Development Officer, Education, at the Jewish Museum

Job Title: Development Officer

Job Status: Full-time

The Jewish Museum:

The Jewish Museum serves people of all religious, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds through world-class art exhibitions ranging from ancient to contemporary. Founded in 1904 and located on New York City’s Museum Mile, the Jewish Museum aspires to be the global leader at the center of Jewish culture.

The Museum maintains a unique collection of nearly 30,000 works of art, ceremonial objects, and media reflecting the global Jewish experience over more than 4,000 years. The Museum’s thought-provoking, innovative, and intellectually stimulating exhibitions and education programs serve a wide range of audiences, including families, teens, students, educators, and visitors with disabilities. As an identity-based institution, the Museum plays an important role among cultural institutions, challenging all forms of bigotry and discrimination and promoting understanding among wide audiences. The Jewish Museum invites applicants of all backgrounds to consider joining the Museum in its work.

The Jewish Museum is committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all and to promoting a positive work culture that celebrates difference, challenges prejudice, and ensures fairness. Integrity, collegiality, and excellence are central to the Museum’s values. These values, along with an institution-wide commitment to Diversity, Equity, Access & Inclusion (DEAI), are embedded in the Museum’s strategic plan and will be the focus of a comprehensive DEAI action plan.

The Position:

The Jewish Museum seeks an experienced grants manager, persuasive writer, and collaborative team member to play a key role in securing education program and project support from foundations, corporations, individuals, and government agencies. The position manages funding for a diverse portfolio of school, public, family, and access programs as well as special projects as needed. The Development Officer, Education will write highly effective grant proposals; maintain and grow relationships with funders; and participate in creating funding plans and strategizing approaches to meet the Museum’s goals. The ideal candidate will be a skilled writer, a strong project manager, an excellent communicator, detail-oriented, and able to meet all deadlines. A passion for the arts and a strong understanding of cultural and education funders is required.

Responsibilities Include:

  • With the Director of Institutional Giving and Major Gifts, develop and implement fundraising strategies for education programs for students, educators, adults, families, and the general public as well as special projects as needed by researching new prospects; leveraging relationships; and building upon trends in cultural philanthropy
  • Manage funding applications, appropriations, and reports to the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) and other government agencies and officials
  • Write and submit an extensive portfolio of high-quality education program proposals, including creating cover letters, LOIs, and effective funding requests as well as preparing budgets and other supplementary materials
  • Oversee reporting and tracking of education and project grants, including preparing interim and final reports, reconciling budgets, managing the stewardship process, and working with Institutional Giving, Education, Finance, and other departments throughout the Museum to ensure successful execution of related contractual requirements
  • Serve as a liaison to funders and grant officers within the education portfolio ensuring strong cultivation and stewardship, including scheduling site visits, providing related event tickets, and managing specific donor requests, as appropriate
  • Track current and potential funders to ensure timely and appropriate solicitation and follow up
  • Maintain complete and up-to-date donor and research files and Salesforce records
  • Represent the Museum and interact with all levels of the organization and donors
  • Participate in development-related special events, entailing some evening and weekend hours

Requirements:

  • Three to five years of grant writing experience with a proven record of success; art museum or related cultural or education field preferred but not required
  • Exceptional written and oral communication skills, reflecting clear, critical and creative thinking
  • Experience managing grants, including budget creation and oversight
  • Highly organized with strong attention to detail
  • Ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple projects under the pressure of deadlines
  • Ability to take initiative as well as direction
  • Demonstrated willingness to work effectively as part of a team and with all levels of donors as well as exercise excellent judgment and tact
  • B.A./B.S. degree
  • Excellent computer skills (MS Word, Excel, and preferably Salesforce)
  • Fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with a Center for Disease Control (CDC) or World Health Organization (WHO) authorized vaccine (or approved for an exemption as a reasonable accommodation due to qualified disability or sincerely held religious belief or other legal basis)

Send Resume with Cover Letter To:

Director, Human Resources

The Jewish Museum

1109 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10128

Email: jobs@thejm.org

The Jewish Museum is committed to diversifying its staff and encourages individuals of all abilities and ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds to apply for this position. The Museum is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic prohibited by applicable law.