Director of Development

Company Description

The Schechter School of Long Island is a Jewish day school whose dual curriculum of excellence educates and empowers its students to be critical thinkers, ethical leaders, and globally engaged citizens, striving to achieve their full potential and ensuring a vibrant Jewish future.

Our Core Values, which support our mission, become the essence of our students’ identities and guide them through every stage of life.

• Torah: We instill a love of lifelong learning where questions are as valued as answers.
• Ahavat Yisrael: We foster a love and commitment to the State, language and People of Israel as central to Jewish identity and continuity.
• Kehillah: We celebrate the individuality and diversity within the SSLI family, and foster an inclusive and caring community.
• Mitzvot: We sanctify God’s presence in our lives through the observance of Jewish practice.
• Tefillah: We encourage all students to find their unique voices in prayer.
• Gemilut Chasadim: We engage our students in thoughtful acts of loving kindness, generosity and world repair, Tikkun Olam.

The Opportunity

The Schechter School of Long Island is seeking a dynamic, results-driven Director of Development to lead our fundraising efforts. The Director of Development will work in close collaboration with the new Head of School and a committed board of trustees focused on the school’s strong future. With deeply engaged leadership, an extensive alumni network, and a wealth of untapped donor potential, Schechter is primed for growth and ready for a visionary leader to make their mark.

This is a leadership position designed for a professional who is comfortable both crafting a multi-year strategy and engaging directly with donors in the field. The Director of Development will manage and grow our annual giving from $700,000 to $1,000,000 . The Director of Development will serve as a visible leader in our community, personally managing a portfolio of donors while empowering the Head of School and Board of Trustees to secure the school’s most significant gifts.

Key Responsibilities

1. Direct Solicitation & Portfolio Management

• Active Front-Line Fundraising: Manage the full cultivation cycle (identification, qualification, solicitation, and stewardship) for a portfolio of mid-to-major gift prospects.
• Targeted Closures: Act as the primary solicitor for gifts in the $5,000–$25,000 range, maintaining a consistent and professional "ask" pipeline to meet annual targets.
• Community Engagement: Build authentic relationships within the SSLI parent and alumni base to re-engage lapsed supporters and identify donors with untapped potential.
• Field Work: Dedicate a significant portion of time to out-of-office donor visits, lunch meetings, and community networking.

2. Strategic Leadership Support 

• Executive Briefing: Partner with the Head of School, Board President, and Development Committee to manage the top prospects, providing comprehensive donor profiles, giving histories, and specific talking points.
• Meeting Architecture: Ensure school leadership is well prepared by designing meeting strategies, identifying specific "asks," and managing post-meeting follow-up plans.
• Board Empowerment: Lead the Development Committee by providing the training, materials, and data-driven insights they need to be successful ambassadors and fundraisers.

3. Annual Fund & Capital Campaign Readiness

• Campaign Strategy: Design and execute multi-channel annual appeals (direct mail, digital, and social media) to meet and exceed the $1M milestone.
• Groundwork for Capital Launch: Assist in drafting the preliminary case for support, feasibility assessments, and identifying potential campaign leadership in preparation for the school's next major capital phase.
• Stewardship Systems: Implement a high-touch stewardship calendar to move donors from transactional giving to deep, mission-driven partnership through regular impact reporting.

4. Development Operations

• Data Liaison: Serve as the internal lead for the school's external CRM management firm, ensuring accurate gift processing, reporting, and rigorous pipeline tracking.
• Operational Excellence: Manage the master development calendar to ensure all deadlines for appeals, reports, and stewardship touchpoints are met with precision.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Proven Experience: 5 years of fundraising experience, with a track record of personally closing four- and five-figure gifts.
• Communication Mastery: A gifted storyteller with the ability to articulate the unique value of a Jewish day school education to diverse audiences.
• Self-Directed Work Style: Strong time management skills, balancing high-level strategic planning with hands-on administrative execution.
• Strategic Mindset: Ability to analyze donor data to prioritize efforts and maximize ROI on cultivation activities.
• Community Alignment: A deep commitment to the values, educational mission, and community of the Schechter School of Long Island.

Compensation

Salary: $150,000

To Apply

Send cover letter and resume to Benjamin Mann, Head of School, (benjaminmann@schechterli.org )