Jewish Federation of St. Louis
Chief Development Officer
St. Louis, Missouri
Salary: $210,000-$220,000
BACKGROUND
The Community
St. Louis has become a thriving hub for innovation and business, with billions invested in new developments, revitalized neighborhoods, and cutting-edge research facilities. The city offers major employers in healthcare, finance, tech, and logistics, alongside a nationally recognized startup ecosystem. With a cost of living nearly 20% lower than the national average and access to world-class amenities—from the St. Louis Symphony and Art Museum to vibrant dining and entertainment districts—St. Louis is an exceptional place to live and work.
The Jewish community here is equally dynamic. According to the 2024 Jewish Community Study, approximately 45,800 Jewish individuals live in Greater St. Louis, representing diverse backgrounds and strong engagement in cultural, educational, and religious life. Nearly 80% of community members report feeling safe and welcomed, and participation in Jewish programs, holiday celebrations, and educational opportunities remains robust. This sense of belonging, combined with St. Louis’s affordability and cultural richness, makes our region a unique and rewarding place to build both a career and a life.
The Organization
The Jewish Federation of St. Louis, founded in 1901, is one of the region’s largest and oldest nonprofit organizations. The Jewish Federation of St. Louis is a community-driven organization that mobilizes resources, connects organizations, and builds collaborations to support and strengthen Jewish life in St. Louis, in Israel, and around the world. Our work is guided by Jewish values, a commitment to inclusion, and a vision of a thriving, engaged Jewish community for generations to come. As the community’s central philanthropic and planning body, it supports over 100 local, national, and international agencies, programs, and initiatives to strengthen and sustain a vibrant Jewish community. For more information about the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, go to https://www.jfedstl.org/.
The Position
The Federation seeks a dynamic, results-driven Chief Development Officer (CDO) with a strong track record in fundraising to lead the organization’s philanthropic strategy, including the annual campaign, donor-directed giving, corporate giving, special events and planned giving.
Reporting to the CEO, the CDO serves on the executive management team and leads a seven-member Philanthropic Advancement team. The CDO is responsible for developing and executing a robust donor-centric strategy focused on stewardship, relationship management, and volunteer collaboration. The CDO will drive innovation, enhance fundraising efforts, and play a key role in identifying, cultivating, and soliciting major donors while expanding the donor base across diverse demographics.
Position Priorities
- Strategic Leadership and Vision Implementation: Develop and execute a development plan that aligns with the CEO's vision and advances the Federation's fundraising and community engagement goals.
- Team Development and Coaching: Lead, mentor, and hold accountable a high-performance development team to improve fundraising effectiveness and professional growth.
- Relationship Building: Cultivate deep relationships within the St. Louis Jewish community and across the broader network to enhance donor engagement and support.
- Campaign and Planned Giving Enhancement: Oversee and innovate the annual campaign and implement a robust planned giving strategy to secure long-term funding.
- Cultural Change Management: Partner with the CEO to navigate and manage organizational change by socializing new ideas and reducing resistance among stakeholders.
- Total Financial Resource Development (TFRD): Increase TFRD to support the programs and services not covered by the annual campaign.
ROLE OVERVIEW
Development Strategy & Leadership
· Develop and communicate a clear vision and strategy for expanding Jewish Federation of St. Louis Annual Campaign and Endowments.
· Create and implement a comprehensive strategic and operating plan for integrated resource development, encompassing planned giving, the Annual Campaign, supplemental giving, corporate contributions, and foundation support.
· Serve as a strong organizational leader, offering guidance and direction to Jewish Federation of St. Louis fundraising staff and the Boards in all areas of Fund Development.
· Set fundraising goals and objectives with measurable outcomes aligned with the Federation’s mission and community priorities.
· Act as a strong and influential voice on the Federation Executive team.
Fundraising & Development Operations
· Lead the professional team responsible for planning and executing financial resource development within the community, focusing on strategies to grow the Annual Campaign, increase donor numbers, diversify the donor base, and engage the next generation of donors.
· Cultivate, steward, and strengthen strong relationships with a select portfolio of major donors, including multi- generational families, while soliciting support for the Annual Campaign, designated campaigns, and endowment funds.
· Develop and implement strategies to attract new major donors.
· Establish a system of accountability and a constructive approach to evaluating the effectiveness and success of the Federation’s development activities and programs.
· Drive philanthropic advancement to support Community Engagement and programming, including Women’s Philanthropy, Affinities, YPD, PJ Library and Israel and Overseas initiatives.
· Establish and implement data-driven systems and structures to enable Jewish Federation of St. Louis and the community to adapt to, thrive in, and understand shifts in charitable giving and evolving trends within the Federation world.
Board & External Relations
· Collaborate with the Boards, Board Presidents, Campaign Chairs, and the Executive Committee to drive Campaign and other fundraising objectives.
· Cultivate Board and lay leadership support for the stewardship of current and prospective donors.
· Develop relationships with agencies, organizations, day schools, synagogues, and other professionals across the community. Act as a visible and engaged representative of Jewish Federation of St. Louis in the community.
· Strengthen St. Louis’ deep commitment to fundraising for Israel and the Community Partnerships.
· Ensure that the Jewish Federation of St. Louis story, message, and positions are effectively communicated and shared with both the Jewish and general communities.
Projected Campaign
# of Donors
Number of Members of the Development Team
$11.2M
2800
7
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate for the CDO position possesses the following competencies:
Additional Qualifications and Characteristics
· Experience in Jewish communal development, preferably with a strong presence and relationships in the Jewish community.
· Proven track record in leading and managing fundraising campaigns, including annual campaigns, planned giving, and securing significant (6 and 7-figure) financial support.
· Ability to develop and implement strategic development plans aligned with organizational vision.
· Experience in building a team from scratch or rebuilding a team in addition to team leadership, coaching, and talent assessment to build a high-performing development team.
· Strong verbal and written communication skills are necessary for storytelling, donor engagement, and internal collaboration.
· Familiarity with interdepartmental collaboration, especially with marketing and communications teams.
· Need to manage organizational change, navigate community politics, and reduce resistance to new initiatives.
WHO WE ARE
Work Environment
The CDO will be expected to work in and out of the office at least Monday- Friday. The Jewish Federation of St. Louis team currently works from home on Tuesday and Friday.
Core Principles:
The below core principles of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis that guide their internal and external work include:
· Honesty and integrity (Emet): We are true to ourselves and follow the highest ethical standards.
· Kindness, decency, and respect (Chesed): We treat each other as we want to be treated ourselves – as people, not as objects or means to other people’s goals.
· Openness and transparency (Shkifut): We explain the reasons that decisions are made and the process by which they are made to those affected by them.
· Responsibility (Achriut): Each person (or agency) is given the authority to achieve their job/mission; the autonomy to execute that job/mission as they think best, in a manner that is accountable to their supervisors or our constituents.
· Trust and security (Batach): Each person feels secure enough to express their own views on matters that affect them, their work/agency, and the community without fear of retribution.
· Excellence (Metzuyanut): Each person aspires to complete their work with the highest professional standards applicable to their jobs.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
We are committed to fostering a workplace where all employees feel valued, respected, and supported. Leadership actively promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to contribute meaningfully.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Salary: $210,000- $220,000
· Health and dental insurance
· 403(b) retirement plan
· Generous PTO (vacation, holidays, sick leave, personal time)
· Life and long-term disability insurance
· And more
TIMELINE AND NEXT STEPS
If you are interested in this position, please click here. All applicants will receive an email confirming receipt of their application.
We encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply even if you do not meet all of the qualifications outlined above. If you are selected to move forward for an initial screening call, we expect you to hear from us by the end of February.
Sarah Raful Whinston
Partner
Submit an application HERE.