What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Individual Giving & Major Gifts position at The Jewish Museum?
1
Director of Individual Giving &
Major Gifts
Posted Date: July 2025
Start Date: ASAP
Title: Director of Individual Giving & Major Gifts
Department: Development
Reports to: Chief Development Officer
FSLA Status: Exempt
Schedule: Full-time
The Jewish Museum:
The Jewish Museum serves people of all religious, cultural, and ethnic
backgrounds through world-class exhibitions ranging from ancient to
contemporary. Founded in 1904 and located on New York City's Museum
Mile, the Jewish Museum aspires to be the global leader at the center of
Jewish culture.
The Museum maintains a unique collection of nearly 30,000 works of art,
ceremonial objects, and media reflecting the global Jewish experience over
more than 4,000 years. The Museum's thought-provoking, innovative, and
intellectually stimulating exhibitions and education programs serve a wide
range of audiences, including families, children and teens, students,
educators, and visitors with disabilities. As an identity-based institution, the
Museum plays an important role among cultural institutions, challenging all
forms of bigotry and discrimination and promoting understanding among
wide audiences and especially in these challenging times. The Jewish
Museum invites applicants of all backgrounds to consider joining the
Museum in its work.
The Jewish Museum is committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming
environment for all. Integrity, collegiality, and excellence are central to the
Museum's values. These values, along with an institution-wide commitment
to Diversity, Equity, Access & Inclusion (DEAI), are embedded in the
Museum's strategic plan.
2
The Position:
The Jewish Museum seeks a dynamic, strategic, and highly motivated
Director of Individual Giving & Major Gifts to lead a transformational
individual fundraising effort during one of the most exciting and pivotal
moments in the Museum's history. With the highly anticipated reopening of
the Museum's 3rd and 4th floors in October 2025-introducing the elegant
new Salon event space and reimagined galleries-this is a critical time to
expand and deepen philanthropic investment across all levels of giving.
The Director of Individual Giving & Major Gifts will manage all aspects of
unrestricted individual giving at the Museum, from basic membership to
high-level giving societies, while personally managing the solicitation of
unrestricted and restricted gifts through the identification, engagement,
cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of a portfolio of high net worth
families and individuals. This position will expand and maximize giving across
the institution by supervising the donor journey at all levels of individual
giving, and through a combination of annual and special appeals, from giving
societies to anniversary campaign fundraising.
This is an extraordinary opportunity for a seasoned front-line fundraiser with
a track record of closing six- and seven-figure gifts and building high-
performing teams. The Director will lead the Individual Giving & Major Gifts
vertical, encompassing all unrestricted individual contributions from entry-
level members to principal gift donors. This role manages a robust personal
portfolio of 100 donors and prospects at the $50K -$1,000,000 level,
while also directly supervising a team responsible for major gifts, next-gen
philanthropy, and membership growth.
Reporting to the Chief Development Officer and working closely with the
Deputy Chief Development Officer, this senior leader will play a vital role in
setting strategy, driving revenue, mentoring talent, and positioning the
Museum to meet its most ambitious philanthropic goals to date.
Key Responsibilities:
Fundraising Leadership & Strategy
* Personally manage a portfolio of 100 principal and major gift donors
and prospects, focusing on cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship
of gifts from $50K to $1,000,000
* Serve as a thought partner to the Chief Development Officer and
Deputy CDO in developing high-impact strategies for multi-year giving
and transformational philanthropy
3
* Design and implement creative and compelling opportunities for
support tied to the reopening of the 3rd and 4th floors, institutional
priorities, and the Museum's long-term vision
* Lead prospect identification, qualification, and strategy development
in collaboration with senior staff and lay leadership
* Oversee and grow the planned giving program in partnership with
consultants and staff
Team & Program Management
* Supervise and mentor a team of 3-4 full-time professionals across
membership, annual fund, and major gifts, plus interns and
consultants as needed
* Oversee and continuously improve the donor journey across all tiers
of giving-from first-time members to legacy donors
* Direct the planning and execution of a robust calendar of exclusive
donor events, experiences, and cultivation opportunities
* Evaluate and evolve donor communications including mail appeals,
email marketing, and website content to drive engagement and giving
Operations & Performance
* Implement and maintain a moves management system across the
department to support donor tracking and pipeline development
* Monitor revenue performance, budgets, and progress toward
ambitious fundraising goals
* Ensure accurate and timely entry of all donor and prospect data in
Salesforce and other internal systems
* Prepare and present reports, analytics, and strategic
recommendations to senior leadership and the Board
Executive & Board Partnership
* Support the Museum Director, Chief Development Officer, and Deputy
Chief Development Officer on engagement strategies for Trustees and
top donors
* Provide prospect strategy counsel and collaborate with colleagues
across departments to maximize opportunities for philanthropic
support
Requirements:
* 7-10 years of experience in individual giving and major gifts
fundraising, preferably in the arts, higher education, or Jewish
communal life
* Proven track record of soliciting and closing six- and seven-figure
gifts from high-net-worth individuals
* Strong management and mentoring skills with experience leading a
high-performing team
* Deep understanding of donor cultivation and stewardship best
practices; experience with planned giving is a plus
4
* Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to engage and inspire
donors, leadership, and colleagues
* Superior writing and communication skills; comfortable developing
and delivering compelling donor materials and presentations
* Mission-aligned with a respect for and familiarity with Jewish culture,
values, and community
* Experience using Salesforce or comparable CRM tools; proficiency in
prospect research tools and fundraising analytics
* Bachelor's degree or equivalent required; advanced degree in
nonprofit management, arts administration, or related field strongly
preferred
* Willingness to travel domestically and internationally, and to work
occasional evenings and weekends
Why Join Us?
This is a career-defining opportunity to play a leading role in the most
ambitious phase of growth in The Jewish Museum's modern history. You'll
work with a passionate team and a committed community of supporters to
bring extraordinary programs, exhibitions, and spaces to life-while shaping
the Museum's future for generations to come.
Salary Range for Position: $155,000 - $160,000
Send Resume with Cover Letter To:
Director, Human Resources
The Jewish Museum
1109 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10128
Email: jobs@thejm.org
The Jewish Museum is committed to diversifying its staff and encourages
individuals of all ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds to apply for this
position. The Museum is an equal opportunity employer and does not
discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic prohibited by
applicable law.
Director of Individual Giving &
Major Gifts
Posted Date: July 2025
Start Date: ASAP
Title: Director of Individual Giving & Major Gifts
Department: Development
Reports to: Chief Development Officer
FSLA Status: Exempt
Schedule: Full-time
The Jewish Museum:
The Jewish Museum serves people of all religious, cultural, and ethnic
backgrounds through world-class exhibitions ranging from ancient to
contemporary. Founded in 1904 and located on New York City's Museum
Mile, the Jewish Museum aspires to be the global leader at the center of
Jewish culture.
The Museum maintains a unique collection of nearly 30,000 works of art,
ceremonial objects, and media reflecting the global Jewish experience over
more than 4,000 years. The Museum's thought-provoking, innovative, and
intellectually stimulating exhibitions and education programs serve a wide
range of audiences, including families, children and teens, students,
educators, and visitors with disabilities. As an identity-based institution, the
Museum plays an important role among cultural institutions, challenging all
forms of bigotry and discrimination and promoting understanding among
wide audiences and especially in these challenging times. The Jewish
Museum invites applicants of all backgrounds to consider joining the
Museum in its work.
The Jewish Museum is committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming
environment for all. Integrity, collegiality, and excellence are central to the
Museum's values. These values, along with an institution-wide commitment
to Diversity, Equity, Access & Inclusion (DEAI), are embedded in the
Museum's strategic plan.
2
The Position:
The Jewish Museum seeks a dynamic, strategic, and highly motivated
Director of Individual Giving & Major Gifts to lead a transformational
individual fundraising effort during one of the most exciting and pivotal
moments in the Museum's history. With the highly anticipated reopening of
the Museum's 3rd and 4th floors in October 2025-introducing the elegant
new Salon event space and reimagined galleries-this is a critical time to
expand and deepen philanthropic investment across all levels of giving.
The Director of Individual Giving & Major Gifts will manage all aspects of
unrestricted individual giving at the Museum, from basic membership to
high-level giving societies, while personally managing the solicitation of
unrestricted and restricted gifts through the identification, engagement,
cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of a portfolio of high net worth
families and individuals. This position will expand and maximize giving across
the institution by supervising the donor journey at all levels of individual
giving, and through a combination of annual and special appeals, from giving
societies to anniversary campaign fundraising.
This is an extraordinary opportunity for a seasoned front-line fundraiser with
a track record of closing six- and seven-figure gifts and building high-
performing teams. The Director will lead the Individual Giving & Major Gifts
vertical, encompassing all unrestricted individual contributions from entry-
level members to principal gift donors. This role manages a robust personal
portfolio of 100 donors and prospects at the $50K -$1,000,000 level,
while also directly supervising a team responsible for major gifts, next-gen
philanthropy, and membership growth.
Reporting to the Chief Development Officer and working closely with the
Deputy Chief Development Officer, this senior leader will play a vital role in
setting strategy, driving revenue, mentoring talent, and positioning the
Museum to meet its most ambitious philanthropic goals to date.
Key Responsibilities:
Fundraising Leadership & Strategy
* Personally manage a portfolio of 100 principal and major gift donors
and prospects, focusing on cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship
of gifts from $50K to $1,000,000
* Serve as a thought partner to the Chief Development Officer and
Deputy CDO in developing high-impact strategies for multi-year giving
and transformational philanthropy
3
* Design and implement creative and compelling opportunities for
support tied to the reopening of the 3rd and 4th floors, institutional
priorities, and the Museum's long-term vision
* Lead prospect identification, qualification, and strategy development
in collaboration with senior staff and lay leadership
* Oversee and grow the planned giving program in partnership with
consultants and staff
Team & Program Management
* Supervise and mentor a team of 3-4 full-time professionals across
membership, annual fund, and major gifts, plus interns and
consultants as needed
* Oversee and continuously improve the donor journey across all tiers
of giving-from first-time members to legacy donors
* Direct the planning and execution of a robust calendar of exclusive
donor events, experiences, and cultivation opportunities
* Evaluate and evolve donor communications including mail appeals,
email marketing, and website content to drive engagement and giving
Operations & Performance
* Implement and maintain a moves management system across the
department to support donor tracking and pipeline development
* Monitor revenue performance, budgets, and progress toward
ambitious fundraising goals
* Ensure accurate and timely entry of all donor and prospect data in
Salesforce and other internal systems
* Prepare and present reports, analytics, and strategic
recommendations to senior leadership and the Board
Executive & Board Partnership
* Support the Museum Director, Chief Development Officer, and Deputy
Chief Development Officer on engagement strategies for Trustees and
top donors
* Provide prospect strategy counsel and collaborate with colleagues
across departments to maximize opportunities for philanthropic
support
Requirements:
* 7-10 years of experience in individual giving and major gifts
fundraising, preferably in the arts, higher education, or Jewish
communal life
* Proven track record of soliciting and closing six- and seven-figure
gifts from high-net-worth individuals
* Strong management and mentoring skills with experience leading a
high-performing team
* Deep understanding of donor cultivation and stewardship best
practices; experience with planned giving is a plus
4
* Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to engage and inspire
donors, leadership, and colleagues
* Superior writing and communication skills; comfortable developing
and delivering compelling donor materials and presentations
* Mission-aligned with a respect for and familiarity with Jewish culture,
values, and community
* Experience using Salesforce or comparable CRM tools; proficiency in
prospect research tools and fundraising analytics
* Bachelor's degree or equivalent required; advanced degree in
nonprofit management, arts administration, or related field strongly
preferred
* Willingness to travel domestically and internationally, and to work
occasional evenings and weekends
Why Join Us?
This is a career-defining opportunity to play a leading role in the most
ambitious phase of growth in The Jewish Museum's modern history. You'll
work with a passionate team and a committed community of supporters to
bring extraordinary programs, exhibitions, and spaces to life-while shaping
the Museum's future for generations to come.
Salary Range for Position: $155,000 - $160,000
Send Resume with Cover Letter To:
Director, Human Resources
The Jewish Museum
1109 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10128
Email: jobs@thejm.org
The Jewish Museum is committed to diversifying its staff and encourages
individuals of all ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds to apply for this
position. The Museum is an equal opportunity employer and does not
discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic prohibited by
applicable law.