Development Officer - Community Engagement

Position Overview

The Development Officer will spearhead outreach to create new fundraising channels for the organization by building meaningful relationships across Jewish communities. We are seeking an entrepreneurial Development Officer to build and grow a new fundraising channel from the ground up, engaging Jewish schools, synagogues, and community organizations across New York and beyond. If you’re energized by building something new, love working with people, and want your work to have real-world impact, this role offers both ownership and purpose.

This role blends relationship-building, event planning, donor engagement, and solicitation of small to mid-level gifts. The successful candidate will be a self-starter who thrives on forging new partnerships, inspiring community involvement, and has compelling storytelling skills. You’ll join a passionate, mission-driven team and be empowered to build meaningful connections that make a real difference.

Thinking about applying?

Frequently cited statistics show that certain applicants may hesitate to apply for positions due to a false perception that they must meet 100% of the qualifications. We encourage you to apply if you meet a majority of the requirements. We look forward to your application.

What will you do as a Development Officer?

Community Outreach & Awareness

• Develop and implement a targeted outreach strategy to introduce our work and build a strong donor pipeline in this untapped sector.
• Lead efforts to increase awareness and fundraising for JDC's mission and impact within Jewish schools, synagogues, youth groups, and community organizations.
• Identify, cultivate, and solicit small to mid-level gifts from individuals, schools, synagogues, and community organizations within the Jewish community in New York, with opportunities to expand nationally over time.
• Plan and execute events, educational presentations, and engagement opportunities to increase awareness and support for our mission.
• Represent the organization at community events, meetings, and relevant forums.

Donor Engagement & Relationship Management

• Manage a portfolio of prospects and donors, tracking outreach, engagement, stewardship activities, pledges, and follow-up.
• Build long-term relationships with community leaders, donors, volunteers, and organizational partners to strengthen engagement and support.
• Collaborate with colleagues across Resource Development, Marketing & Communications, Finance, and other internal teams to ensure successful outreach initiatives and donor stewardship.
• Maintain accurate records of donor interactions and activities within the CRM, ensuring timely follow-up and effective portfolio management.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen community partnerships and expand JDC's visibility within Jewish communal spaces.

What qualifications are required to be our Development Officer?

• 5–7 years of experience in fundraising, community relations, donor engagement, or a related field, with demonstrated success building relationships and generating philanthropic support.
• Strong knowledge of and connections within the Jewish community in the New York area (schools, synagogues, and/or community networks preferred).
• Ability to navigate Jewish spaces across cultures and denominations.
• Excellent relationship-building, listening, communication, and public speaking skills, with the ability to inspire and engage diverse audiences.
• Proactive, entrepreneurial, and resourceful, with the ability to build new relationships and identify opportunities for community engagement.
• Comfortable working both independently and collaboratively across teams and with stakeholders at all levels.
• Highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple projects, donor relationships, events, and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Passion for the work of JDC and global Jewish humanitarian impact.

Additional Preferred Skills and Competencies:

• Experience in event planning and/or grassroots fundraising campaigns.
• Familiarity with donor database systems (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, or similar CRMs)
• Familiarity with Israel and global Jewry

Additional Details

• Employment Type: Full-time
• Hours: 35 hours/week, 8:45 AM – 4:45PM with a 1-hour lunch break
• Location: Hybrid from New York, NY in office Tuesdays and Thursdays
• Reports to: Senior Development Officer
• Job Function/Department: Resource Development
• Other: Day-to-day travel within the New York Metro Area required; Some travel across the east coast and nationally anticipated

What are the compensation and benefits for a Development Officer - Community Engagement?

This is a full-time position paid semi-monthly at a salary of $80,000-$90,000 per year; in determining where a candidate falls in that range JDC considers several factors, including skills and experience, internal equity, and cost of living in location of work. This role is exempt per the FLSA.

We offer an excellent benefits package, including but not limited to:

• Competitive medical, vision and dental insurance coverage
• Paid time off, including 20 vacation days, 20 sick days, 3 personal days, 10 national holidays, and up to 14 Jewish holidays depending on the Jewish calendar for any given year
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave for full-time staff who have worked with JDC for at least 1 year
• 403(b) with JDC contributions of 6.5% of salary
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), commuter benefits, and life insurance
• Learning & Development: Ongoing opportunities for professional development through workshops and trainings with our internal L&D program
• Food Perks: Bagel Thursdays and beverages/snacks in the office for on-site and hybrid employees

Why work at JDC?

• The People – What we hear most from our team members is that they enjoy working with others who share their passion for doing good; Our staff aim to use their skills to make a positive difference in the lives of others
• A Global Environment – you will have the opportunity to develop a global perspective, working with staff from the U.S., Israel, the Former Soviet Union, and all over the world
• Tikkun Olam – This Jewish value of “repairing the world” is deeply important to us. Collectively we are dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of others

Equal Employment Opportunity

JDC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. As the world’s leading global Jewish humanitarian organization, we are committed to treating people with compassion and respect. All qualified applications will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, reproductive health decision-making, marital status, height, weight, disability, mental disorder, familial status, veteran status, genetic information, AIDS/HIV-positive status, victim of domestic violence, sex offenses or stalking, or any other protected characteristic as established by law.

Apply Now!

Submit your resume here.

Application Deadline: Rolling

Expected Start Date: ASAP

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About JDC

JDC -- the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee or "The Joint" -- is the leading Jewish humanitarian organization, working in 70 countries to lift lives and strengthen communities. We rescue Jews in danger, provide aid to vulnerable Jews, develop innovative solutions to Israel’s most complex social challenges, cultivate a Jewish future, and lead the Jewish community’s response to crises. For over 100 years, our work has put the timeless Jewish value of mutual responsibility into action, making JDC essential to the survival of millions of people and the advancement of Jewish life across the globe.

For more information, please visit www.JDC.org.