Senior Director, Development

About Prizmah

Prizmah is the network for Jewish day schools across North America. We partner with day schools, yeshivas, philanthropists, and communities from all denominations, helping them grow their reach and impact and tackle the challenges on their paths to success.

Educating our children is the most important investment we can make in their future. Jewish day schools inspire and nurture young people, prepare them for remarkable and meaningful lives, and enable them to thrive.

Prizmah enhances the ability of schools to excel. We build networks for schools and their supporters to connect, learn, and drive impact: deepening talent by investing in professional and lay leaders, catalyzing resources to generate funding for schools to flourish, and accelerating educational innovation that empowers students. At Prizmah, we see what is possible for Jewish day schools, and we're passionate about making that vision a reality.

Why This Role Matters

We're looking for a Senior Director, Development who will help us grow the resources, relationships, and reputation that move Prizmah's mission forward, for Prizmah and for the field we serve. You'll build close relationships with the donors and funders who invest in Jewish day schools, bring new and emerging donors into that circle, and shape how Prizmah thanks and connects with everyone who supports our work.

We're a unified Advancement team of development and marketing and communications professionals, and we use AI every day to do our best work, from grant writing and reporting to prospect research and donor communications. You'll work closely with the Chief Advancement Officer, Advancement colleagues, and program leaders across Prizmah, and you'll help grow development skills on our team and across the day school field.

What You'll Own

Donor Relationships

• Own a growing portfolio of donors, prospects, and institutional funders through the full cycle of cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

• Plan and implement moves management so every donor receives personal, strategic touches throughout the year, with proposals that connect each donor's interests to Prizmah's work.

• Find and build new relationships, engaging the next generation of day school supporters and exploring new donor markets.

• Keep board members and lay leaders in your portfolio informed, connected, and engaged, and introduce prospects to program colleagues so they see the full range of Prizmah's work.

Grants and Reports

• Write grant proposals and reports that make a compelling case for Prizmah's impact and meet each funder's expectations.

• Research, draft, and refine proposals and reports using AI and other tools while ensuring your judgment and voice shape the final work.

• Partner with program colleagues to put the goals, outcomes, and value of their programs into words, so those programs grow stronger and more fundable.

Stewardship Strategy

• Lead the development of Prizmah's organization-wide approach to stewardship, so every donor feels connected to Prizmah and the impact of their giving.

• Shape how we honor and engage donor groups as a whole, including the Blue Diamond Giving Society, the Prizmah Conference attendees, and other regular touchpoints.

• Track donor retention and renewal over time and use what you learn to strengthen our approach.

Growing Development Skills and Team Partnership

• Bring Prizmah colleagues into development work, helping them identify prospects, join in cultivation and stewardship, and share stories from their work in the field.

• Support the growth of fellow professionals on the Advancement team through collaboration and shared expertise.

• Serve as a resource for development professionals in Jewish day schools, partnering with Prizmah's School Advancement team and participating in Prizmah's development communities.

• Serve as a thought partner to the Chief Advancement Officer on Advancement strategy and priorities.

• Attend Prizmah programs and speak about their impact with confidence.

What Success Looks Like

In your first 12 months, a successful person in this role will:

• Build a growing portfolio of 25 to 35 donors and prospects, including new and emerging donors.

• Build close relationships with those donors.

• Develop an approved organizational strategy for stewardship and connection.

• Learn Prizmah's core priorities and prepare cases for support that encourage investment on those projects.

Who Thrives in This Role

You'll likely be successful if you:

• Are passionately committed to Jewish day schools.

• Love building relationships and can move easily from big-picture strategy to the ask.

• Write with warmth and clarity, telling Prizmah's story in donor-centric language.

• Are curious and fluent with AI tools, and use them with good judgment to work faster and better.

• Lead with a service mindset and enjoy helping colleagues grow their skills.

• Value transparency and share work early so the right people can partner from the start.

• Prefer high-quality completion to unfinished perfection, and keep many priorities moving at once.

• Feel at home with senior professionals, board members, and lay leaders alike.

• Can effectively work independently in a remote environment.

• Are a self-starter and a problem solver.

Experience and Qualifications

We recognize that great candidates come from many paths. You may bring:

• 6 to 8 years of nonprofit fundraising experience, including relationships with major donors and institutional funders.

• A track record of closing five- and six-figure plus gifts.

• Experience writing grant proposals and reports.

• Experience with donor databases, moves management, and prospect research.

• Knowledge of the Jewish philanthropic landscape in North America.

• Experience in Jewish education, Jewish day schools, or a related field.

What We Offer

• Prizmah offers an excellent benefits package that includes comprehensive health insurance with a range of plans to select from, matching contributions to 401k, flexible spending accounts, vacation and sick time, and parental leave.

• A remote work environment that prioritizes building a strong workplace culture. We value learning and professional development. You will be a part of a great team that cares deeply about the work we do and each other.

• Early close on Fridays for Shabbat and on the Erev (eve) of other Jewish holidays. Closed for Jewish holidays.

• Competitive salary in the non-profit field. Prizmah's salary ranges are based on education, experience, and skill set required for each role. If your salary expectations are different and/or you have more experience than required, let's talk.

Prizmah is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all individuals. We value and are committed to advancing diversity, equity, perspective, inclusion, justice, and experience brought by people from all backgrounds. We strive for our team to reflect the diverse community we serve. Prizmah provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, sex, pregnancy, veteran status, marital status, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical ability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, neurodiversity, any other consideration made unlawful by applicable federal, state, or local laws. In addition, the organization affirmatively seeks to advance the principles of equal employment opportunity as it applies to all policies and procedures relating to recruitment and hiring, compensation, benefits, termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment.