Director, Affinity Groups

Overview

Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) is a fundraising organization dedicated to supporting the men and women of the IDF. We seek a full-time Manager for Affinity Groups to support and expand our strategies to grow the donor base in various sub-markets of the community.

Position Summary

FIDF is hiring a Manager for Affinity Groups to join the Northeast Region team. This role focuses on making connections, motivating, and inspiring donors to achieve fundraising results. The ideal candidate will have a poised, engaging, and empathetic communication style, with a natural warmth and enthusiasm.

Essential Job Duties

• Leadership & Fundraising Strategy Across Affinity Groups: Work with the team to lead, develop, implement, and manage short- and long-term giving goals and strategies for the affinity groups in alignment with FIDF's mission and fundraising priorities.

• Create annual work plans, set measurable goals, and implement donor stewardship strategies in accordance with expectations set by manager(s) and the national team.

• Achieve assigned fundraising and engagement goals through donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

• Donor Relations & Prospect Management: Serve as the primary relationship manager for an assigned portfolio of donors. Research, identify, and develop new prospects; cultivate and steward donors at all giving levels. Design and implement customized stewardship plans, including donor recognition and engagement activities. Maintain accurate prospect and donor information using FIDF’s prospect management database.

• Volunteer & Lay Leadership Engagement: Identify, recruit, and partner with lay leaders, organizations, businesses, and firms to strengthen the Affinity Groups' initiatives. Build community support for FIDF by maintaining relationships with partner organizations, businesses, and individuals. Work closely with volunteer leadership to support peer-to-peer fundraising and engagement efforts.

• Events & Programming: Coordinate and support regional events, including Affinity group dinners, parlor meetings, community events, and the Women’s Annual Luncheon. Manage the planning and implementation of special events focused on donor recognition, stewardship, and fundraising. Create and maintain an annual calendar of Affinity Group events. Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure events align with FIDF branding, messaging, and operational standards.

• Collaboration & Communication: Work effectively with FIDF colleagues across National departments and Northeast Regional staff to provide support and value to the team. Collaborate on campaign-related materials, including donor communications, billing, acknowledgments, and event materials, ensuring accuracy and consistency of messaging. Represent FIDF professionally at events and community engagements.

• Leadership, Reporting & Administration: Mentor, train, and support the professional development of direct report(s). Provide requested reports and updates; collaborate closely with manager(s) and the regional team on progress and strategy. Ensure compliance with FIDF policies, procedures, and development best practices. Assume other responsibilities as requested.

• Lay Leadership: Maintain clear, consistent communication with lay leaders, ensuring they have the information and support needed for the Chapter’s success. Create/partner a local Board which will serve as a key resource in donor/prospect cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts. Provide timely, accurate reporting to the Regional Vice President and lay leaders to support strategic decision-making.

Key Performance Indicators

• Develop and maintain approximately 120 portfolio donor relationships.

• Develop and maintain approximately 200 additional donor relationships.

• Cultivate new and steward existing donors >$5,000.

• Find and secure new donors >$1,800.

• Collaborate with the Planned Giving and Foundations Department to refer a minimum amount of planned giving and foundation prospects to support the Chapter’s goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college/university

• Minimum 5-7 years sales or fundraising experience

• Understanding of local Jewish community not required, but preferred

• Excellent written, oral, and communication skills

• Knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 applications required and experience using CRM tools, with Raisers Edge experience preferred

• Ability to travel locally required. Occasional international travel to Israel as well as evening and working on Sunday required

Job Qualities

• Manage multiple initiatives occurring simultaneously

• Sense of urgency for goal achievement within a fast-paced environment

• High focus on people and relationships

• Enthusiastic communicator, persuasive “selling” style through a collaborative approach

• Leadership based on ability to motivate others

• Strong commitment to results

• Delegate authority readily

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision

• Early dismissal for Shabbat

• 403b with employer matching

• Life Insurance

• Disability Insurance

• FSA

• Jewish and Federal paid holidays, sick days and vacation

Compensation

Compensation is commensurate with experience.

EEO Statement

FIDF is an equal opportunity employer committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.