Chief Impact Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

The Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund is a philanthropic catalyst, connecting Bay Area Jews – of all ages, backgrounds, and perspectives – to the power we have as a community to improve the world. We partner with donors, organizations, and foundations to address the pressing issues facing our community and develop innovative strategies that result in deep and lasting impact.

Our vision is a vibrant, connected, and enduring Jewish community that is a force for good locally, in Israel, and around the world. Our work is guided by the timeless Jewish values of kehilla (community), tzedakah (giving with just intention), and tikkun olam (repairing the world).

The Federation seeks highly motivated individuals with a variety of skill sets to build the next generation of Federation engagement. We are especially interested in forward-thinking, collaborative, and open-minded candidates who are willing to take risks, possess a high level of integrity, and model a positive attitude that inspires confidence.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

As religion, ethnicity, and organizational life are shifting in the 21st century to become more network-based and ever more personal, Jewish engagement and Jewish communal life are shifting as well. The Bay Area is an epicenter for that change. As such, the Jewish Community Federation has an opportunity to invent new models for supporting Jewish philanthropy and generating impact on the community within the context of a deep commitment to Jewish tradition and community.

POSITION SUMMARY 

A new position at Federation, the Chief Impact Officer will lead the development and implementation of impact strategies to support the Federation’s vision for the community - diverse and dynamic Bay Area Jewish communities, deeply engaged in Jewish life and doing good locally, in Israel and around the world. The vast resources available in this community, the exceptional creativity in new Jewish life and this Federation’s long legacy of community building will all be important as you help influence the lives of the 450,000 people living in Jewish households and the many generous present and future philanthropists in the Bay Area, as will our historic responsibility for and connection to global Jewry, including Israel, and the opportunity to help those in the Bay Area (Jews and not only Jews) live well and thrive.

Following a 2018 demographic and sociological study of Bay Area Jewish life (“Portrait of Bay Area Jewry”), the Federation recently finalized a strategic direction (see attached) and is shifting its philanthropic model, putting greater emphasis on its historic and expansive work in donor-advised giving and on annual giving designated for a high-priority strategic initiative focused on dramatically increasing Bay Area Jewish engagement. These shifts will influence the entire organization, demanding a new staffing structure and a new culture of collaboration. Working with partners at the executive level, the Chief Impact Officer will be a key architect of these changes.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION

• Serve as a key member of the Federation’s leadership team to implement the Federation’s vision, mission, and goals, and foster a culture that makes the Federation a workplace of choice.
• Develop an organization-wide approach to drive impact across the Federation in alignment with the new strategic direction, including the Engagement Initiative, Resilience and Security Portfolio, donor-directed philanthropic activities, impact investing, giving circles, and more.
• Provide direct supervision to two Managing Directors of Community Impact, the Director of Engagement for Israel and Global, and the Israel Office Director. In this capacity:
• Support development and implementation of the Engagement Initiative to dramatically increase the engagement of young Bay Area Jews through new partnerships, shared measures of success, networked grant initiatives, and continuous re-tooling for maximum impact.
• Support implementation of the Resilience and Security portfolio, including alignment of local and global grantmaking with Federation’s strategic direction, and development of forward-facing plans and new strategies to achieve goals.
• Support the refocusing of Israel grantmaking, and help advance a new paradigm for Israel engagement.
• Manage Community Impact professional team, with a focus on creating a collaborative, outcome-focused, and healthy work environment. Implement department meetings, develop systems for communication and collaboration cross-functionally with other Federation teams, and mentor team members for future growth and leadership.
• Serve as professional lead for lay committee engaged in Community Impact work (currently, the Executive Grantmaking Committee). Assess needs for lay involvement in alignment with the new strategic direction and develop an appropriate plan for meaningful lay involvement.
• Collaborate with Development Team to create/implement a new giving paradigm to support Federation impact and guide approaches to annual and Centennial Campaign/planned giving. Participate in select direct solicitation of individuals and foundations, and steward funding partners.
• Collaborate with Philanthropy Team to quantify the impact of donor-advised philanthropy, create connections (based on donor interest) with Federation and community impact priorities, and work to align Philanthropy activities such as giving circles with the Federation’s strategic direction.
• Partner with Marketing/Communications Team to support organizational re-branding, and develop/implement a communications strategy that highlights Federation impact across all areas.
• Be a visible face of the Federation in the community, developing relationships with organizational partners, and providing strong content, thought leadership, and strategy to address complex issues in the Jewish community.
• Guide development of a strategic system of impact evaluation across the Federation, to quantify and communicate impact and utilize data to re-tool strategies to increase the short and long-term effectiveness.
• Oversee and manage the departmental budget, including the development of multi-year projections to quantify impact needs and drive fundraising targets.

EDUCATION OR TRAINING EQUIVALENT 

• Graduate degree (at least MA or equivalent)

QUALIFICATIONS (SKILLS, ABILITIES, LICENSES)

• Proven track record of focused, issues-oriented strategic leadership
• At least 15 years of senior-level management or equivalent experience
• Experience developing and leading a multi-organizational impact project
• Experience with Jewish communal life, particularly Jewish education and engagement,
• Experience in developing and assessing Jewish engagement programs and how they can be leveraged for greater impact across the Bay Area
• Experience with leading productive teams, grantmaking and administration, and philanthropy
• Experience developing the trust of senior and experienced volunteers
• Literacy in financial management and budget development

TO APPLY

Please send a copy of your resume with a cover letter. All applications and inquiries will receive a response and will be kept strictly confidential.

Salary commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits — medical, dental, vision, vacation, sick pay, holidays (including Jewish), and retirement plan.