Chief Advancement Officer
JVS Boston

JVS' Mission:

JVS’s mission is to empower individuals from diverse communities to find employment and build careers, while partnering with employers to hire, develop, and retain productive workforces.

JVS' Values:

• Learning: We listen, learn, and respond creatively to needs, opportunities and suggestions as they arise at JVS and in the changing marketplace.
   
• Partnership: We partner with clients, employers, and our employees to help identify and reach individual education, employment, career and economic self-sufficiency goals.
   
• Quality: We strive for quality that supports positive impact and long-term benefits in all JVS partnerships and services.
   
• Respect: We respect and value the diverse perspectives, needs and experiences of our clients, colleagues and business partners.
   
• Social Justice: We remember and honor our Jewish legacy of Tikkun Olam (repair of the world) and Tzedakah (justice, righteousness), always working for social justice through our words and deeds.

For over 80 years JVS has helped people secure financial independence. Last year, JVS empowered over 15,000 individuals to build their skills, advance their education, and find employment. JVS offers over 35 different programs to help individuals from all backgrounds on their way toward achieving the American Dream.

Strengthening Job Skills

JVS creates training programs based on the skills employers need, currently targeting jobs in 8 sectors. Job seekers can select programs ranging in duration from 4 weeks to 15 months.

Accessing Good Jobs

JVS develops and matches local talent with great employers. Through these strong partnerships, JVS also provides onsite training and coaching for workers to upskill them for next-level positions.

Building Career Pathways

JVS maps career pathways with employers to identify educational and skills gaps. JVS addresses these gaps through their progression of services, and ultimately set up participants for greater lifetime earnings.

Leading the Workforce Development Field

JVS is a recognized leader in workforce development, implementing innovative solutions to emerging needs in the job market. This innovation reaps benefits for both employers and the individuals JVS serves. In fact, a 2012 independent study completed by Boston University faculty showed that every $1 invested in JVS yields returns to program participants of $2-3 in higher earnings within the first 1-2 years of program completion, and returns of up to $15 within ten years.

JVS is constantly striving to improve their programming and outcomes for their clients. JVS is a recognized leader in workforce development, implementing innovative solutions to emerging needs in the job market. This innovation reaps benefits for both employers and the individuals JVS serves. In fact, a 2012 independent study completed by Boston University faculty showed that every $1 invested in JVS yields returns to program participants of $2-3 in higher earnings within the first 1-2 years of program completion, and returns of up to $15 within ten years.

Below are a few examples of some of the innovative work that JVS does:

Disability Employment

Transitions to Work addresses the employment gap facing young adults with disabilities in the Greater Boston area.

Education Pathway

Providing a way for individuals to obtain higher education and begin their journey to economic success.

Financial Opportunity Center

Integrated financial coaching services to help individuals achieve financial security.

Healthcare Pipeline

Designing customized programs to fill vacancies in the healthcare sector and build career ladders.

Job Quality

Leveraging the tight job market to help clients “catch up” and help employers stay competitive.

Pay for Success

Scaling proven models to help immigrants improve their English and find higher wage jobs.

Vocational Training Partnership (VTP)

Combining intensive, industry specific skills training with vocational English instruction.

To view the JVS Boston executive teams, click here.

• The CAO is a sitting member of the Executive Team, including the CEO, CAO, CIO, CFO, CPO (Chief of Programs), and CPO (Chief of People) and the Leadership Team, including VPs, SVPs, and Chiefs.
   
• The CAO is responsible for all philanthropic activity, development functions, and government relations/grants management.
   
• Oversees and sets the direction and strategy of fund development for the organization, including annual and special project campaigns, major gift programs, fundraising events, third-party fundraising activities, corporate and foundation giving, planned giving, and funding from public sources.
   
• Creates the strategy and execution for donor engagement. This includes identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewarding major individual, foundation, corporate, and public funders on an ongoing basis.
   
• Elevates JVS's strong philanthropic relationships in the Jewish community and with other donors and partners. While securing funding from the Jewish community is a primary focus, the CAO is responsible for securing financial support from a variety of philanthropic donors and sources.
   
• Partners with President & CEO, Leadership Team, and Board to deepen existing funder relationships and identify and cultivate new supporters.
   
• Collaborates with JVS's major funding agency partners - including CJP, United Way, and The Boston Foundation, including coordinating efforts with their gift officers, programming staff and administrators as needed.
   
• Builds, manages, and personally solicits a portfolio of major and principal gift donors and prospects. Coordinates the cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies for all members of the Development team and others assisting in these efforts. Coordinates and attends other donor meetings, as needed.
   
• Establishes performance measures, monitors results, and evaluates the effectiveness of the Development team and strategy, including individual and overall performance relating to fundraising.
   
• Advises and consults with the President & CEO and Board of Directors on matters related to fundraising and philanthropy; maintains effective working relationships with the Board of Directors, staff members, volunteers, individual donors, foundations, corporations and program partners.
   
• Oversees the hiring, evaluating, and mentoring of Development & Marketing and Communication staff members (to be further determined) to build an effective and stable team who achieve significant and individually quantifiable goals. 
   
• Manages marketing & communication staff responsible for external marketing & communication and Board-related marketing & communication. There will be an upcoming evaluation to determine if internal communications will reside in Advancement. Currently, marketing & communication employees reside across JVS, but all may eventually reside in advancement.
   
• Administers the preparation and management of the annual department budget. Works internally with colleagues to create opportunities for program partnerships with fundraising goals and messaging. 
   
• Partners with the finance and accounting staff to sustain efficient, effective and transparent financial tracking and reporting processes that support JVS’s development efforts.
   
• CAO will lead advancement event strategy, while event execution and logistical details will be handled by the major gift officer or a similar role.
   
• In collaboration with the President & CEO, attends external events and serves as an ambassador for the organization as needed, and articulates the JVS mission to external constituents, partner organizations, and potential funders.
   
• Promotes a Development culture throughout the organization, identifying opportunities to both raise funds directly as well as imbue every aspect of JVS with a philanthropic culture mindset.

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree combined with at least ten or more years of major gift fundraising experience and at least five years managing a development team. An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.  
   
• Significant understanding of the complexity of government relations and grants management as grants represent over 50% of JVS’s revenue.
   
• Experience raising funds from Jewish philanthropists as well as familiarity with Jewish holidays, customs and traditions.
   
• Excellent interpersonal skills, interacting with both colleagues and potential donors.
   
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
   
• The ability to establish priorities, set objectives and achieve stated goals.
   
• A creative, energetic and highly self-motivated mindset.
   
• Strong organizational skills.
   
• PC literacy with strong competency in Microsoft Office Suite programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Teams) or Google equivalent. Experience with fundraising databases.
   
• Demonstrated ability to work with and maintain confidential information.
   
• Must be able to work evenings, weekends and/or irregular hours as necessary to interact with donors and prospects and attend relevant meetings and events.