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 Senior 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.

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.

Department: Development

Reports to: Chief Development Officer

FLSA Status: Exempt

Schedule: Full-time

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

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

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

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

The Jewish Museum is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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