Application Guide
How to Apply for Director of Advancement
at Institute for Curriculum Services
🏢 About Institute for Curriculum Services
The Institute for Curriculum Services is unique as a national nonprofit focused specifically on improving K-12 education about Jews, Judaism, and Jewish history through curriculum development and teacher training. Working here offers the opportunity to directly impact how Jewish history and culture are taught to millions of students across the United States, combining educational reform with cultural preservation.
About This Role
As Director of Advancement, you'll create and lead a fundraising strategy to meet ambitious goals ($4M+ for FY26) while building a major donor program and diversifying the funder base. This role is impactful because you'll directly enable ICS's mission by securing resources for curriculum development, teacher training, and national educational initiatives.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve strategizing with the Grants Manager on foundation proposals, analyzing donor CRM data to identify major donor prospects, and collaborating with the communications team on donor engagement materials. You'd likely spend time connecting with existing funders about ICS's curriculum impact while developing new approaches to reach $4M+ annual fundraising goals.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Institute for Curriculum Services Is Looking For
- Has 4+ years of frontline fundraising experience with a proven track record of raising $5M+, specifically in individual and foundation giving
- Possesses at least two years of experience managing teams under tight deadlines, with demonstrated ability to delegate effectively and provide constructive feedback
- Is experienced with donor CRMs and can use data to drive fundraising decisions and strategy
- Has strong communication skills to steward existing funders while actively pursuing new funding sources
📝 Tips for Applying to Institute for Curriculum Services
Quantify your fundraising achievements specifically - show how you've raised $5M+ with concrete examples and metrics
Demonstrate knowledge of Jewish education or cultural nonprofits in your application materials
Highlight experience with foundation giving and individual major donor programs, as these are explicitly mentioned in the responsibilities
Show how you've built or diversified a funder base in previous roles, not just maintained existing relationships
Include specific examples of how you've used donor CRMs to track, analyze, and present fundraising data
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your specific experience raising $5M+ and how you achieved those results', 'Examples of building or diversifying a funder base, particularly for educational or cultural nonprofits', 'Experience managing fundraising teams and delegating effectively under tight deadlines', "How your background aligns with ICS's mission of improving Jewish education in K-12 schools"]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Review ICS's current curriculum materials and professional development programs to understand their specific educational approach
- → Research major foundations and donors currently supporting Jewish education or cultural preservation initiatives
- → Explore how Jewish history and culture are currently taught in K-12 education and the challenges in this space
- → Look into ICS's board members and leadership to understand their backgrounds and connections
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Focusing only on general fundraising experience without specific examples of raising $5M+ or managing major donor programs
- Not demonstrating understanding of or alignment with ICS's specific mission in Jewish education
- Applying with generic fundraising experience without showing how it applies to educational nonprofits or cultural organizations
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Institute for Curriculum Services!