Jake Gustafson

About Jake Gustafson

I am a transformational fundraising and organizational leader who builds high‑performing teams, drives enterprise‑scale revenue growth, and strengthens communities through equity-centered leadership. My career spans senior executive roles in major nonprofits, entrepreneurial ventures, and service as an officer in the U.S. Coast Guard — a combination that shaped my approach to disciplined execution, strategic clarity, and mission-driven innovation.I’ve led fundraising portfolios exceeding $180M annually, closed six- and seven-figure gifts, and built cross-sector partnerships with corporations, philanthropists, athletes, and community leaders. At Mary’s Place, I helped deliver the strongest fundraising year in the organization’s history. At Seattle Children’s, I helped scale revenue from $100M to $183M and launched the Sports Philanthropy program, creating new pathways for impact and engagement.I am also the founder of Impact Sports Philanthropy, Impact Elevated Consulting, and Zuma Water — ventures that merge brand, mission, and community investment to create sustainable social impact.My leadership philosophy is simple: build cultures where people thrive, create systems that scale, and pursue bold goals that meaningfully improve lives. I believe in the power of partnership, the importance of equity, and the responsibility of leaders to leave organizations stronger than they found them.

Experience

1. Chief Development Officer (CDO)

   Mary's Place

   Sep 2023 — Present · Seattle, WA, US

   Lead a Development team of 20.Responsible for all fundraising operations and revenue generation to support a $30M organization. Areas of oversight include: Individual & Major Giving, Corporate, Government, and Foundations, Donor Experience, Capital Campaign, Donor Communications, and Volunteer Engagement.

Education

• Western Governors University

  MBA, Healthcare Management, Health/Health Care Administration/Management

• US Coast Guard Academy

  B.S. Management, Business Management and Information Systems

• The George Washington University School of Business

  Executive Certificate of Sports Philanthropy, Sports Philanthropy

Skills

• Process Improvement
• Team Building
• Management
• Lean Management
• Organizational Leadership
• Security
• Operations Management
• Supervisory Skills
• Time Management
• Customer Support
• Budgeting
• Training
• Policy
• Customer Service
• Public Speaking
• Team Leadership
• Customer Experience
• Leadership
• Client Relations
• Account Management
• Change Management
• Budget Management
• Strategic Planning
• Business Intelligence
• Payroll Processing
• Staff Development
• Marketing
• Project Planning
• Leadership Development
• Long-Term Customer Relationships
• Business Process Improvement
• Scheduling
• Human Resources
• Security Clearance
• Strategy
• Program Management
• Payroll
• Analysis
• Process Scheduler
• Project Management