Orthodox Union Careers

Who We Are:

NCSY, a program of the Orthodox Union, connects with Jewish teens through innovative, cutting-edge social and recreational programs to develop a positive Jewish identity. NCSY inspires Jewish teens through informal Jewish education, retreats and summer programs. NCSY empowers teens through leadership development and guidance to become passionately committed leaders of the Jewish community and instruments for positive change and renewal. 

The Orthodox Union (OU) is one of the largest Orthodox Jewish organizations in the United States. Founded in 1898, the OU supports a network of synagogues, youth programs, Jewish and Religious Zionist advocacy programs, programs for the disabled, localized religious study programs, and international units. The OU maintains a kosher certification service, whose circled U symbol, Ⓤ, is found on the labels of many kosher commercial and consumer food products.

Position Summary:

NCSY is seeking a dynamic, entrepreneurial, and results-oriented fundraising professional to serve as Senior Director of Development for Southern NCSY. This senior leadership role is responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy that generates $6 million annually in philanthropic support for Southern NCSY's programs, strategic priorities, and long-term growth.

Reporting to the Regional Director and working closely with the Managing Director of Strategy & Development, the Senior Director of Development will serve as the region's lead fundraising professional. This individual will be responsible for major gifts, foundation and federation relations, donor strategy, community partnerships, lay leadership engagement, fundraising campaigns, and development operations.

The Senior Director will maintain a personal fundraising portfolio with annual goals of at least $1 million while also helping identify, cultivate, and advance opportunities that support NCSY's broader national fundraising priorities. The successful candidate will combine strategic leadership with frontline fundraising excellence and a proven ability to secure significant philanthropic investments.

Responsibility:

Revenue Leadership & Fundraising Strategy

• Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy designed to generate $6 million annually.
• Create annual and multi-year fundraising plans aligned with NCSY's strategic priorities.
• Establish fundraising goals by donor segment, community, campaign, and program area.
• Monitor fundraising performance, pipeline health, forecasting, and campaign effectiveness.
• Lead fundraising planning sessions and implement accountability systems that drive results.
• Identify opportunities for growth through major gifts, foundations, federations, grants, corporate partnerships, and planned giving.
• Ensure Southern NCSY meets or exceeds annual fundraising targets.

Major Gifts & Portfolio Management

• Maintain and actively manage a portfolio of major donors and high-capacity prospects.
• Achieve annual personal fundraising goals of $1 million or more.
• Conduct regular donor visits, cultivation meetings, solicitations, and stewardship activities.
• Secure leadership gifts, multi-year commitments, and transformational investments.
• Develop individualized donor engagement strategies and stewardship plans.
• Build strong relationships with parents, alumni, lay leaders, foundations, and community stakeholders.
• Partner with volunteer leaders and national development staff on major gift opportunities.

National Development Partnership

• Collaborate with the Managing Director of Strategy & Development to identify and cultivate prospects capable of supporting national NCSY initiatives.
• Assist in advancing principal gift opportunities that may benefit Southern NCSY, national priorities, or both.
• Coordinate regional and national donor strategies to maximize philanthropic impact.
• Participate in national fundraising campaigns, donor missions, and strategic initiatives.
• Serve as a bridge between Southern NCSY's donor community and national fundraising efforts.

Community Relations & Lay Leadership Development

• Serve as an ambassador for NCSY and JSU throughout the region.
• Build relationships with synagogues, schools, federations, foundations, and communal organizations.
• Recruit, engage, and steward volunteer leaders, advisory board members, and community advocates.
• Support the development of local fundraising committees and leadership structures.
• Increase awareness and support for NCSY's mission and impact throughout the Jewish community.

Campaigns, Events & Donor Engagement

• Lead regional fundraising campaigns and strategic development initiatives.
• Oversee donor events, parlor meetings, cultivation gatherings, and fundraising receptions.
• Partner with program staff to communicate program impact and compelling student success stories.
• Develop donor communications and stewardship strategies that strengthen long-term engagement.

Development Operations & Reporting

• Partner with regional and national leadership to develop fundraising budgets and revenue forecasts.
• Ensure accurate donor tracking, reporting, and CRM management.
• Monitor fundraising activity through dashboards and key performance indicators.
• Provide regular reports on fundraising progress, pipeline development, and campaign performance.
• Implement best practices for donor stewardship, moves management, and development operations.

Qualifications:

• 7+ years of successful fundraising experience, including major gift fundraising and donor portfolio management.
• Demonstrated success securing five- and six-figure gifts.
• Proven ability to manage significant revenue goals and fundraising strategy.
• Strong relationship-building, networking, and communication skills.
• Ability to inspire, influence, and engage volunteer leadership.
• Familiarity with the Jewish communal landscape preferred.
• Experience with CRM systems, donor analytics, and fundraising best practices.
• Passion for NCSY's mission and commitment to Jewish teen engagement.
• Willingness to travel throughout the region and work occasional evenings and weekends.

Measures of Success:

• Achievement of Southern NCSY's $6 million annual fundraising goal.
• Achievement of a personal fundraising goal of $1 million+ annually.
• Growth in major donor, foundation, and federation support.
• Increased number of leadership gifts and multi-year commitments.
• Expansion of qualified major donor pipeline opportunities.
• Growth in volunteer leadership engagement and fundraising participation.
• Successful identification and advancement of national-level donor opportunities.
• Development of strong fundraising systems, reporting, and accountability structures.

Salary and Benefits:

This position has a competitive salary, commensurate with experience.

Health, Dental & Vision Insurance:
The OU offers health insurance through an Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA). Instead of a single group plan, employees have the freedom to choose their own health insurance plan that fits their personal and family needs. The OU contributes a generous monthly amount directly toward your premium, making coverage more flexible, affordable, and tailored to you.

Employees enrolled in our health plan also receive an annual BeniComp stipend, a supplemental benefit that reimburses eligible medical, pharmaceutical, dental, and vision expenses.

In addition, the OU offers employees group dental and vision insurance through MetLife.

Additional Benefits and Perks: 

• 10 paid sick days
• 10-15 paid vacation days
• Paid Jewish and Federal holidays
• Short Fridays to accommodate for Sabbath observance
• Free life and disability insurance
• Discounted continuing education opportunities
• 403(b) retirement plan with a 5% employer match after 3 years (requires a minimum 2% employee contribution)