Director of Development

Penn State Hillel

Role Overview

Penn State Hillel seeks an experienced, strategic, and relationship-driven Director of Development to lead and grow its fundraising program. The Director of Development will be responsible for ensuring the fiscal health and sustainability of Penn State Hillel by designing and executing a comprehensive development strategy that advances the organization’s mission to enrich the lives of over 5,000 Jewish students at The Pennsylvania State University.

Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the Director of Development will partner with professional and lay leadership to achieve ambitious annual fundraising goals and grow Penn State Hillel’s capacity for long-term impact. The ideal candidate will bring expertise in major gifts, donor relations, and campaign management, as well as enthusiasm for engaging alumni, parents, and community supporters in the vitality of Jewish student life at Penn State.

This is a full-time, remote position with occasional travel to State College and other locations for donor engagement and fundraising events. Candidates based on the East Coast are preferred.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and implement a comprehensive annual development plan in collaboration with the Executive Director to meet or exceed annual fundraising goals.
• Manage a portfolio of major donors and prospects, including individuals, families, alumni, and foundations; cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts of $9,999 and below.
• Provide strategic leadership for annual giving, endowment, and capital campaign initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and long-term sustainability.
• Partner with the Executive Director to engage the Board of Directors in fundraising strategy and donor stewardship.
• Oversee donor communications and events, including annual reports, appeals, and stewardship gatherings that inspire continued philanthropic engagement.
• Collaborate with colleagues to integrate fundraising and marketing efforts that effectively communicate Hillel’s mission and impact.
• Supervise part-time Marketing Manager, including database management, gift processing, and reporting.
• Conduct grant research and prepare proposals for institutional funders.
• Represent Penn State Hillel at community events, campus programs, and national Hillel gatherings to strengthen relationships and elevate visibility.

What You’ll Bring to the Role

• 5+ years of experience in fundraising.
• Demonstrated success in securing major gifts and managing donor relationships.
• Experience supervising and mentoring team members is a plus.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and project management skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities, with an ability to inspire donors through storytelling and data-driven impact
• Proficiency with donor management software and CRM systems, specifically Little Green Light.
• Passion for Jewish life, higher education, and the mission of Hillel.

What You’ll Receive

• Competitive salary in the nonprofit marketplace. The salary range for this position is $90,000 – $105,000, commensurate with experience.
• A comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, retirement plan, life and disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, and generous vacation/sick leave.
• Professional development, mentoring, and opportunities for national training and networking.
• Travel opportunities to meet with alumni, parents, and supporters regionally and nationally.

About Penn State Hillel

Penn State Hillel is a vibrant center for Jewish life on the University Park campus of The Pennsylvania State University, serving an estimated 5,000 Jewish students. Known for its innovative programming, dynamic student leadership, and commitment to pluralism, Penn State Hillel fosters an inclusive environment where students can grow intellectually, spiritually, and socially.

Penn State Hillel operates from a new, state-of-the-art facility and enjoys strong partnerships with campus and community organizations. It is nationally recognized as a leader in Jewish campus engagement and is proud to be part of Hillel International, the largest Jewish campus organization in the world.

Penn State Hillel is affiliated with Hillel International. Hillel International enriches the lives of Jewish students so they may enrich the Jewish people and the world, and envisions a world where every student is inspired to make an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning and Israel.

About Hillel International

In 1923, Rabbi Benjamin Frankel started Hillel with humble means, a noble mission and a breathtaking vision: to convey Jewish civilization to a new generation. Today, Hillel International continues to enrich the lives of Jewish students and is the largest Jewish campus organization in the world at nearly 1,000 colleges and universities across North America and around the world. As Hillel evolves as an organization, the mission remains steadfast: to create lasting connections with every Jewish student that foster an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning, and Israel and train them to become the next Jewish leaders.

Hillel is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an accepting and inclusive environment for all.