UpStart
About Us
UpStart accelerates growth, nurtures ideas, and creates impactful experiences for the Jewish community by connecting innovative entrepreneurs with the expertise, community, and capital they need. For over fifteen years, we have been dedicated to supporting social entrepreneurs who are helping to revitalize Jewish life. With hundreds of ventures supported, we are now excited to implement a new Strategic Plan that places social entrepreneurs at the heart of our mission.
Inclusive Hiring Commitment
At UpStart, we are guided by values that promote diverse, equitable, and inclusive communities. We encourage a wide range of applicants, recognizing that individuals often see themselves represented in job postings differently. We invite you to apply even if you don't meet all the criteria, as we believe talent comes from various backgrounds. We especially welcome individuals from historically marginalized or underrepresented groups.
Position Summary
We are looking for a visionary and results-oriented Director of Philanthropic Development to join our leadership team. This integral position focuses on enhancing UpStart's philanthropic revenue strategy to promote sustainable growth and community impact. With an annual budget of $5 million, we seek an individual who excels in relationship building, is confident in making impactful asks, and has a track record of securing transformative gifts.
The Director will work directly with the CEO and collaborate with senior leadership to implement a comprehensive development plan, ensuring strong engagement with major donors and institutional funders. This role has a strategic emphasis on philanthropy while also working toward diversifying revenue through creative initiatives. Additionally, the Director will guide our Senior Director of Board Relations & Major Gifts by fostering board member engagement as pivotal philanthropic advocates.
This position may be home-based but requires up to 20% travel to key philanthropic locations.
Responsibilities
Lead strategic initiatives to drive philanthropic revenue growth through major gifts, foundation grants, and institutional partnerships.
Design and execute a broad fundraising strategy aimed at diversifying and increasing revenue beyond the current $5 million base.
Collaborate with the CEO, Deputy CEO, and other leaders to enhance their donor relationships and cultivate a culture of philanthropy within UpStart.
Identify, nurture, solicit, and manage relationships with a portfolio of major donors and foundation prospects.
Work in partnership with the Chief Philanthropic Engagement Officer to incorporate a revenue diversification approach into the fundraising strategy.
Board Development & Engagement
Facilitate the active engagement of UpStart’s Board of Directors in fundraising activities.
Assist the CEO and Senior Director, Board Relations & Major Gifts, to promote board member contributions and active participation in fundraising.
Provide support to the Board Development Committee to drive fundraising strategies.
Skills and Experience
10-12 years of experience in fundraising or development, particularly in major gifts and institutional giving.
A proven record of securing major philanthropic contributions, ideally managing a fundraising portfolio of over $10 million.
A strong commitment to UpStart's mission and values enhancing the future of the Jewish community.
A solid understanding of North American Jewish identity and sensitivity to discussions on Israel.
Excellent writing and storytelling abilities.
Experienced in leading high-performance teams and fostering collaboration across executive roles.
Exceptional relationship management and communication skills.
Familiarity with development software and tools for donor research and management.
A strong dedication to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in all areas of work.
An adaptable leader able to thrive in a dynamic organizational environment.
Devotion to UpStart’s core values and guiding principles in client and program partnerships.
Compensation and Benefits
To promote equitable pay, UpStart utilizes labor market analysis to determine competitive salaries across all roles. The starting annual salary for this role is $145,000.
In addition to a competitive salary, UpStart offers a robust benefits package, which includes:
Comprehensive health insurance with full employer coverage.
Life and disability insurance.
Generous parental leave policy with 16 weeks paid time off.
Employer-funded health reimbursement for travel-related medical expenses.
Flexible spending accounts and commuter benefits.
401K plan with employer matching.
Flexible paid time off policy.
Annual professional development stipend.
Office setup support and technology provision.
Monthly cell phone allowance.
Paid time off for Jewish holidays.
A one-month paid sabbatical after every five years of dedicated service.
A supportive workplace culture.
How to Apply
If you are interested in joining our team, please submit your resume along with a thoughtful cover letter. UpStart is committed to including all qualified individuals. Please reach out if you need any accommodations during the application process.
Hiring Process Overview:
Submit your application with a resume and cover letter.
Participate in a phone screening with an UpStart recruiter.
Attend a video interview with the hiring manager.
Engage in a video interview with a panel of UpStart employees.
Reference checks will be conducted to verify your experience.