Where Relationships Inspire Impact
A Conversation with Jeff Moore, Director of Planned Giving & Major Gifts Officer
By: Jazmine Robinson
As the season of gratitude and giving arrives, it’s a fitting time to reflect on the people who help shape generosity into impact at HudsonAlpha. Behind every contribution that accelerates discovery, supports education, or advances patient care, there’s someone working diligently to connect hearts to our mission.
For Jeff Moore, HudsonAlpha’s Director of Planned Giving and Major Gifts Officer, that work is deeply personal. Drawing on a career rooted in compassion and purpose, Jeff helps donors transform their desire to make a difference into meaningful support that drives innovation and hope.
In this Faces of Innovation conversation, Jeff shares how his family experiences sparked his passion for philanthropy, what inspires him to persevere in challenging times, and why relationships and gratitude are at the heart of everything he does.
Jazmine Robinson: Jeff, I see you walking around with people all the time. I look forward to learning more about your role here at the Institute. First, I know you moved to Huntsville from Chicago five years ago for this position. What led you to HudsonAlpha?
Jeff Moore: My youngest son, Joey, was born on September 11, 2001. During the pregnancy, we were told that he would likely pass away at birth. I am thankful to say that he is 24 now, but he had a very tough first five years. We spent a great deal of time in hospitals with him. In hindsight, the challenges we experienced were truly blessings for my family. It was during that time that I decided, at some point, I would like to change careers and focus on serving the greater good. It took me several years before I left consumer product sales to work for the Epilepsy Foundation in Washington, D.C. I was there for eight years. Then, this opportunity at HudsonAlpha gave us a reason to move to warmer weather and be closer to Joey, who was studying at the University of Alabama at that time.
Jazmine: You mentioned Joey being the youngest son. How many other children do you have?
Jeff: I have a 31-year-old daughter, Alli, who lives with her husband in Indianapolis, Indiana. She is a nurse. My middle son Evan is 28 and a special education teacher. He and his wife had a baby girl in August. In Alabama, we would call her Carson Rae, but since she lives in Fargo, North Dakota, she’s just Carson, and her middle name is Rae. I’m looking forward to my third visit with her over Thanksgiving.
Jazmine: That is super sweet. Congratulations on becoming a grandpa. You clearly have a big heart, Jeff. I appreciate that you shared your reasons for wanting to transition from sales to a nonprofit role and for wanting to contribute to the greater good. Can you tell me what has been particularly meaningful to you about your work and what unexpected challenges you’ve faced in your role?
Jeff: Most everyone who walks through our doors, whether they realize it or not, has some kind of connection to the work HudsonAlpha does. My wife had breast cancer, and some members of my family and my wife’s family have faced Alzheimer’s disease. A close friend is living with ALS. Just last year, my best friend since second grade passed away from pancreatic cancer. Everything we do touches someone. And for me, it’s incredibly rewarding to play even a small part in the impact we make here.
One of our biggest challenges is that, from a donor perspective, we’re not always viewed as a national organization, despite the global impact of our work. It can be difficult for us to secure donations from outside of Alabama, or even beyond North Alabama. Our scientists and the research affairs team do an outstanding job securing grants at both the state and national levels. But when it comes to philanthropic support from individual donors, expanding our reach remains a challenge. We would like to change that.
Jazmine: So, what do you do on a daily basis?
Jeff: My role here essentially is to raise money through major gifts, sponsorships, and planned giving. I love being here, and I love the people I work with. I feel extremely fortunate to be part of such a great organization.
Every donation we receive is the result of teamwork. It doesn’t matter who makes the final ask—there are always many people involved along the way. For many of our donors, their journey began with a class like Dr. Lamb’s Biotech 101 or Kelly’s HudsonAlpha U sessions, coming to events, hearing our speakers, or seeing a story on the news. Those touchpoints are what engage people. And of course, the research itself is what inspires them. Without all of those pieces working together, we wouldn’t be able to secure the support we do.
Jazmine: So right now, with everything going on with funding and inflation, I imagine that’s really challenging. How do you stay motivated and keep that passion going, especially since so much of what you do depends on people choosing to give?
Jeff: I wish the federal funding landscape hadn’t slowed down as much as it did this year. But at 62, I’ve learned over my career that there are always ebbs and flows. Over time, you learn to adapt and adjust to the circumstances. When you have strong leadership and a solid team, which I believe we do, you can get through challenging times. From a fundraising standpoint, I can leverage that strength to encourage additional giving.
Sometimes that’s been very successful. At other times, I’ve asked donors for more than I normally would, based not only on their giving history but also on what I’ve learned about them through relationships and the data we have. In some cases, I’ve made a stretch ask or have asked for an additional donation, even though they donated earlier in the year. The key is balancing this carefully by helping donors understand the opportunities they have to make a meaningful impact, while also sharing the difference their support can make. Of course, it involves aligning their philanthropic goals with our needs.
Jazmine: What would you say is the most valuable lesson or skill you’ve gained through your experience so far?
Jeff: The importance of building genuine relationships, personally as well as professionally.
Jazmine: What are some of your hobbies and interests outside of work?
Jeff: I love my family. I feel very blessed to have an amazing wife, Lynne. We have been married for 38 years. In addition, I absolutely love being a father. I truly have an incredible family and am so blessed to have them. I value spending time with my family, watching sports, reading, and traveling.
Jazmine: And for my final question, what advice would you give to a student or an individual interested in pursuing a career like yours?
Jeff: I would tell them to have passion for the organization they work for and the work it does. If you have that passion, it will carry you a long way.
