Philanthropy Officer, Major Gifts

The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank is currently hiring a full-time, salaried, and benefited Philanthropy Officer, Major Gifts at our Murphy Canyon location.

ABOUT THE SAN DIEGO FOOD BANK
Established in 1977, the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank is a critical component to the welfare of San Diego County, providing nutritious food to people in need, advocating for the hungry and educating the public about hunger-related issues. For more information about the organization, please visit

Our Mission:
The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank and our North County Food Bank Chapter provide nutritious food to people in need, advocate for the hungry, and educate the public about hunger-related issues.

DID YOU KNOW?

• The San Diego Food Bank feeds approximately 400,000 people every month in partnership with 450 nonprofit community partners.
• We are the fourth largest independent food bank in the country.
• We distributed 52 million pounds of food in fiscal year 2024-2025; almost 45% of that food being fresh produce.
• We have a 99% rating on Charity Navigator.

We are committed to innovation and sustainability to reduce our impact on the environment. We have 1,400 solar panels, we are LEED v4 Gold Certified, we have a 3,600 sq. ft composting and recycling center that houses our recycling and composting machine, and received the 2020 Business Waste Reduction & Recycling award?

POSITION PURPOSE
The Major Gift Officer (MGO) is a key member of the Development team responsible for managing and growing a portfolio of individual major donors giving between $5,000 and $24,999 annually. The MGO plays an important role in strengthening donor relationships and expanding philanthropic support for the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank’s $20 million operational goal and $50 million 5-year campaign. This position requires a strategic, donor-centered approach, strong collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, and an ability to align donor interests with organizational priorities.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this position. All duties are expected to be performed in accordance with existing company policy and procedure. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Manages and grows a portfolio of 100-125 individual major donors to meet or exceed annual revenue targets. Maintains disciplined moves management practices to advance donor relationships.
• Creates and implements individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies based on donor interests, capacity, and giving patterns.
• Identifies, solicits, and secures major gifts through in-person meetings, written proposals, and personalized communications, often in partnership with the Executive Team and Senior Director of Philanthropy.
• Prepares and staffs organizational leadership and board members for key donor interactions by providing strategic briefings and recommendations.
• Provides high-quality, customized stewardship to major donors, collaborating with program and development colleagues to demonstrate impact and deepen engagement.
• Partners with Campaign leadership to ensure major gift donors are actively engaged in campaign initiatives and appropriately stewarded for their campaign contributions.
• Develops and contributes to the creation of custom campaign-related stewardship materials, including tailored reports, impact updates, and donor communications.
• Collaborate with Development colleagues to plan, coordinate, and execute donor salon events and campaign-related gatherings to deepen donor relationships and build momentum for campaign success.
• Drafts, reviews, and advises on donor communications, including proposals, reports, and correspondence. Supports strategic donor communications on behalf of Food Bank leadership.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of San Diego Food Bank programs and funding priorities to align donor interests with organizational needs.
• Participates in soliciting gifts and sponsorships for special events such as the Gala and Golf Tournament in collaboration with Development colleagues.
• Records all donor interactions, strategies, and proposals in Raiser’s Edge NXT.
• Engages in team meetings, collaborative planning efforts, and ongoing professional development to support a culture of philanthropy and excellence.
• Perform other duties and special projects assigned.

IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate for the Major Gift Officer role is a relationship-focused fundraiser with a proven track record of cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major donors. A strategic and persuasive communicator, they build authentic connections, align donor interests with organizational priorities, and contribute meaningfully to team goals. They are driven and ambitious, highly organized, and excel at managing competing priorities, preparing compelling donor materials, and collaborating across departments—all while demonstrating initiative, professionalism, and a passion for the mission of the San Diego Food Bank.

EDUCATION, TRAINING and EXPERIENCE
A typical way of obtaining the necessary education, training, and experience for this position includes:

• Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, business administration, communications, or a related field.
• Minimum 5-7 years of experience in philanthropy, with a track record of success securing major gifts.
• Demonstrated success in growing private philanthropy, with working knowledge of the principles and practices of major gift fundraising.
• Training in software, systems and practices supporting giving.
• Success in managing donor relationships through periods of engagement and growth, ensuring that donor and volunteer interests are in alignment with the mission and vision of the SDFB.
• Combination of education and experience can be considered

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Expertise in major and individual gift fundraising, with a track record of securing and stewarding major gifts.
• Proficiency in donor database systems (preferably Raiser’s Edge NXT) and using data analytics to inform strategies.
• Windows Operating Systems and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook & Word), Raisers Edge NXT, and prospect research tools.

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively, both written and verbal
• Ability to build trust and cultivate relationships with donors, board members, and cross-functional teams
• Handle confidential information with discretion.

LICENSES, CERTIFICATES, SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• CFRE Certification preferred
• Valid CA driver’s license
• Must have own vehicle and will be reimbursed for mileage.

COMPENSATION

• This is a full-time, Exempt /benefited position.
• A market level competitive salary is between $75,000 - $90,000 based on experience.
• The compensation package includes a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package including: 403(b) plan with 200% employer matching; excellent health care coverage with free employee medical, dental and vision plans; company paid term life insurance; and a generous accrual of paid vacation and sick leave.

WORK SCHEDULE

• Typical schedule is Monday - Friday 8:00am- 4:30pm
• Does require frequent early morning, late evenings and weekend hours to meet with donors at their convenience.
• This position requires you to travel 50+% of the time; travel is primarily local during business days

HOW TO APPLY

• Interested and qualified candidates should apply below.
• Submissions missing a resume will not be considered for the position.
• Background check and drug test are required for the position before employment starts.