Director of Development

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 -