National Director of Philanthropy

Yad Vashem USA Foundation

National Director of Philanthropy

New York, NY

Background

Yad Vashem’s mission is to lead the documentation, research,
education, and commemoration of the Holocaust, and to convey the
chronicles of this singular Jewish and human event to every person
in Israel, to the Jewish people, and to every significant and
relevant audience worldwide. 

The recent establishment of Yad Vashem USA Foundation (YVUSA)
was driven by that mission and to address the challenges we face as
we enter an era with no more Holocaust survivors among us. This new
reality requires new ways of engaging communities around the United
States in Holocaust awareness and education, which requires Yad
Vashem to initiate organizational renewal, financial stabilization,
and updated development plans to ensure that its message of
Holocaust remembrance resonates for generations to come. By taking
direct responsibility and oversight for all its activities
worldwide, Yad Vashem aims to enhance its global content and
distribution, increase efficiency in fundraising, and maintain its
operational strength and sustainability for the future.

Position

Yad Vashem USA Foundation (YVUSA) seeks a dynamic, outcome
driven, and entrepreneurial leader with demonstrated success as a
fundraising strategist, major gift solicitor, and team supervisor
to serve as its inaugural National Director of Philanthropy.
Working closely with Yad Vashem’s Israel-based Director of United
States Desk, the National Director of Philanthropy will be a
unique, compelling, and critically important role for a top-tier
executive to help advance next-generation Holocaust education and
continued impact throughout the world, as spearheaded by Yad
Vashem.

The National Director of Philanthropy will join YVUSA at an
exciting moment of transition and will have the unique opportunity
to chart a new course for organizational growth. As part of this
new role, the National Director of Philanthropy will develop
strategies to raise the overall competitive position with existing
donors of Holocaust research, scholarship, and education (as
spearheaded by Yad Vashem), and to design and drive initiatives
that enable the organization to tap into new segments of the donor
marketplace. A significant focus will be directed towards
developing major donor relationships and implementing individual
donor and foundation solicitation and stewardship strategies. The
National Director of Philanthropy will guide fundraising programs
and activities that strengthen and expand the organization’s
visibility and brand and will work closely with counterparts in
Israel to plan and implement high impact, successful fundraising
initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Represent Yad Vashem in the United States and raise its profile
  across the country and connecting interested individuals and
  foundations with its shared vision, mission, and work.
• Advise Yad Vashem on how and where to strategically engage in
  the United States.
• Expand the US donor base and identify and build relationships
  with existing and new donors across denominations, generations, and
  geographies and serve as a conduit between US-based donors and Yad
  Vashem and its shared mission.
• Identify, develop, and recommend to Yad Vashem high-potential
  partnerships that could support and enhance advancement of fund
  development and US engagement strategies.
• Work closely with Yad Vashem’s Projects Department to develop,
  implement, and leverage compelling programs of interest to US
  donors and which US donors can support.
• Oversee the provision of logistical support for the
  implementation of fund-development-related Yad Vashem events and
  programs within the United States.
• Identify and facilitate opportunities for Yad Vashem leadership
  to connect with US donors, both in Israel and the United States,
  and for US donors to visit Yad Vashem in Israel.
• Collaborate with Yad Vashem to design, plan, and connect US
  donors with Mission opportunities; build and nurture long-term
  relationships with Mission participants and other returning
  visitors to Yad Vashem as they forge and deepen their connection to
  Yad Vashem and its work.
• Advise Yad Vashem on engagement priorities, communication
  priorities, and messaging tailored to the US community; support Yad
  Vashem communications efforts as needed.
• Initially identify and connect with individuals who have made
  bequests either directly to or intended to benefit Yad Vashem,
  providing support as necessary to update individual bequests. Over
  time, develop and implement a planned giving strategy and the
  infrastructure to support a full range of planned giving
  options.
• Support and engage the YVUSA Board of Directors; collaborate
  with Yad Vashem in its efforts to build and support US and
  international honorary and advisory bodies linked to fund
  development and fund development priorities.
• Build and nurture the structure, infrastructure, and
  organizational culture needed to succeed in achieving Yad Vashem’s
  goals for US presence and fund development.
• Build and sustain meaningful relationships with Yad Vashem
  professionals through Yad Vashem’s US Desk and back-office
  teams.

Qualifications

• Passion for Yad Vashem’s vision and mission.
• Demonstrated success developing and implementing strategic
  plans and tasks with clear goals, objectives, and measurement
  tools. 
• Demonstrated success in fundraising, and broad knowledge of all
  areas of fundraising including individual major gifts, planned
  giving, events, and foundation support. 
• Deep understanding of the philanthropic landscape in the United
  States, and familiarity with Jewish community structures and
  institutions.
• Experience working with Israel-based philanthropic
  organizations.
• Ability to learn and gain deep understanding of a diverse range
  of programs and their impact to meaningfully engage philanthropic
  support. Proficiency in articulating programmatic impact to
  prospective donors.
• A successful track record with major gift solicitation in the
  six and seven figure range. 
• Strong interpersonal skills. Collaborative, team-driven nature
  with the ability to partner internally with cross-functional teams
  and externally with Yad Vashem partners.
• Excellent attention to detail, responsiveness, and creative
  problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with an
  emphasis on the ability to persuade and influence others around
  ideas, decisions, and financial support.
• Strong leadership, management and supervision skills that
  include the ability to inspire, influence, and hold a team
  accountable to high standards and goals.
• Experience with budgeting and financial oversight. 
• Experience partnering with a team to create an effective and
  innovative marketing and communications plan. 
• A dedicated spirit and commitment to the work of Yad
  Vashem.
• Willingness to travel nationally and to Israel.

Salary

The starting salary for this position is $300,000 and can be
adjusted based on experience. 

Dara Klarfeld, CEO

[email protected]

Tani Weissman, Principal

[email protected]

Nina Cogan, Talent Consultant

[email protected]

Sarah Skrovan, Senior Associate

[email protected]