Chief Development Officer

itrek | Chief Development Officer
Strong preference for candidates based in the New York Metro Area to facilitate a hybrid work model with two office days per week in Midtown Manhattan; itrek is open to considering candidates based elsewhere, especially on the East Coast, provided the appointee can accommodate frequent travel

Organization Overview
itrek is a private, U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to empower both rising and established leaders from diverse sectors to engage their networks in meaningful Israel experiences, fostering an understanding and appreciation of Israel’s unique culture, diversity, richness, and complex reality. Israel and the region are layered with nuance and complexity, but they are frequently reduced to simplistic storylines and soundbites. itrek enables leaders to see the reality for themselves. Through peer-led experiences, they build meaningful connections and gain nuanced insight into Israel and the region that they carry into their leadership roles.

Since its founding in 2011, more than 27,000 influential leaders – 91% of whom are not Jewish – representing 130 nationalities have traveled to Israel through itrek. In the last three years itrek has expanded its programs with itrek Launchpad, partnering with institutions and individuals to bring their professional networks to Israel, and with the absorption of REALITY from Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies. In FY25, itrek welcomed more than 1,080 participants across 40 Israel Treks.

itrek is a non-partisan, non-affiliated, non-religious organization with an approximately 30-person team based in New York and Israel. itrek continues to operate as a fast-moving, nimble organization that values thoughtful experimentation, strong collaboration, and colleagues who take ownership and push work forward with clarity and purpose.

Position Summary & Context for Recruitment

Reporting to the CEO and serving as a member of the Executive Team, the Chief Development Officer (CDO) leads itrek’s fundraising strategy and resource development efforts. The CDO is responsible for securing the philanthropic support necessary to sustain and grow the organization’s $15M+ annual budget through both institutional and individual giving. 

The CDO develops and executes a comprehensive fundraising strategy, overseeing all aspects of donor engagement, including cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major donors, foundations, and institutional partners. This role also oversees the planning and execution of events designed to engage donors and prospective supporters, strengthening relationships and expanding itrek’s philanthropic community. The CDO supervises a four-person team characterized by its passion for itrek’s mission. The CDO will provide strong, stable leadership to ensure an agile, close-knit development team ready to respond to opportunities as well as challenges amid dynamic geopolitical and philanthropic environments.

Working closely with the CEO and Board leadership, the CDO helps shape and advance the organization’s strategy, ensuring the resources and partnerships needed to expand itrek’s impact and enable more future leaders to experience Israel firsthand. The CDO will be the key figure in driving itrek’s growth in major-gifts-focused individual giving to complement the organization’s historic strength in institutional giving. They will effectively balance strategic leadership and impactful frontline fundraising execution. 

itrek secured approximately $12.5M in total contributions during FY25 and averaged more than $11.5M in total contributions during the past three fiscal years.

The following information describes the primary responsibilities of the position and is not intended as an exhaustive list of all job duties:

Fundraising Strategy

• Develop and execute a strategic, comprehensive fundraising plan to support itrek’s annual operating budget of $15M+.
• Lead institutional and individual giving strategies, including engagement with foundations, major donors, and other philanthropic partners.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward donors and prospects, including managing relationships with high-capacity donors and institutional funders.
• Partner closely with the CEO on top-tier donor relationships and major gift strategy.
• Oversee the strategy and execution of donor and prospect events designed to cultivate relationships and deepen engagement with itrek’s mission.
• Develop high-impact opportunities for donors to connect with the organization’s work and community.
• Ensure that compelling marketing and communications are deployed efficiently in strategic integration and furtherance of fundraising activities.

Team Leadership & Development Operations

• Lead and manage the development team, setting clear goals, performance metrics, and fundraising priorities.
• Build a high-performing fundraising infrastructure, including systems for donor engagement, stewardship, and pipeline development.
• Leverage AI-enabled tools and emerging technologies to enhance fundraising effectiveness, improve donor intelligence, streamline development operations, and increase team productivity while maintaining strong ethical and data stewardship practices.
• Ensure strong coordination across fundraising activities to maximize impact and long-term donor relationships.

Strategic Leadership

• Serve as a key member of the executive team, helping shape organizational strategy and growth initiatives.
• Strategically partner with the CEO, Board Chair, and Chair of the Board’s Development Committee on Board engagement, leveraging the talent and resources of Board members and facilitating their appropriate roles as fiduciaries and long-term stewards of itrek.
• Collaborate with leadership on strategic projects that expand itrek’s reach and impact.
• Ensure fundraising strategy aligns with organizational priorities and long-term growth goals.

Candidate Profile

While itrek will consider a broad range of backgrounds, the ideal candidate will align with the following:

• Authentic connection to and passion for itrek’s mission.
• Comfortable operating in relation to evolving and volatile geopolitical and philanthropic environments.
• Twelve or more years of overall nonprofit fundraising experience serving in roles with progressive levels of responsibility; seven or more years of development staff management experience, preferably including leading teams in hybrid or remote work models.
• Knowledge of and fundamental adherence to the principles, ethics, and best practices of modern fundraising, including the integration of various giving programs to diversify the funding base and cultivate greater donor commitments.
• Track record of leading multi-channel fundraising strategies inclusive of individual and institutional giving as well as advancing prospect discovery and engagement at all giving levels; demonstrated success in frontline major gift fundraising from cultivation through solicitation and stewardship, especially with high-net-worth individuals at the level of six to seven figures or greater.
• Strength in developing and executing fundraising strategies to achieve goals as well as creating and managing budgets; ability to effectively strategize and engage various stakeholders in fundraising initiatives, including partnering directly with the most senior levels of an organization and collaborating across departmental / divisional lines; track record of ensuring that fundraising initiatives are mission-focused and consistent with organizational goals.
• Demonstrated success in developing strong and winning cases for support as well as a working knowledge of modern communications and marketing strategies to engage diverse audiences and affinity groups while broadening the donor base.
• Strong capability to recruit, lead, manage, evaluate, and develop fundraising professionals while fostering continuous improvement, shared accountability, and a growth-oriented, process-driven, best practices team culture; track record of maintaining durable, efficient fundraising infrastructure and systems and metrics-based goals.
• Experience motivating, coaching, and increasing the comfort level of organizational stakeholders in fundraising initiatives, including board members or other high-level volunteers.
• Commitment to data-driven decision making and measurement of success; knowledge of modern data management practices that can streamline processes and contribute to the integration of related functions.
• Demonstrated curiosity about and comfort with emerging technologies, and the ability to thoughtfully integrate AI-powered tools into fundraising strategy, donor engagement, research, communications, and operational workflows.
• Integrity and mature judgment in handling sensitive information
• Adaptive and relational leadership style with the balance of awareness and humility needed to work collaboratively across diverse cultural and professional stakeholder groups; ethos of servant leadership and mutual respect.
• Self-starter with an entrepreneurial and innovative mindset who embraces new technologies – including AI – to continuously improve fundraising effectiveness, organizational learning, and team performance.
• Superb verbal and written communication skills, including excellent presentation skills; the stature and demeanor to serve as a highly visible, public-facing ambassador and inspirationally communicate itrek’s work and impact.
• Dedication to personal and professional development and open feedback.

Compensation & Benefits

The annual base salary for this role is expected to range from $190,000 to $240,000, commensurate with
experience. itrek is open to discussion if you believe your background and qualifications merit a higher salary.

Benefits

▪ Dynamic and fast-growing nonprofit organization
▪ Generous vacation time package including Jewish and American holidays and early Friday closure for
Shabbat and Jewish holidays
▪ Two weeks annually of ‘Work from Anywhere’
▪ Wellness stipend
▪ Paid sick leave and parental leave
▪ High-quality medical, vision and dental plans available
▪ 5% company match on retirement savings in company 401(k)

Search Team

itrek has retained DSG Fundraising & Advancement of DSG | Koya to assist in this confidential search process.
Inquiries, nominations, and applications (current resumes and cover letters) may be submitted via the following
link or directed to one or more members of the search team.

https://talent-profile.dsgco.com/search/v2/23049

Gerard F. Cattie, Jr. (he/him)
Global Managing Partner and Practice Founder
DSG Fundraising & Advancement
gerard.cattie@dsgco.com | 212.542.2587

Beth Reeves (she/her)
Vice President and Senior Search Associate
DSG Fundraising & Advancement
beth.reeves@dsgco.com | 212.542.2584

Tammy Schillin (she/her)
Executive Assistant | Project Manager
DSG Fundraising & Advancement
tammy.schillin@dsgco.com | 212.542.2579