Position Title: Southwest Finance Director
Reports to: Southwest Regional Director
Start Date: January 2015
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Position
Do you want to work at the intersection of politics, Middle East policy and fundraising? Are you interested in a rapidly expanding organization that is changing the way people think and talk about Israel and U.S. - Middle East policy?
J Street seeks an experienced development professional excited to help J Street expand its political and communal footprint. The ideal candidate will have a background in fundraising as well as politics and/or the organized Jewish community. S/He will be responsible for creating and executing a plan to drive annual operating and PAC fundraising for the SoCal/Southwest region as well as helping to develop a power map to create the political space needed to ensure U.S. leadership to help achieve a two-state solution.
The Finance Director should be an experienced fundraiser, skilled communicator, and highly organized self-starter who thrives on hitting ambitious goals and is excited about changing the current political dynamic surrounding the discussion of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Congress and the American Jewish community.
Responsibilities
The Finance Director is responsible for creating and executing a plan to renew operating and political support and identify and close new sources of funding within the region. This plan will include regional fundraising events as well as national special projects such as the annual conference and other leadership events.
Be part of a dynamic team reshaping the political landscape in Southern California and the Southwest more broadly.
Key liaison to network of political donors, advising them on political giving strategy and tying donations to advocacy on one of the most politically charged issues in American politics.
Regular contact with members of Congress, congressional/campaign staff and candidates running for office.
Regular coordination with top political fundraisers in the country.
S/He is part of both a regional team focused on cultivating local leadership and political strength, and a national development team charged with raising the requisite operating and PAC targets on an annualized basis.
Specific responsibilities include:
• Working with the Regional Director to create a development strategy to map out
regional objectives and set plans to meet or exceed long term fundraising plans;
• Working closely with the Regional Director to manage significant relationships,
particularly around solicitation;
• Meeting and communicating regularly with J Street supporters in the region;
• Travel across the Southwest region, from Austin to Santa Barbara to meet with prospective and existing donors;
• Managing relationships with campaigns of endorsed candidates to coordinate political
fundraising;
• Managing significant relationships, particularly around solicitation;
• Increasing current donorsʼ financial support to J Street;
• Mapping out supportersʼ social networks to better understand J Streetʼs
base of support and identify areas of growth;
• Planning and implementing high impact donor and prospect events in the region;
• Working cross functionally within the region to involve donors in building the
organizationʼs political strength.
Desired Skills and Characteristics
The ideal candidate will possess the following:
• Proven track record as an individual major-gifts fundraiser (for gifts of
$1,000+);
• A minimum of 5-6 years working in progressively responsible positions for a non-profit,
advocacy or political organization or campaign;
• Superb communications skills – verbal and written;
• Personally engaging and eager to work with leaders and staff, able to build
and cultivate relationships with a broad range of activists, leaders, and
community contacts;
• Comfortable working with top-level business and civic leaders;
• Highly organized, able to prioritize multiple tasks and deadlines;
• Eager to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, team-oriented,
and goal-driven environment;
• Outgoing and positive attitude;
• Experience managing fundraising events;
• A strong commitment to J Streetʼs mission, including: Support for a secure,
Jewish and democratic future for Israel, and advocating an active U.S.
leadership role to help achieve a two-state solution;
• Ability to clearly communicate J Streetʼs positions on policy matters
Compensation and Hours
Salary for this position will be commensurate with skills and experience. Duties may
fluctuate based on J Street event and staff travel schedules. Benefits include paid
vacation and sick leave, paid time off on federal and Jewish holidays, health and dental
insurance, company paid life insurance, 401k and flexible spending account.
To Apply for the Position
Please send an email to resumes@jstreet.org with "Southwest Finance Director" in
the subject line along with a cover letter explaining why you want to work at J Street and why you would excel at this job.
ORGANIZATION
J Street is the political home for pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans working for the future of Israel as the democratic homeland of the Jewish people. The organization believes that preserving Israel's Jewish and democratic character depends on achieving a two- state solution, resulting in a Palestinian state living alongside Israel in peace and security.
Launched in 2008 with four staff and a limited budget, J Street is now an $8 million
organization with a national staff of 60. J Street has an expansive network of supporters
engaged in pro-Israel, pro-peace activism in their communities, promoting active US leadership to achieve a two-state solution.
J Street focuses its work on three main areas: (1) Lobbying and advocating for Middle East policy changes in Congress, the media, and the Jewish community; (2) Endorsing and raising money for federal candidates who share J Street's agenda; and (3) Educating the public and raising awareness of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the two-state solution.
The J Street family of organizations is comprised of J Street, JStreetPAC, and the J Street Education Fund. J Street is a 501(c)(4) organization and registered lobby that seeks to complement the work of existing organizations and individuals that share J Street's agenda through lobbying and advocacy efforts. JStreetPAC is the largest pro-Israel, pro-peace Political Action Committee in the US and the first PAC formed to endorse and raise money for federal candidates who champion pro- Israel, pro-peace policies, including a two-state solution. In 2014, JStreetPAC distributed a record high of $2.4 million to 95 endorsed candidates, which led to 79 electoral victories.
The J Street Education Fund (JSEF), a legally independent 501(c)(3) organization that works to open up the conversation on Israel in the American Jewish community, educate Americans and elected officials about the urgent need for a two-state solution, and organize Americans in support of active US leadership to achieve this objective. JSEF's operations include its national Field, J Street U, Rabbinic and educational programs.