Philanthropy Officer

November 2026 | Amherst, MA / Remote
Download PDF

The Yiddish Book Center seeks an entrepreneurial and relationship-driven Philanthropy Officer to deepen donor engagement, grow individual philanthropy, and help build the next generation of supporters for this dynamic cultural organization.

About the Yiddish Book Center

The Yiddish Book Center, founded in 1980 by Aaron Lansky, recovers, preserves, teaches, and celebrates Yiddish literature and culture to advance a fuller understanding of Jewish history and identity. The million-plus books recovered by the Center since its founding represent Jews’ first sustained literary and cultural encounter with the modern world. The Center has evolved from an organization focused on recovering books to one that creates access to Yiddish culture and resources through digital initiatives, exhibitions, educational programs, publications, translations, and public programs for students and other audiences.

The Center has collected volumes from across the United States and the globe—Mexico, Venezuela, South America, South Africa, Australia, Russia, and beyond—and thousands still arrive each year.

Over the years, the Yiddish Book Center’s achievements have been widely celebrated. In 1989, founder Aaron Lansky was recognized with a MacArthur Foundation “genius award.” In 2014, the Yiddish Book Center was presented with the National Medal for Museum and Library Service at the White House. In March 2025, Aaron was awarded the Jewish Book Council’s Mentorship Award “for his visionary work in reshaping the fate of Yiddish literature and building an institution that blends deep historical work with cultural activism.”

Now in its 46th year, the Yiddish Book Center is a dynamic cultural organization dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding of Yiddish culture, history, and its relevance today. Through a broad range of innovative programs and educational initiatives serving college students, high school students, teachers, rabbis, and adults, the Center brings Yiddish culture to life and creates meaningful opportunities for Jewish engagement and connection.

About Philanthropy at the Yiddish Book Center

With an annual budget of approximately $10 million and an annual fundraising goal slightly above $4 million, the Center has built a strong and passionate community of supporters through a robust fundraising program. Its approximately 18,000 community members are located across the country and are deeply connected to the mission, creating a distinctive culture of philanthropy rooted in genuine enthusiasm for the Center and its work.

As the Yiddish Book Center looks toward its 50th anniversary in 2030 and its future, guided by a recently completed and comprehensive strategic plan, it is focused on raising its endowment to $120 million and expanding the community invested in that future. Key priorities include engaging the next generation of philanthropists, strengthening relationships with longstanding supporters, increasing major gift support, and expanding the Center’s philanthropic reach nationwide.

The Center maintains a diversified fundraising program encompassing endowment growth, annual operating support, membership, planned giving, and special campaigns. A three-person team manages individual and institutional giving, prospect research, events, and operations, with executive leadership maintaining an active role in high-level donor cultivation and solicitation.

About the Position

The Philanthropy Officer will be a critical member of the advancement team, responsible for expanding the Center’s major gifts pipeline, increasing donor engagement, and securing meaningful philanthropic investments in the organization’s future.

This is a highly relational, frontline fundraising role for a self-starter who is energized by getting to know donors, understanding what motivates their philanthropy, and connecting their interests with the Center’s programs and future. Because the Center’s supporters are located across the country, the Philanthropy Officer will regularly travel to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors through in-person engagement. A minimum of 50% of the Philanthropy Officer’s time will be spent on the road visiting donors.

The role will have a particular focus on the East Coast while also helping the Center explore opportunities for growth in other regions, including the Midwest.

The Philanthropy Officer will join a small, high-performing, and collaborative team that shares responsibility for ambitious fundraising goals. Success will require both a commitment to developing authentic donor relationships and the confidence to move those relationships toward increased and meaningful philanthropic support.

This role offers exceptional professional growth for a relationship-focused fundraiser eager to shape strategy, build a growing donor portfolio, and make a meaningful impact at a pivotal moment in the Center’s history.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 175 to 250 high-capacity and engaged donors and community members, with philanthropic capacity ranging from $5,000 to $100,000.
• Build and deepen personal relationships with donors and community members, connecting their philanthropic interests with the Yiddish Book Center’s mission, programs, and strategic priorities.
• Develop individualized strategies to move donors through the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship cycle.
• Engage both longstanding supporters and emerging philanthropists to strengthen the Center’s donor pipeline and cultivate future major gifts ($10,000+).
• Partner with the Director of Institutional Advancement to establish and achieve ambitious fundraising, donor engagement, travel, and activity goals.
• Identify, qualify, and cultivate prospective donors to increase giving and grow the major gifts pipeline.
• Collaborate with development and program staff to develop a deep understanding of the Center’s work, anticipate funding needs, and communicate the impact of its programs compellingly to donors.
• Develop and maintain knowledge of charitable giving vehicles, including gifts of stock, Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs), and Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs), as well as relevant developments affecting charitable giving.

Key Qualifications

• 5+ years of fundraising or related experience.
• Experience and comfort making face-to-face solicitations.
• Demonstrated ability to develop meaningful donor relationships and move prospects through identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and exceptional diplomacy.
• The ability to articulate the Yiddish Book Center’s mission, programs, and vision compellingly to a range of audiences.
• Entrepreneurial, proactive, and self-directed, with the ability to thrive both independently and as part of a highly collaborative team.
• Strong organizational skills and demonstrated ability to prioritize responsibilities, manage a donor portfolio, and meet deadlines.
• Ability and willingness to travel a minimum of 50% of the time to build relationships with supporters across the Center’s geographically dispersed donor base and attend organizational events.
• Understanding of charitable giving vehicles, including Donor-Advised Funds, Qualified Charitable Distributions, and gifts of stock.
• Enthusiasm for the Yiddish Book Center’s mission and genuine interest in Yiddish, Jewish history and culture, or related cultural and educational work.
• Familiarity with fundraising databases and prospect research tools, particularly Raiser’s Edge NXT 7 and DonorSearch, is a plus.

Compensation & Logistics

The anticipated salary range for this position is $100,000 to $120,000, commensurate with experience. The Yiddish Book Center is based in Amherst, Massachusetts. For the right candidate based on the East Coast or the Midwest, the Center is open to a remote work arrangement.

The Yiddish Book Center offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical coverage with the Center covering 80% of healthcare premiums, dental and vision insurance, a flexible spending account, and a strong vacation offering. After one year of employment, employees are eligible for a 5% employer contribution to a 403(b) retirement plan and an additional employer match of up to 2.5%.

As the Yiddish Book Center approaches its 50th anniversary, this is a unique opportunity to join a beloved cultural institution at a moment of significant momentum. The Philanthropy Officer will play an important role in growing philanthropy, expanding engagement, and helping shape the next chapter of the Center’s impact.

To express interest, please submit your cover letter and resume via the form below.

All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

For more information about the Yiddish Book Center, please visit yiddishbookcenter.org.