• Serve as the primary staff liaison for ELEM's NextGen group
• Support planning and execution of NextGen events, volunteer opportunities, and engagement activities
• Recruit new members and help expand the NextGen network
• Foster meaningful relationships with young professionals and emerging leaders
• Support the development of a pipeline of future donors, volunteers, and community advocates
• Coordinate communications, outreach, and follow-up with NextGen participants
• Identify opportunities for NextGen members to become more deeply involved in ELEM's mission and fundraising efforts

- Events & Community Engagement

• Support planning and execution of fundraising events, webinars, parlor meetings, chapter events, and community engagements
• Assist with event outreach, invitations, follow-up, and attendee engagement
• Represent ELEM at community events and outreach opportunities as appropriate

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred 
• 2–4 years of experience in fundraising, nonprofit development, sales, donor relations, community engagement, business development, or a similar externally facing role 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills 
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail 
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines 
• Experience with CRM systems preferred 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office

Preferred Characteristics

• Bachelor's degree preferred 
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills
• Self-starter with strong follow-through and accountability
• Comfortable communicating with donors, sponsors, and community stakeholders
• Resourceful and proactive
• Passion for Israel and mission-driven work
• Excitement to grow professionally within fundraising and nonprofit leadership

Salary Range: $60,000–$65,000 annually

Location: In-office / Jersey City, NJ / Hybrid

Reports to: CEO

Why Join American Friends of ELEM?

This is an opportunity to join a growing organization at a crucial time. As a Development Associate, you will play an integral role in shaping the organization’s future, helping us deepen our impact, and transforming the lives of countless youths in Israel.