Philanthropy Officer
The Jed Foundation

Equipping Individuals

Research shows that building resiliency and life skills, promoting social connectedness, and encouraging help-seeking and help-giving behaviors in teens and young adults have far-reaching benefits, helping them manage life’s challenges and to thrive. JED’s Mental Health Resource Center, campaigns, and partnerships engage teens and young adults where they are and in a way they’ll relate to.

Strengthening Schools

School is a critical part of students’ support network and emotional safety net. JED partners with colleges and universities, high schools, and pre-K–12 school districts, as well as a variety of youth-serving community organizations, to evaluate their needs, create a strategic plan, and help them implement systems, programs, and policies. The goal is to create a culture of caring that protects student mental health, builds life skills, and makes it more likely students will seek help and struggling students will be recognized, supported, and connected to mental health care.

Mobilizing Communities

Our mental health is impacted by the world around us, and many factors can influence the perspective, well-being, and behaviors of our teens and young adults. JED advocates for policies to create a culture of caring to protect youth mental health, while working with and equipping families, friends, community organizations, and corporate partners to spread awareness, spark crucial conversations, and raise funds to prevent suicide and boost teen and young adult well-being.

Helped schools implement safety nets:

• More than 9,000 high schools, colleges, and universities strengthen their mental health and suicide prevention safety nets for students by using JED resources.
   
• Over 500 colleges representing over 6 million students participate in JED Campus to improve their mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention programming.
   
• Schools that have completed JED Campus have significantly improved their approaches to supporting student mental health and preventing suicide through life skills programs, identifying students at risk, promoting help-seeking behaviors, providing mental health and substance misuse services, and restricting access to potentially lethal means.
   
• Over 70,000 college, high school, and other mental health professionals have been educated by JED in mental health promotion and suicide prevention through conference presentations and webinars.

Equipped and empowered young adults:

• More than 250,000 people visit the JED Mental Health Resource Center each month and are better informed and prepared to care for their mental health or a loved one.
   
• Nearly 100,000 people are staying current on mental health by following JED’s social media.
   
• Over 65 million video views have been played through Seize the Awkward, our campaign with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in partnership with the Ad Council, that encourages teens and young adults to start a conversation with a friend who may be struggling with their mental health.

JED envisions a future where:

• Every high school and college has a comprehensive system that supports student emotional health and reduces the risks of substance misuse and suicide.
   
• All teens and young adults are equipped to navigate mental health challenges and to seek and give help, and are emotionally prepared to enter adulthood and fulfill their potential.
   
• Our communities support the emotional well-being and mental health of teens and young adults.
   
• Mental health is recognized as part of general health and wellness and not associated with shame, secrecy, or prejudice.

John MacPhee
Chief Executive Officer

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John MacPhee brings 25 years of leadership and management experience from the business and not-for-profit settings to his role as CEO at JED. Passionate about supporting young adults in their transition to adulthood, John advises several organizations including the S. Jay Levy Fellowship for Future Leaders at City College, Trek Medics, Crisis Text Line, the Health Policy and Management Department at the Mailman School of Public Health, and HIV Hero.

Earlier in his career, he served in executive positions for Par Pharmaceutical, Inc. and Forest Laboratories, where he oversaw functions such as business development, alliance management, clinical development, regulatory affairs, sales and marketing.

In 2016, John received The Allan Rosenfield Alumni Award for Excellence in the field of public health from the Joseph L. Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. He earned a BA from Columbia College, an MBA from New York University and an MPH from Columbia University.

Adee Shepen
Chief Growth Officer

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Adee Shepen brings over 25 years of experience in development, community organization, programming, and board development to her role at JED. As the Chief Growth Officer, she oversees philanthropy and revenue generation, playing a pivotal role in the organization's remarkable growth from a $2 million to a $25 million annual budget during her tenure. Adee's career spans leadership positions in community organizations, hospitals, and universities, where she has consistently driven impactful initiatives and fostered strong partnerships to advance organizational goals.

In this critical role, the Philanthropy Officer will:

• Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors with capacity to give $100,000–$1M, developing individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies;
   
• In partnership with the Director of Individual Giving, Identify, qualify, and upgrade middle-tier donors ($10,000–$99,999) into the major gift pipeline through strategic moves management;
   
• Partner closely with the CEO, Chief Growth Officer, and VP of Development Operations on select donor relationships and solicitations;
   
• Develop and execute multi-year donor strategies aligned with JED’s organizational priorities and funding needs;
   
• Conduct prospect research and collaborate on wealth screening efforts to expand and strengthen the major donor pipeline;
   
• Ensure high-quality, meaningful stewardship and engagement opportunities;
   
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date donor records, moves management plans, and revenue forecasts in the CRM;
   
• Track progress toward fundraising goals and contribute to portfolio analysis and performance reporting;
   
• Represent JED professionally and authentically in all donor interactions, communicating impact with clarity and confidence.

• BA or BS degree required;
   
• Seven+ years of frontline fundraising experience, with a strong emphasis on major gifts;
   
• Demonstrated success securing six- and seven-figure gifts from individual donors;
   
• Experience qualifying, upgrading, and managing middle-tier donors into major gift portfolios;
   
• Strong relationship-building, listening, and strategic communication skills;
   
• Proven ability to manage a complex portfolio and multiple donor strategies simultaneously;
   
• High level of discretion, integrity, and professionalism in handling sensitive donor information;
   
• Comfort with JED’s subject matter and deep commitment to the mission;
   
• Proficiency in donor CRM systems and Microsoft Office tools;
   
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends as needed.