Major Gifts Officer, College of Engineering

at  Cornell University

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Cornell University is looking for a New York City-based Major Gift Officer to join the College of Engineering - the largest engineering program among the Ivies. Our Engineers are solving some of the world’s most important challenges, big and small – from space exploration to climate change to nanomedicine.
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.

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.

• 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.