Associate Director of Annual Fund & Alumni Relations

The Associate Director of Annual Fund & Alumni Relations (ADOAFAR) is a pivotal role designed for an innovative, entrepreneurial, and seasoned development professional. As a key leader within our highly collaborative Advancement team, the ADOAFAR is responsible for the strategic vision and execution of all annual fund and alumni relations initiatives.

Reporting to the Director of Philanthropy & Donor Relations, this position plays a dual role in both "friendraising" and fundraising. The ADOAFAR will design and implement a robust Alumni Relations program that leverages deep connections to Sinai Akiba Academy, fostering a lifelong sense of belonging and philanthropic commitment within our community.

Sinai Akiba Academy is a preeminent private Jewish day school in Los Angeles, serving students in Early Childhood through Grade 8. Sinai Akiba Academy is undergirded by our school mission to engage students in the joy and discipline of learning, and nurture a community of ethical, critical thinkers who, shaped by our evolving Jewish tradition, walk through the world with confidence and humility. 

Our core values of Kehillah Kedoshah (Sacred Community); Talmud Torah (Academic Excellence); Derech Eretz (Kindness, Empathy, & Respect); Tzedek, Tzedek Tirdof (Ethical Responsibility); Avodat Halev (Soulful Intention), and Ahavat Yisrael (Love for Israel) serve as a commitment with the students, families and community members that we serve to energize the present, explore the past, and embrace the future.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Sinai Akiba Fund

Develop and execute a dynamic and detailed strategic plan for the Sinai Akiba Fund program

Create targeted, segmented solicitations for parents, grandparents, alumni, alumni parents, friends, vendors, 
and faculty and staff

Lead the Sinai Akiba Fund campaign to meet the School’s fundraising goals

Work closely with the Director of Philanthropy and Donor Relations to design the strategy, theme/messaging, and timeline for the Sinai Akiba Fund to increase revenue, deepen engagement across all constituencies

Recruit, retain, train, manage, and steward Sinai Akiba Fund volunteers. Plan and lead committee meetings and partner closely with the Development Chair to execute a successful campaign

Manage a portfolio of mid-level prospects ($1,800–$10,000), guiding them through the full lifecycle of engagement — cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and ongoing relationship management

Organize and help produce all Sinai Akiba Fund materials and communications, including writing appeals and managing the design process for signage, electronic communications, print materials, and other collateral

Research families and organize Sinai Akiba Fund assignments with specific ask amounts and solicitor pairings

Design and execute personalized stewardship plans for Sinai Akiba Fund donors across constituencies, including donor and volunteer appreciation events, thank-you phone calls, and more

Coordinate the development calendar with fundraising events and initiatives

Plan and execute all details of Development events, including goal and strategy creation, pre-event logistics, agenda development, recruitment, staffing, on-site execution, data management, and post-event follow-up. Events include A Night of Gratitude, Giving Tuesday, Grandparents Day, Leadership Circle Dinner, alumni events, and reunions.

Lead the Giving Tuesday strategy, including volunteer coordination, pre-event build-up, matching challenges, incentives, and day-of activations (carline rally, phone sessions, staff lunch)

Collaborate closely with the Development Coordinator to provide reports on Sinai Akiba Fund performance, metrics, statistics, and year-end tax receipts

Recommend and implement changes in strategy to meet program goals and objectives

Alumni Relations

Partner with the Director of Philanthropy & Donor Relations to develop goals and priorities for alumni engagement, fundraising, and programming

Establish and govern an Alumni Board, including tracking strategic priorities, recruiting committee members, and leveraging alumni to fulfill the larger goals of the Advancement Department

Source meaningful and timely information regarding Alumni and ensure that the Marketing & Communications team has this information for use in social media, monthly alumni newsletters, and other relevant publications

Partner with the Director of Philanthropy & Donor Relations to provide opportunities for alumni and alumni parents to connect and reconnect with one another and with the SAA community through the hosting of events on and off-campus - including but not limited to annual reunions and smaller meet-ups based on professional interests and/or geographic areas

Actively engage alumni and alumni parents in meetings to build relationships, share updates about SAA, and engage them with our programming

Manage Alumni Relations budget

Collaborate regularly with the Admission Office on events, programming, and joint office goals and strategies

Create an alumni program and brand it around touchpoints and milestones, such as birthday gifts, alumni baby gifts, holiday gifts, and special programming

Lead up to ten Alumni evening and/or Sunday events throughout the year to engage alumni

Strengthen the school’s relations with alumni and alumni parents to make certain that programs are designed to foster meaningful relationships that unite the school and these constituencies in a sense of common purpose that builds a pathway to philanthropic support of SAA

Promote a positive culture of giving throughout the school, including, but not limited to, the Sinai Akiba Fund, Gala, Donor Stewardship events, including the Leadership Circle dinner, Grandparents & Special Friends Days, and various other programs and initiatives throughout the year

Coordinate gift preparation, acknowledgment, pledge invoicing, and fulfillment, as well as Annual Report lists, in conjunction with the Director of Philanthropy and Donor Relations and the Development Coordinator

General Responsibilities

Learn, use, and apply technology as required by School to enhance learning, provide feedback to students and parents, and engage with colleagues. Technology includes but is not limited to JagNet, Google Workspace, Paylocity, and any other School approved software.

Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor and/or Head of School in support of the school’s mission

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree

3+ years’ experience and a proven fundraising track record in organizing and managing annual solicitation efforts to meet the financial and engagement goals of an institution

A big-picture, strategic thinker who is flexible, highly detail-oriented, able to multitask easily, and has impeccable follow-through on projects

Strong sense of Jewish identity and commitment to Sinai Akiba Academy’s mission

A skilled communicator who can present a persuasive and compelling case with sincerity and conviction

Comfortable operating in a variety of social settings and building meaningful relationships with a wide range of stakeholders

Proficient at gathering and analyzing meaningful data to aid in the development of effective strategies and plans

Superior written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills

Comfort using Google Suite, Raiser’s Edge, Blackbaud, and learning other platforms to improve workflow and output

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Annual Salary Range: $85,000 - $100,000

Excellent benefit package with a portion of medical paid by SAA

Generous paid time off and holidays

403b and employer funded retirement plans

Professional development opportunities

In the spirit of pay transparency we share the base annual salary range for this position: $85,000 - $100,000. Annual base salary is exclusive of fringe benefits, retirement plan employer contributions or potential stipends (for eligible employees). Pay ranges at SAA are reasonable estimates of what the School anticipates paying for a role but are not guaranteed. If hired at SAA, your final annual base salary will be determined by factors such as skills, education, experience, job level, part-time status and number of months of work per academic year. In addition to those factors, we believe in the importance of pay equity and consider internal equity with our current employees as a part of any final offer. Please keep in mind that the range mentioned above is the full annual base salary range for the role. Hiring at the maximum of the range is not typical for SAA in order to allow for future and continued salary growth.

Applicants may submit their cover letter and resume for consideration to Janet Rosenblum, Director of Philanthropy & Donor Relations, at [email protected]. 

Sinai Akiba Academy provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees and strictly prohibits any type of harassment or discrimination in regards to race, religion, age, color, sex, disability status, national origin, genetics, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, gender expression, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, and/or local laws.