Major Gifts Officer, College of Engineering

Details

Posted: 06-Apr-24

Location: Ithaca, New York

Type: Full-time

Salary: Open

Categories:

Staff/Administrative

Internal Number: 3-80606

Major Gifts Officer, College of Engineering

Reporting to the Director of Development, the Major Gift Officer is a cornerstone for Cornell Engineering, and has direct access to the faculty, staff, and students whose stories are vital to our work. The Major Gift Officer manages an estimated pool of 100-120 households, with an emphasis on gift capacity of $250k and higher. They will assist the Director in implementing pipeline growth initiatives, as well as the liaison structure with departments and schools within the College of Engineering. The Major Gift Officer will also serve as a vital partner to university gift officers, leveraging relationships, and sharing expertise on priorities identified by the college's dean, Lynden Archer.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify prospective donors, initiate personal contact, and create opportunities for philanthropic engagement with the College of Engineering and Cornell University.
• Create/implement fundraising strategies, connecting prospects and donors to College and department/school priorities by building strong, long-term relationships with alumni, parents, and friends of Cornell.
• Manage an estimated pool size of 100-120 prospect households, comprised of a mixture of unqualified, new and long-term donors, with the goal of securing major gifts.
• Regularly solicit and close gifts of various sizes with the goal of increasing gifts of $250,000 - $1,000,000 while simultaneously raising donor sights, encourage annual giving, multi-year commitments, and estate gifts.
• Be conversant on core priorities and product knowledge for the university and the College of Engineering, as well as effectively access more detailed information as needed.
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, administrators, and colleagues in the Division of Alumni Affairs and Development.
• Assist the Director in implementing stewardship initiatives, the liaison structure with departments and schools within the College of Engineering, and other activities as needed.
• Effectively and regularly communicate and visit with prospects through various means but with an emphasis on in-person.
• Actively collaborate with key stakeholders to develop customized cultivation and stewardship activities, including nominations for volunteer leadership roles.
• Serve as a resource to other gift officers in helping to develop strategies for prospect development.
• Maintain accurate database information reflecting prospect strategies and activities and for compiling complete gift and commitment documentation.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree and 5 to 7 years relevant experience or equivalent combination in development, alumni affairs, public affairs, marketing, and/or business development
• Experience working with volunteers; the ability to manage complex relationships, a proven collaborator with teamwork skills.
• Excellent communication skills; the ability to speak credibly about higher education and the aspirations of Cornell; clarity, crispness and effectiveness in written and oral presentations.
• Willingness to travel extensively, up to 40% of staff time, and to work nights and weekends as needed.
• Passionate about working in an organization that values and promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, anti-racism, and wellbeing.
• Basic understanding of the concepts and principles of fund raising, campaign/project fund raising and speculative fund raising is strongly preferred.
• Must have a valid driver's license.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prefer experience in higher education or similarly complex environment.
• Experience working with faculty.

Rewards and Benefits

Cornell receives national recognition, as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, sustainability, and diversity initiatives. Benefits include:

This position is based in New York City with hybrid work arrangements, which means 2 or 3 days in the office and the remainder can be remote within a commutable distance.

No visa sponsorship is available for this position.

University Job Title:

Major Gifts Ofcr III

Job Family:

Alumni Affairs Development

Level:

G

Pay Rate Type:

Salary

Pay Range:

$118,858.00 - $165,080.00

Remote Option Availability:

Hybrid Remote

Company:

Endowed

Contact Name:

Laura Clark

Job Titles and Pay Ranges:

Non-Union Positions

Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience

• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position

• Unique applicable skills

• Academic Discipline (faculty pay ranges reflects 9-month annual salary)

Union Positions

Current Employees:

Online Submission Guidelines:

Employment Assistance:

Notice to Applicants:

EEO Statement:

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University's heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, and we do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic, including race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex/gender, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual's genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff to all identities and backgrounds. We encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.

2024-04-04