Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank

Major Giving Officer

The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank offers a diverse workplace with professionals that work together to fulfill our mission in the fight to end hunger. We are seeking individuals who share and believe in our core values – compassion, collaboration, service, integrity, inclusion and innovation.

The Major Giving Officer oversees all aspects of prospecting and direct solicitation of major gifts, including prospect research, relationship building, solicitation strategy, stewardship, and organizational reporting. This position will manage a portfolio of 100 + individual donors with the potential of a major gift, defined as $2,500 or more. The emphasis of the Major Giving Officer is to maximize the donations from individual donors to support essential mission-related activities in alignment with strategic goal achievement.

You will uphold our mission: To lead a collaborative network that empowers people to experience healthy and hunger-free lives. We distribute food to feed people and we advocate, engage and convene our community in the fight to end hunger.


Job Responsibilities:

Strategically lead all initiatives to identify, engage, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual major donors and major donor prospects within their portfolio.
Work with the Senior Major Gift Officer and the development team to collaboratively develop effective fundraising strategies for individual giving initiatives for major donors with the potential of giving 5-figure gifts or more.
Develop ongoing relationships with major donors and create cultivation and stewardship strategies such as affinity events, donor meetings and creative communications.
Research and identify prospects; facilitate briefings with senior leaders and key solicitors.
Leverage marketing materials and internal documents, ensuring that the communication with donors is in compliance with department gift acceptance practices.
Manage an innovative and comprehensive stewardship strategy to enthusiastically and consistently convey the organization’s appreciation.
Collaborate with corporate and volunteer teams to identify donors in portfolio who are engaging with the Foodbank in a corporate or volunteer capacity to ensure a positive and consistent experience.
Develop an expertise for Foodbank programming through regular volunteerism and partner visits. Conduct tours and speaker’s bureau presentations for visitors.
Develop strong relationships within the community through community events and networking to foster a positive image such that individuals will make the Foodbank their organization of choice.
Ensure all relationship management activity is thoroughly documented within the Foodbank’s donor database. Participate in ongoing training and professional development.
Perform other duties, as assigned.


Required Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor’s degree; CFRE and advanced degree are highly desirable.
Experience: Five to seven years of fundraising – including planning and campaigns involving multiple fundraising disciplines and strategies. Minimum two years of major gifts leadership experience. Corporate and/or Business-to-Business sales leadership experience may be substituted for fundraising experience.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Progressive experience in successful development programs and knowledge of “best practices” in development.
Passionate advocate for closing the food insecurity gap.
Strong political acumen with thorough knowledge of the stakeholder landscape (e.g., regulations, policies, practices, programs, and initiatives).
Demonstrated success in working with and involving top-level board members and other volunteers in development efforts. Proven ability to initiate action and motivate others.
Knowledge of diverse groups, working with a multicultural workforce, and sensitivity and appreciation to cultural differences.
Ability to discern financial documents and concisely communicate results.
Ability to present educational material in an engaging manner and guide others to develop knowledge that will enhance their understanding of the Foodbank’s mission.
Must be able to work independently and anticipate reporting and communication needs of the Director of Development.
Detail oriented, customer service focused, highly organized and results driven.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment which requires strong project management and time management skills.
Understands strategic planning and aligns priorities with broader goals, measurable outcomes, evaluates alternatives, and can see connections within complex issues.
Available during off-hours for communications of all kinds.
Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Experience with Donor Database Management software such as Blackbaud, Raiser’s Edge, DonorPerfect and/or Andar software extremely helpful.
Must be able to follow all American Institute of Baking, Feeding America, Food and Drug Administration, United States Department of Agriculture, Occupational Safety Hazard Administration, and Foodbank (standard operating procedures and employee handbook) safety regulations.


Come join an organization that makes a difference in the lives of others! The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank is proud to be a tenth time recipient of the NorthCoast99 award, which showcases our Foodbank as one of the top 99 places to work in Northeast Ohio. We offer a warm and loving culture filled with opportunities to grow and develop your career, competitive benefits, and compensation, 9 paid Holidays and a generous paid time off program that begins on day one! Salary ranges $65,000 - $80,000 / annually contingent on qualifications and experience.

EOE/M/F/D/V/SO