Major Gifts & Legacy Giving Officer

Feeding America; Seattle, Northern (WA, KY); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% employer-paid medical, dental, &"

Vision insurance

403(b) retirement with employer match

Generous PTO & holidays

End-of-year time off

Job summary

Food Lifeline is seeking a relationship-driven Major Gifts & Legacy Giving Officer to inspire philanthropic investment in our mission to feed people experiencing hunger today while working to end hunger for tomorrow.

This hybrid role manages a portfolio of 100–150 donors/foundations, aims for approx. $2M in annual gifts, and works across departments to connect donors with impact. Ideal candidates excel in relationship building, strategic moves management, and donor stewardship.

Qualifications

• Approximately 5 years of experience in fundraising, philanthropy, donor engagement, relationship management, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding significant gifts; five- or six-figure commitments preferred.
• Experience managing a portfolio of donors or high-touch external relationships.
• Familiarity with major gift fundraising and moves management practices.
• Familiarity with planned or legacy giving concepts.
• Experience working with CRM or donor databases such as Raiser's Edge or Blackbaud.
• Ability to use fundraising data and pipeline information to prioritize activity and evaluate results.
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel.
• Experience in hunger relief or mission-driven organizations welcome but not required.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 100-150 individual donors, family foundations, and prospective donors.
• Develop and execute individualized strategies to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, steward, and renew major gifts.
• Build authentic relationships with donors by understanding their interests and connecting them with Food Lifeline's mission.
• Secure five- and six-figure gifts, multi-year commitments, and leadership-level investments toward an annual revenue goal of about $2 million.
• Identify and qualify new major gift prospects and create strategies for deeper engagement.
• Provide thoughtful stewardship demonstrating impact and strengthen long-term relationships.
• Maintain timely donor engagement through in-person and virtual meetings, events, and personalized outreach.
• Manage and grow the legacy giving program with planned giving strategies.

Skills

Relationship building

Donor engagement

Portfolio management

CRM proficiency

Data-driven fundraising

Collaboration

Communication

Organization

Interpersonal skills

Microsoft Office

Tools

Raiser's Edge

Blackbaud

Word

Excel

Job description

Food Lifeline is seeking a relationship-driven and collaborative Major Gifts & Legacy Giving Officer to inspire meaningful philanthropic investment in our mission to feed people experiencing hunger today while working to end hunger for tomorrow.

Serving communities across 17 counties in Western Washington, Food Lifeline works alongside donors, community partners, volunteers, and advocates to create a more equitable food system and a future where everyone has access to the food they need.

The Major Gifts & Legacy Giving Officer builds authentic, long-term relationships with individuals and family foundations who want to make a meaningful difference through philanthropy. This position manages a portfolio of approximately 100-150 donors and prospects, with an emphasis on identifying and qualifying new major gift prospects, deepening existing relationships, securing five- and six-figure gifts and multi-year commitments, and growing Food Lifeline's legacy giving program.

The position is responsible for generating approximately $2 million annually through a portfolio of major donors and family foundations and contributes to the Giving Team's overall annual philanthropic revenue goals.

As a member of Food Lifeline's Giving Team, this role works collaboratively across the organization to connect donors with Food Lifeline's mission and impact. The ideal candidate brings curiosity, strong relationship-building skills, sound judgment, and a donor-centered approach to fundraising.

End date

October 16, 2026

Category

Job responsibilities

Essential Functions

Major Gifts & Donor Relationships

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 100-150 individual donors, family foundations, and prospective donors.
• Develop and execute individualized strategies to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, steward, and renew major gifts.
• Build authentic relationships with donors by understanding their interests, motivations, and philanthropic goals and connecting those interests with Food Lifeline's mission and priorities.
• Secure five- and six-figure gifts, multi-year commitments, and leadership-level investments, working toward an annual portfolio revenue goal of approximately $2 million.
• Identify and qualify new major gift prospects and create strategies for moving prospective donors toward deeper engagement and investment.
• Provide thoughtful and personalized stewardship that demonstrates the impact of donor investments and strengthens long-term relationships.
• Maintain a consistent schedule of meaningful donor engagement, including in-person and virtual meetings, phone conversations, events, and personalized outreach.

Legacy Giving

• Manage and help grow Food Lifeline's legacy giving program through thoughtful identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Build relationships with individuals considering or documenting legacy gifts and provide ongoing stewardship for legacy donors and, when appropriate, their loved ones.
• Partner with Food Lifeline's planned giving vendor, FreeWill, to develop engaging outreach, communications, and donor engagement strategies.
• Maintain working knowledge of planned giving practices and trends and collaborate appropriately with donors and their professional advisors. Food Lifeline does not provide donors with legal, tax, or financial advice.
• Identify opportunities to integrate legacy giving conversations into broader donor engagement strategies.

Strategy, Collaboration & Accountability

• Develop, implement, and track moves management strategies for assigned donors and prospects.
• Create compelling and personalized proposals, solicitations, donor correspondence, impact updates, and stewardship materials.
• Partner with Giving, Marketing & Communications, Programs, leadership, and other teams to develop effective donor engagement strategies and communicate Food Lifeline's impact.
• Collaborate with colleagues on donor events, legacy giving activities, special campaigns, and other engagement opportunities.
• Regularly evaluate portfolio activity, pipeline health, donor engagement, and fundraising results against established goals and adjust strategies as needed.
• Maintain timely, accurate, and meaningful donor records and activity in Food Lifeline's CRM, including adherence to team documentation and moves management practices.
• Represent Food Lifeline professionally and warmly at donor meetings, community events, tours, and occasional speaking engagements.
• Contribute to a collaborative team culture and support shared Giving Team goals and priorities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What You'll Bring

Successful candidates will bring a combination of the following skills and experiences:

• Demonstrated success building relationships with donors and securing significant philanthropic gifts.
• Experience managing a portfolio of donors or prospects and moving relationships from identification and cultivation through solicitation, stewardship, and renewal.
• A donor-centered approach and the ability to listen, understand what motivates people to give, and connect those interests authentically to organizational priorities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex information into compelling donor communications, proposals, and conversations.
• Excellent organization and portfolio management skills, with the ability to prioritize competing opportunities and consistently follow through on commitments.
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills and the ability to work effectively with colleagues across departments and levels of the organization.
• Comfort using data, fundraising metrics, and CRM systems to manage a portfolio, assess progress, and inform strategy.
• Sound judgment, discretion, and a commitment to ethical fundraising practices and responsible stewardship of donor information.
• Initiative, adaptability, curiosity, and the ability to work effectively in a collaborative, fast-moving environment.
• Commitment to Food Lifeline's mission and values and the ability to represent the organization with professionalism, warmth, and respect.

Qualifications

• Approximately 5 years of experience in fundraising, philanthropy, donor engagement, relationship management, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and transferable skills.
• Demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding significant gifts; experience securing five- and/or six-figure philanthropic commitments strongly preferred.
• Experience managing a portfolio of donors or other high-touch external relationships.
• Familiarity with major gift fundraising and moves management practices.
• Familiarity with planned or legacy giving concepts, or demonstrated ability and interest in developing expertise in this area.
• Experience working with CRM or donor database systems such as Raiser's Edge, Blackbaud, or similar platforms.
• Ability to use fundraising data and pipeline information to prioritize activity and evaluate results.
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel.
• Experience in hunger relief, food banking, human services, or another mission-driven organization is welcomed but not required.

Work Environment & Expectations

• Full-time, hybrid position with three days per week onsite.
• Typical schedule is Monday through Friday during core business hours.
• Donor meetings and organizational activities may occasionally require evening or weekend availability.
• The position includes regular computer and office-based work and may occasionally require lifting up to 25 pounds.
• This role includes donor and community engagement and may require local travel for meetings and events.

Position Details

Status: Full-time, non-exempt

Schedule: Approximately 40 hours per week

Work Structure: Hybrid, with three days per week onsite

About Food Lifeline

Food Lifeline is committed to feeding people experiencing hunger today while working to end hunger for tomorrow. We believe meaningful progress happens through partnership—with our neighbors, donors, volunteers, community organizations, and one another. The person in this role will have the opportunity to build relationships with people who care deeply about that mission and help them translate their generosity into lasting impact for communities across Western Washington.

Compensation

The full salary range for this position is $80,000.00 to $100,000.00 hourly. Starting salary will be determined based on relevant experience, skills, qualifications, and internal equity. Most new hires should expect to start in the middle portion of the range, with opportunities for compensation growth as they gain experience and proficiency in the role.

Why Food Lifeline?

When you join Food Lifeline, you’re joining a team committed to collaboration, compassion, and our shared mission of ending hunger in Western Washington. We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, well-being, and growth, including:

• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer-paid life and disability insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer match
• Generous paid time off, holidays, and personal days
• Organization-wide time off from December 24 through January 1
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Professional development and learning opportunities
• A collaborative, mission-driven workplace where your work directly helps nourish communities across Western Washington

Deadline

October 16, 2026

Food Lifeline is committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive, and equitable workplace where people of all backgrounds, identities, experiences, and perspectives have the opportunity to contribute, grow, and thrive. We strongly encourage candidates with lived experience related to food insecurity, poverty, or the communities we serve to apply.

We are an equal opportunity employer and consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran or military status, or any other status protected by applicable law.

If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, we encourage you to let us know.

Join us in working toward a future where everyone has access to the food they need to thrive.