Overview
Chief Development Officer Jobs in Los Angeles, CA at Wilshire Boulevard Temple
Title: Chief Development Officer
Company: Wilshire Boulevard Temple
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Chief Development Officer
Wilshire Boulevard Temple | Los Angeles, CA
About Wilshire Boulevard Temple
Founded in 1862, Wilshire Boulevard Temple is the oldest Jewish congregation in Los Angeles and a preeminent pillar of Jewish life in the United States. For over 160 years, Wilshire Boulevard Temple has served as a spiritual home, a civic landmark, and a vital cornerstone for Southern California.
Wilshire Boulevard Temple is a multi-campus institution that extends far beyond the sanctuary, encompassing prestigious schools, summer camps, comprehensive social services, and vibrant cultural programming. Few organizations operate at the intersection of spiritual leadership, community building, education, and public impact with the breadth and visibility of Wilshire Boulevard Temple.
The Opportunity
Wilshire Boulevard Temple seeks a Chief Development Officer to lead a comprehensive, institution-wide development program during a period of growth and transformation. This person is responsible for architecting and executing strategies to grow philanthropic revenue, helping to endure the Temple’s vitality and mission-driven priorities.
The Chief Development Officer will oversee all aspects of annual giving, major gifts, capital and endowment campaigns, planned giving, donor stewardship, sponsorships, and institutional fundraising initiatives.
Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Development Officer will work in close partnership with the Clergy, Advancement Committee, and Senior Leadership. The successful candidate will align fundraising priorities, donor communications, and data-driven systems to reflect the Temple’s historic brand and future aspirations.
This is an exceptional opportunity for an accomplished Chief Development Officer to help shape the future of one of the country’s most historic and respected Jewish institutions.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- Lead the creation of a multi-year roadmap for all fundraising streams, including the Annual Fund, capital campaigns, endowment growth, and planned giving
- Establish clear annual benchmarks and implement evaluation tools to assess campaign progress.
- Collaborate with senior leadership and clergy to ensure development goals support the broader mission of the Temple’s schools, camps, and programs.
- Implementation of strategic planning recommendations for enhancements to the annual campaign and marketing plan for new membership.
Fundraising & Campaign Management
- Develop and oversee annual fundraising streams, including the Annual Fund, High Holiday Appeals, membership-to-annual giving transitions, major gifts, capital and endowment fundraising.
- Ensure that benchmarks and evaluation tools are in place to assess campaign progress.
- Design and execute robust capital and endowment campaigns, with customized donor strategies and proposals that align donor interests with institutional priorities.
- Partner with senior leadership and trustees on high-level donor engagement and solicitation strategies.
- Manages a portfolio of high-net-worth prospects, leading the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major six- and seven-figure gifts.
- Ensure exceptional stewardship practices and donor recognition programs that strengthen long-term major donor relationships and increase philanthropic investment.
Advancement Operations & Systems
- Oversee the development budget and manage external vendors/consultants to assist with Annual Fund efforts
- Lead the optimization of the CRM (database) for gift processing, acknowledgments, and reporting.
- Support the transition toward AI-enabled donor engagement, utilizing data analytics for better segmentation and personalized outreach.
Lay Leadership & Team Management
- Work alongside Clergy, the Advancement Committee, the Board and senior leadership to empower lay leaders to be effective in outreach, cultivation and solicitation.
- Brief and prepare the Senior Rabbi and Board members for the High Holidays Appeal and public appearances.
- Lead, mentor, and grow a professional development team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Provide strategic leadership and supervision to the Marketing Director and Communications Director.
- Help to guide the integration of communications and membership in building the annual fundraising efforts
Qualifications
- Experience: Minimum of 10 years in nonprofit development, with at least 2 years in a supervisory role.
- Proven Track Record: Success in personally closing six- and seven-figure gifts, as well as leading successful capital or endowment campaigns.
- Management Expertise: Experience managing and mentoring a diverse team of professionals across fundraising, membership, marketing, and communications functions.
- Communication: Excellent writing and speaking skills; the ability to translate institutional needs into "case for support" messaging that inspires action.
- Cultural Competency: Deep understanding of Jewish traditions, communal values, and the rhythms of the Jewish calendar.
- Technical Literacy: Proficiency in CRM management (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce) and an interest in emerging AI tools for philanthropic growth.
- Education: Bachelor’s degree required; CFRE or advanced degree preferred.
Preferred Attributes
- Direct experience within a large synagogue, Jewish communal organization, or complex multi-campus institution (e.g., university or hospital).
- An understanding of the Los Angeles philanthropic landscape and Jewish civic ecosystem.
- A sophisticated professional presence comfortable engaging with CEOs, philanthropists, board members, and community leaders.
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary: A generous compensation package will be offered commensurate with experience
- Benefits: Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance; robust retirement plan contributions; generous PTO; and dedicated support for professional development.
To Apply:
Candidates are invited to submit a cover letter with their resume at [email protected]
