Chief Executive Officer – The Jewish Federation of Madison

Chief Executive Officer – The Jewish Federation of Madison  

The Jewish Federation of Madison  

Mission: To inspire, build, and sustain vibrant Jewish life by fostering diverse opportunities to connect at every age and mobilizing our community in common purpose in Madison, Israel, and around the world. 

Vision: A flourishing, engaged, inclusive Jewish community in a thriving world – today and always. 

The Jewish Federation of Madison (JFM) serves as a central convener and backbone organization for Jewish life in Madison and Dane County. Through philanthropy, education, engagement, and community service, JFM strengthens Jewish identity, ensures care for the most vulnerable, fosters connections to Israel and global Jewry, and enriches the broader Madison community. JFM is part of a network of 140+ local Jewish Federations and 300+ independent communities across North America, united under the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), a cornerstone of Jewish life for generations, supporting communities locally and responding to needs worldwide.  JFM raises approximately $950,000 through its annual campaign and manages an endowment of approximately $4 million. 

JFM’s Board of Directors includes leaders who represent diverse generations and lived experiences who volunteer extensively across the Madison community and serve on nonprofit boards regionally and nationally. JFM owns a community building and a 154-acre campus that is home to Camp Shalom, including a 5,500-square-foot aquatic center open to the broader community.  

For more than 70 years, Camp Shalom has been at the center of JFM’s offerings, serving 1,000 children each summer and employing approximately 170 seasonal staff from across the broader Madison community. A widely recognized community asset, Camp Shalom welcomes campers and families of all backgrounds and abilities. The camp is a source of deep pride, with significant potential to continue evolving and strengthening its impact. 

Beyond camp, JFM’s youth engagement spans Gan HaYeled, a regionally recognized Jewish early childhood program that integrates research informed educational practice with Jewish values, reflecting a deep commitment to inclusion and strong community partnerships. Midrasha, a collaborative, city-wide weekly high school program, brings together teens from diverse backgrounds for meaningful Jewish learning and connection; and PJ Library events engage families across multiple stages of Jewish life. 

The Madison Jewish community is strengthened by the annual presence of a shaliach, whose work enriches these programs and deepens connections to Israel. Madison is also home to three synagogues, an active community Chabad, Jewish Social Services, UW–Madison Hillel (one of the oldest and most active Hillels in the country), Chabad on campus, and a range of academic and cultural institutions. JFM also plays a central role in convening local Jewish professionals and clergy, fostering a collaborative, well-networked community grounded in partnership and shared purpose. 

About Madison, WI 

Madison is a uniquely livable and civically engaged capital city, surrounded by five lakes and known for its exceptional public schools, active neighborhoods, and deep culture of participation. Anchored by the University of Wisconsin - Madison, the city combines intellectual energy with a strong economy driven by education, healthcare, technology, and public service. Madison consistently ranks among the best places to live in the country, offering a rare blend of natural beauty, progressive civic life, family-friendly big city amenities, and a high quality of life that attracts people from around the world who want to lead, build, and belong. Madison is a growing city with a population of approximately 285,000 residents (700,000 in the metro area), including an estimated 5,000 Jews, plus over 5,000 Jewish students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dane County Regional Airport is located less than 8 miles from the city center and serves nearly 20 nonstop destinations from coast to coast.  

The Opportunity 

The Jewish Federation of Madison seeks a dynamic, visionary, and values-driven Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead the organization into its next chapter. Reporting to the Board of Directors and partnering closely with volunteer leadership, the CEO will provide strategic, operational, and communal leadership to advance JFM’s mission, strengthen Jewish life in Madison, deepen philanthropic engagement, and ensure long-term organizational sustainability. The CEO will serve as the organization’s chief fundraiser and a visible ambassador for community relations and partnerships, representing and elevating the Jewish community of Madison. 

Core CEO Competencies 

• Demonstrated senior leadership experience within nonprofit or community-based organizations, with a strong understanding of governance best practices and effective partnership with Boards, volunteer leadership, professional staff and community partners 

• Ability to define strategic direction and translate vision into measurable impact  

• Clear and compelling communication skills that invite broad engagement, build trust, and advance organizational priorities with integrity and ambition  

• Established record of philanthropic leadership and revenue growth  

• Strong financial and organizational acumen, encompassing budget management, fiscal oversight, and resource optimization 

• Advanced capability to develop and sustain high-performing, values-driven teams  

• Proven ability to build trust across diverse stakeholders and navigate complex community dynamics   

• Meaningful connection to Jewish life and Jewish Peoplehood 

The CEO Will 

• Serve as JFM’s visible and trusted public leader cultivating meaningful relationships, and representing the organization with clarity and integrity  

• Set and drive organizational direction, ensuring coordinated planning, communications, fundraising, and programmatic excellence across JFM's impact areas with a focus on measurable outcomes and continuous improvement 

• Lead JFM’s philanthropic growth, expanding and deepening donor engagement to support annual fundraising, major gifts, and long-term sustainability 

• Partner closely with the Board and volunteer leadership to establish, monitor and advance organizational goals and best-in-class governance practices, ensuring mutual accountability, alignment and long-term vision   

• Lead, develop, and retain a small professional team, setting standards and reinforcing accountability, while encouraging growth, collaboration and innovation  

• Champion the safety of the Jewish community, working in close partnership with communal, governmental, and law enforcement partners to advance proactive and coordinated security efforts 

• Actively invite participation and foster belonging among diverse generations, backgrounds, and expressions of Jewish identity while strengthening JFM’s role as a convening force within the community 

Key Responsibilities 

Philanthropy & Resource Development 

• Develop and implement an integrated fundraising strategy that engages existing and new donors and encompasses individual annual giving, major gifts, legacy commitments, and institutional funding 

• Initiate, cultivate and steward donor relationships, and where appropriate, activate and support volunteer lay leaders to advance JFM’s fundraising efforts 

• Communicate JFM’s mission and impact through clear, compelling narratives, measurable outcomes, and consistent donor engagement 

• Advance a culture of shared philanthropic responsibility across the organization that strengthens donor engagement, retention and long-term communal sustainability 

Strategic & Community Leadership 

• Develop and advance a shared vision and multi-year strategy for Jewish communal life in Madison, in partnership with the Board, volunteer leadership and JFM staff that reflects core Jewish values and evolving community realities 

• Serve as JFM’s spokesperson and advocate, proactively monitoring and responding to relevant community relations issues within the Federation’s purview, and representing the organization within the Madison Jewish community and beyond 

• Strengthen and expand strategic partnerships across the Jewish and broader civic landscape, enhancing coordination around communal priorities, including safety and security, and navigating complex dynamics  

• Seek out opportunities for innovation and adaptability, while building on JFM’s history, mission, and sense of communal trust 

• In partnership with JFNA and national Federation network, strengthen ties between the local Jewish community, Israel, and global Jewry 

Organizational & Operational Leadership 

• Provide clear direction and support to professional staff, emphasizing a culture of excellence, innovation, learning and accountability 

• Support and grow lay leadership pipeline, identifying opportunities for leadership development, training, and education, and meaningful civic participation to advance JFM’s mission 

• Leadership and oversight for financial planning, budgeting, and long-term sustainability efforts in collaboration with Board leadership 

• Align strategic, human and financial resources to ensure effectiveness and ambition across the organization 

• Engage in ongoing impact evaluation, seeking out opportunities for JFM to strengthen and grow programs, services and operations in order to advance a strong and vibrant Jewish Madison  

Qualifications  

• Bachelor’s Degree required; advanced degree in a related field preferred  

• Extensive management and leadership experience in nonprofit or comparable settings 

• Proven track record of successful fundraising and donor cultivation for similar sized campaigns and giving levels 

• Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to build consensus, navigate complexity and collaborate effectively 

• Impeccable interpersonal and organizational skills  

Compensation Package 

Base Salary Range: 140,000-160,000    

The Jewish Federation of Madison offers a robust benefits package, including PTO, medical and dental coverage, retirement contribution, FSA, Long Term Disability, and professional development opportunities.  

The Jewish Federation of Madison is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.