Director, Leadership Gifts

Columbia Business School; New York (NY); On-site; USD 145,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Columbia Business School in New York seeks a Director, Leadership Gifts to lead donor cultivation and fundraising for the CBS Annual Fund and scholarships. You will manage a portfolio of about 150 prospects, lead frontline gift officers, and collaborate across CBS and the University to advance development priorities.

This role demands five years of frontline fundraising experience, strong communication, and the ability to work evenings or weekends for Reunion events while delivering strategic

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required with five years frontline fundraising or comparable sales/marketing experience.
• Excellent written, oral, and presentation skills.
• Highly organized, detail oriented, and able to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Willingness to work nights and occasional weekends for Reunion events.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategy for leadership donor cultivation and engagement, focusing on the CBS Annual Fund and scholarship support.
• Grow annual fund and leadership giving based on donor trends and institutional priorities.
• Coordinate across CBS and University partners to maximize donor engagement.
• Manage a portfolio of ~150 prospects through all fundraising stages including solicitation and stewardship.
• Coach and develop frontline fundraising staff to deepen alumni relationships and revenue.

Skills

Fundraising leadership

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Suite

Donor databases

Job description

Grade 14

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Salary Range: $145,000 - $165,000

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Associate Dean, Development the Director, Leadership Gifts provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for Columbia Business School’s Leadership Giving and Annual Fund initiatives. The role is responsible for developing and executing strategies to cultivate and solicit leadership level donors, primarily supporting unrestricted giving including the CBS Annual Fund and scholarship priorities.

The Director manages a personal portfolio of approximately 150 prospects and oversees a team of frontline fundraising professionals responsible for through visits, phone calls, and other forms of personalized outreach. The Director also maintains key relationships in the School, at the University-level, and among alumni.

This individual must be a strong, motivated team member who is invested in raising the bar for Development and Alumni Relations at Columbia Business School. Our team's overarching culture is rooted in the core values of Respect, Inclusion, Service, Empathy, and Excellence. We strive to foster an environment where mutual respect, inclusivity, dedicated service, empathy towards colleagues and constituents, and a commitment to excellence are not just principles but integral aspects of our daily interactions and work ethic.

About Columbia Business School

For over a century, Columbia Business School (CBS) has helped develop leaders and builders of enterprises who drive value for their stakeholders and society at large through our MBA, MS, PhD, and Executive Education programs. We are equally committed to cultivating new scholars and teachers and to creating and disseminating pathbreaking knowledge, concepts, and tools that advance the understanding and practice of management through our faculty research and PhD programs. Our vision is simple: to develop ideas and leaders that transform the world, from the very center of business.

Our ever‑evolving curriculum, featuring pioneering courses, STEM certification, and immersive experiential learning, prepares students to excel in key areas such as digital transformation, entrepreneurship, innovation, twenty‑first‑century finance, the intersection of business and society, and climate and sustainability. The CBS administration enables CBS’s educational and scholarly mission through strategic and operational guidance and support, optimizing School resources through well‑designed, transparent processes with a culture of respect for all.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Program Management

• In partnership with the Associate Dean, Development, leads strategy for leadership donor cultivation and engagement, with a primary focus on the CBS Annual Fund and scholarship support.
• Develops and implements strategies to grow annual fund and leadership giving based on donor trends, historical giving patterns, and institutional priorities.
• Supports broader unrestricted giving initiatives including Reunion giving, Columbia Giving Day, and global alumni engagement strategies.
• Contributes to strategic initiatives designed to expand the development impact of CBS.

Portfolio Management and Fundraising

• Manages a portfolio of approximately 150 prospects through all phases of the fundraising cycle including identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, gift negotiation, and stewardship.
• Conducts donor outreach and meetings to strengthen relationships and secure leadership level gifts.
• Maintains accurate documentation and activity reporting in the donor database including moves management tracking and engagement strategies.
• Coordinates communications and stewardship activities to strengthen donor relationships and advance giving outcomes.

Institutional Partnerships and Collaboration

• Builds and maintains key relationships across Columbia Business School and the broader University to support donor engagement and development priorities.
• Partners with colleagues across Development and Alumni Relations to align fundraising strategies and maximize donor engagement opportunities.
• Collaborates with leadership and internal stakeholders to advance development initiatives that support the School’s strategic goals.
• Leads or supports special fundraising initiatives and alumni engagement efforts, including Reunion and other events that advance support for CBS.

Team Leadership and Staff Development

• Manages and coaches a team of frontline fundraising gift officers responsible for leadership giving portfolios.
• Partners with staff to develop individualized portfolio strategies designed to deepen alumni relationships and grow year over year fundraising revenue.
• Provides coaching on best practices in frontline fundraising including discovery, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and portfolio management.
• Supports professional development and establishes career growth paths for team members.
• Other duties as assigned or required.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Minimum of five years frontline fundraising experience or comparable sales or marketing experience with a proven track record of closing five‑figure or higher gifts preferred.
• Demonstrated excellent written, oral, and presentation skills.
• Highly organized and detail oriented required with the ability to work autonomously and under time constraints and oversee diverse projects simultaneously.
• Creative, persuasive, and self‑motivated.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite, Google suite, and donor databases.
• Self‑motivated with strong analytical skills and collaborative, perspective with a customer‑focused approach.
• Availability to work nights and a few weekends a year to staff Reunion events and other Business School gatherings.
• Some weekend and evening work hours required. Up to 40 days travel.

Preferred Qualifications

• Campaign fundraising experience.
• Prior supervisory experience.
• Project and volunteer management experience.
• Experience working in higher education advancement.
• Familiarity with Columbia University or Columbia Business School.
• Experience with donor relations and event management.
• Knowledge of the evolving digital transformation of business.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.