Institutional Advancement Officer

In this role the successful incumbent will be accountable for meeting revenue and engagement targets by utilizing a blend of in-person and virtual meetings along with various outreach methods like email communication. Your efforts will pave the way for identifying new opportunities for funding innovative programming while also helping Northwest Harvest maintain and expand its services throughout Washington state.

This role continuously engages in cutting hunger rates in half by 2028 by securing institutional support from partners that are committed to creating a more equitable food system in Washington state. Your work will not only drive financial goals but also significantly contribute to our broader mission of food justice and community well-being.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Relationship Management

• Promotes manages and expands Northwest Harvests relationships with institutional partners across Washington state
• Serve as the primary relationship manager for funders fostering ongoing engagement recognition and renewal. Develop and implement strategies that align funding opportunities with Northwest Harvests strategic priorities
• In collaboration with the Advancement team create and maintain solid respectful relationships with corporate partners
• Ensure timely and transparent communication with institutional partners and report regularly on partnership strategy and status
• Proactively seek opportunities to expand and deepen partnerships with existing institutional supporters
• Research and qualify new corporate prospects whose values align with Northwest Harvests mission and equity-based approach

People Management & Leadership

• Supervise and support the Corporate Relations Manager providing regular coaching performance feedback and professional development opportunities
• Foster a collaborative inclusive and equity-centered work culture aligned with Northwest Harvests values
• Set clear goals and expectations for direct reports and ensure alignment with team and organizational priorities
• Coordinate workload and capacity across the team to meet strategic deadlines and support cross-functional initiatives
• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Director of Community Philanthropy and Director of Public Funded Partnerships and other Advancement leaders contributing to long-term planning and revenue growth strategies
• Assesses future needs to hire and manage contract grant writers as applicable

Proposal Development

• Contribute to proposal strategy development and lead the implementation of an annual plan for cultivating soliciting and recognizing institutional donors
• Assist the DCP in setting fundraising goals annually
• Work with the Director of Finance Finance Team and other staff members to create project-specific and general operating budgets for proposals
• Identify and evaluate new institutional funding prospects that align with organizational strategy and provide strategic recommendations to advance organizational goals and maximize funding impact
• Utilizing Salesforce maintaining accurate calendar of grants and reporting deadlines and all relevant interactions with funders

Grants and Fundraising Request Management

• Builds and nurtures relationships with institutional partners to identify shared value opportunities and secure support through grant applications sponsorships cause marketing and employee engagement programs
• Maintains grant oversight by overseeing the status of grants and funding requests and forecasting and tracking goals and budgets for the Advancement team
• Ensure all submission deadlines and reporting requirements are met including narrative and financial reports
• Provide monthly updates to DCP and Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) on status of grants and institutional revenue
• Works to gather timely updates on grant deliverables outcomes and impact narratives
• Stay current with trends and issues in the fields of grant-making specifically and philanthropy generally
• Create and maintain Northwest Harvest proposal boilerplate language such as organizational background information and program descriptions
• Manage relationships with external funders and support site visits or presentations as needed
• Provides narrative detail on Social Service/Northwest Harvest outcomes for grantors
• Communicates with the DCP and CAO regarding the spending of funds and ensures that funds are allocated properly in a timely manner
• Works with Advancement Specialist and future contract grant writers to develop and maintain all grant agreements and Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) pertaining to grant awards
• Ensures compliance with sponsor federal state county city laws and regulations
• Ensures all expenditures are allowable within grant restrictions and regulations

General

• Act as a goodwill ambassador and liaison between foundation and Northwest Harvest Advancement team and act as a professional goodwill ambassador representing the agency in the communities we serve
• Participate in cross functional teams and other activities as requested

Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Equity and Inclusion

Demonstrate the initiative to learn and enhance skills that promote anti-racism cultural competency and an understanding of oppression and its impact

Participate in intentional learning efforts including events relating to understanding and dismantling institutional racism and building cultural competency

Participation in and commitment to the principles of Community Centric Fundraising

RELATIONSHIPS:

Internal: This position interacts with and communicates daily by asking questions receiving and providing information with fellow Advancement team members and has frequent respectful contact with all levels of staff and functions cross-departmentally. The successful incumbent in this role presents accurate information regarding institutional funding opportunities and requirements in a consistent and adept manner

External: This position will uphold NWHs commitment to end hunger by interacting daily with current and prospective funding program officers and Northwest Harvest stakeholders in a respectful manner that aligns with the organizations mission and vision. Exercise sensitivity courtesy and confidentiality in all interactions with donors.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

A combination of the real-life experience education and training listed below which provides an equivalent background to perform the work of this position.

Successful completion of a background check is required.

Knowledge of:

• A broad range of philanthropy activities including strategic analysis of funding opportunities grant writing and corporate and foundation relations
• Direct experience with budget planning and development for a non-profit
• Budget planning and development
• Experience with Salesforce or comparable donor database systems i.e. online prospect research tools such as Foundation Directory or Foundation Search; customer relations management databases
• Intermediate to advanced knowledge with Microsoft Office applications; particularly Word Excel PPT and Outlook Teams and Zoom and ability to work efficiently and effectively with other organizational platforms such as ADP SharePoint Microsoft Dynamics NAV systems Net Suite
• Familiarity with project management tools such as Asana or similar platforms

Ability To:

• Understand individuals who have experienced poverty or food insecurity.
• Demonstrate interest and commitment to supporting equity and inclusion for members of historically marginalized groups including racial and ethnic minorities LGBTQIA populations and people living with disabilities.

Equity and Connectedness:

• Adopt our PACI (Purpose-Driven Anti-Racist Connected and Interwoven) values which guide and inform our work. Practice our Six Agreements which represent our commitments and promises to one another:
• Speak our truths responsibly
• Listen to understand
• Stay engaged
• Be willing to experience discomfort and do things differently
• Expect and accept non-closure
• Honor confidentiality
• Develop and sustain meaningful trust-based relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders including internal partners funders business leaders tribal representatives and community partners
• Work collaboratively with program finance and leadership teams to align funding opportunities with organizational capacity and goals
• Manage multiple projects and deadlines with efficiency and accuracy prioritizing tasks in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrated excellent written verbal editing research and storytelling skills
• Utilizes Asana or a similar project management tool create track and implement appropriate timelines for proposal development
• Utilize Salesforce maintain calendar of grants and report deadlines and all relevant interactions with funders
• Demonstrate strong analytical organizational and project management skills and attention to detail.
• Exhibit exceptional organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail ensuring accuracy and consistency across all tasks
• Effectively prioritize competing responsibilities to meet deadlines reliably while maintaining high-quality outcomes
• Effective team player who can take initiative and work independently within department priorities and is willing to learn and take on additional responsibilities as appropriate

EDUCATION AND TRAINING:

Bachelors degree in marketing grant management fund development or an equal combination of education and relevant work experience with a personal orientation as a life-long learner.

EXPERIENCE:

Minimum five (5) years experience in foundation and/or corporate relationship development; grants research fund development and at least four (4) years of grant management experience and proven track record of public grant acquisition with at least 2 years of supervisory or team leadership experience with a focus on coaching development and creating inclusive team culture.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• The ability to speak additional language(s) is desired but not required
• Non-Profit experience is desired but not required

DISCLAIMER:

The information presented indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification. It is not designed to contain or to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties responsibilities qualifications and objectives required of employees assigned to this job. As an adaptive organization responsibilities can and will change in alignment with greater efficiencies and mission metrics.

BENEFITS AND OTHER COMPENSATION:

Northwest Harvest offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package this includes but is not limited to; medical/dental/ vision/ insurance long term disability insurance Life/AD&D insurance Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 401(k) retirement plan Vacation and Sick leave 8 paid holidays; New Years Day Martin Luther King Day Juneteenth Independence Day Labor Day Thanksgiving Day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Day Floating holidays for you to use should you observe a holiday not outlined in Northwest Harvests current observed holidays or at your discretion and birthday holiday. Employees are eligible to participate in payroll deducted supplemental benefits i.e. Flexible Spending account-HRA and DCE various AFLAC and New York Life plans.