Kara J. is an accomplished development professional with extensive experience in fundraising and donor relations. Currently serving as the Director of Development at Jewish Family Service of San Diego since April 2023, Kara previously held the position of Major Gifts Officer at Promises2Kids, and spent nearly three years as Senior Manager of Annual Giving at Scripps Research. At the Jewish Federation of San Diego County, Kara advanced from Development Manager to Senior Development Manager, achieving notable successes such as a 5% increase in donor retention and upgrading 18% of the fundraising portfolio. Earlier career roles include Annual Giving Coordinator at Scripps Health, where Kara expanded the donor base by 118%, and as a Real Estate Agent/Office Manager at Westfield Realty, LLC, where Kara contributed significantly to sales. Kara started the career as a Licensed Personal Banker at Chase, focusing on revenue generation and client base development. Kara earned a Bachelor's degree in Communication from the University of California, Davis.
