Director, Donor Engagement and Travel Experiences
Job Overview
Employment Type
Full-time
Work Schedule
Flexible
Weekend Shifts
Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Paid Time Off
Retirement Plan
Professional Development
flexible schedule
Employee assistance program
Job Description
The Jewish Federation of Cleveland is a pivotal organization dedicated to fostering the health and vitality of the entire Jewish community in Cleveland and beyond. With a legacy spanning over 120 years, the Federation has established itself as a cornerstone institution committed to driving meaningful social change and providing critical relief during times of crisis. Through its innovative programs and collaborative approaches, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland effectively addresses the needs of Jewish communities locally, in Israel, and across the globe. This organization serves as a unique hub where compassion, commitment, and coordinated action come together to create lasting impact. Employment Type: Full-time.
The role of Director, Donor Engagement and Travel Experiences is a dynamic leadership position within the Federation’s Development Department. This position focuses on designing and executing high-impact missions and immersive travel experiences to Israel and other global destinations, aimed at cultivating and strengthening donor relationships. By leading these carefully crafted journeys, the Director plays a crucial role in inspiring philanthropy, enhancing community connection, and deepening engagement among major donors, VIPs, leadership groups, and emerging young professionals. The Director acts as a creative partner and logistical expert, responsible for the comprehensive management of these strategic experiences from conceptualization through to follow-up engagement.
Responsibilities of the role include developing personalized donor engagement strategies, organizing travel logistics, managing budgets, and collaborating closely with development staff and lay leaders to align mission content with Federation priorities. The Director also ensures a seamless participant experience, including managing communication, overseeing applications, and planning site visits both locally and internationally. In addition, the Director serves as a local ambassador for national travel initiatives and provides on-site leadership during missions when needed. This position requires exceptional interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively in a fast-paced environment. The role demands flexibility and occasionally involves evening, weekend, and overseas hours to accommodate travel planning and execution.
The ideal candidate for this position will bring over seven years of experience in development travel or stewardship roles or a related background such as a travel agent. They will hold a bachelor’s degree, with a preference for a master’s degree, and possess a strong understanding of CRM systems, office computing, and budget management. Experience working with Jewish organizations is highly valued. An ability to build trusted relationships across all levels of the organization, maintain confidentiality, and work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders is essential to success in this role. This comprehensive role offers the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the Federation’s mission by connecting people to community and purpose through impactful experiences that foster ongoing philanthropic support and engagement.
The role of Director, Donor Engagement and Travel Experiences is a dynamic leadership position within the Federation’s Development Department. This position focuses on designing and executing high-impact missions and immersive travel experiences to Israel and other global destinations, aimed at cultivating and strengthening donor relationships. By leading these carefully crafted journeys, the Director plays a crucial role in inspiring philanthropy, enhancing community connection, and deepening engagement among major donors, VIPs, leadership groups, and emerging young professionals. The Director acts as a creative partner and logistical expert, responsible for the comprehensive management of these strategic experiences from conceptualization through to follow-up engagement.
Responsibilities of the role include developing personalized donor engagement strategies, organizing travel logistics, managing budgets, and collaborating closely with development staff and lay leaders to align mission content with Federation priorities. The Director also ensures a seamless participant experience, including managing communication, overseeing applications, and planning site visits both locally and internationally. In addition, the Director serves as a local ambassador for national travel initiatives and provides on-site leadership during missions when needed. This position requires exceptional interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively in a fast-paced environment. The role demands flexibility and occasionally involves evening, weekend, and overseas hours to accommodate travel planning and execution.
The ideal candidate for this position will bring over seven years of experience in development travel or stewardship roles or a related background such as a travel agent. They will hold a bachelor’s degree, with a preference for a master’s degree, and possess a strong understanding of CRM systems, office computing, and budget management. Experience working with Jewish organizations is highly valued. An ability to build trusted relationships across all levels of the organization, maintain confidentiality, and work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders is essential to success in this role. This comprehensive role offers the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the Federation’s mission by connecting people to community and purpose through impactful experiences that foster ongoing philanthropic support and engagement.
Job Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree
- 7+ years of relevant experience
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Exceptional customer service skills
- High attention to detail
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- Proficiency with MS Office software and Zoom
- Experience with CRM databases
- Budget management experience
- Preferred experience in Jewish organizations
- Strong organizational and multitasking abilities
- Capability to build relationships across organizational levels
- Flexibility to work evening and weekend hours as needed
- Ability to travel internationally
- Adaptability to fast-paced work environments
Job Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required, master’s degree preferred
- 7+ years of experience with development travel or stewardship or related field
- Demonstrated excellent interpersonal skills, verbal and written communication skills
- Demonstrated exceptional customer service skills
- High-level attention to detail
- Maintain a high level of confidentiality and professional integrity
- Strong knowledge of basic office computing including MS Office, Zoom, and basic database skills
- Strong experience and ability working with CRM databases
- Experience in developing and managing large budgets
- Experience with Jewish organizations preferred
- Experience and demonstrated ability to coordinate and prioritize workflow processes
- Ability to build trusted relationships and work effectively with lay leadership and colleagues
- Ability to manage multiple priorities with strong organizational skills
- Comfortable working in fast-paced and rapidly changing environments
Job Duties
- Design and execute high touch donor engagement strategies tailored to major donors, VIPs, leadership groups, and emerging leaders
- Leverage missions and travel programs as strategic tools to cultivate, steward, and retain donors across giving levels
- Serve as a primary relationship partner for select donors, engaging them before, during, and after travel experiences to strengthen philanthropic commitment
- Collaborate closely with Development staff to align donor travel experiences with individual philanthropic interests, giving strategies, and stewardship plans
- Create meaningful pre trip and post trip engagement touchpoints including briefings, learning opportunities, follow up conversations, and impact reporting
- Partner with lay leaders and professional staff to curate mission content that inspires generosity, Jewish connection, and a deeper understanding of Federation priorities
- Translate immersive experiences into sustained donor involvement by identifying next step opportunities for leadership, advocacy, and increased giving
- Utilize donor insights gained through missions and programs to inform personalized stewardship approaches and enhance overall donor engagement strategies
- Measure and evaluate the impact of travel based engagement on donor satisfaction, retention, and philanthropic growth, using insights to refine engagement strategies
- Manage logistics including budgets, vendors, airlines, tour operators, and speakers
- Provide guidance and support to Lead Staff in preparation of mission proposals from initial concept to final approval
- Ensure seamless participant experience from recruitment through follow-up including managing calls from potential participants, reviewing mission participant applications, and monitoring special requests
- Create, implement, and monitor a follow-up plan with mission participants upon return from a mission
- Track participation and outcomes in CRM systems to support fundraising strategy
- Develop strong working relationships with mission lead staff and provide on-site leadership during delegations as needed
- Serve as the local ambassador for JFNA national travel initiatives
- Manage relationships with all travel vendors and service providers
- Prepare and manage necessary materials for missions including pre, post, and during mission documentation
- Schedule, organize, and implement local agency site visits for pre-determined groups
- Assist with logistics and planning for overseas speaker visits
- Other duties as assigned
Job Criteria
Experience
Expert Level (7+ years)
Job Location
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