Leadership Gift Officer

Zymtronix Catalytic Systems Inc; City of Ithaca (NY); Hybrid; USD 82,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Health care options

Retirement contributions

Education benefits

Job summary

Cornell University in Ithaca, NY invites candidates for the Leadership Gift Officer to join the Alumni Affairs and Development division. This role carries a portfolio of donors, focusing on retention, upgrades, and pipeline development to grow the Annual Fund.

The position reports to the Director of Leadership Gifts and requires 3–5 years of relationship-based fundraising, strong communication, travel, and willingness to work evenings/weekends.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required or equivalent experience.
• 3–5 years in relationship-based fundraising or related area.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with multi-tier asks.
• Strong analytical ability to assess donor capacity and next steps.
• Ability to travel domestically and abroad; work evenings/weekends as needed.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of 160–180 prospects with giving capacity of $25K–$249K.
• Conduct a minimum of 200 meetings annually, with at least 150 for Annual Fund solicitations.
• Regularly solicit and close annual gifts or multi-year commitments totaling $25K to $249K.
• Maintain accurate reports, strategy updates, and donor intelligence in CRM by month-end.
• Partner with major gift services staff for acknowledgments, briefings, and presidential correspondence.

Skills

Relationship management

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Donor research

Travel willingness

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Leadership Gift Officer

Cornell University welcomes candidates for the position of Leadership Gift Officer in our Alumni Affairs and Development division, based in Ithaca, NY. This role presents an exceptional opportunity to contribute to the university's advancement efforts.

Position Summary

The Leadership Gifts Officer is an important member of the Annual and Leadership Giving Team. Reporting to the Director of Leadership Gifts, this role is responsible for raising Annual Fund dollars through donor retention, upgrading, and pipeline development. The LGO will carry a portfolio of prospects and donors with loyal giving histories and/or the potential to support the Annual Fund at a higher level.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of 160–180 prospects with giving capacity of $25K–$249K.
• Conduct a minimum of 200 meetings annually, with at least 150 dedicated to Annual Fund solicitations.
• Regularly solicits and closes annual gifts or multi-year commitments totaling $25K to $249K.
• Maintain accurate contact reports, strategy updates, and donor intelligence into CRM by month‑end deadlines.
• Partner with major gift services staff to support acknowledgments, briefings, and presidential correspondence.

About Alumni Affairs and Development

At Cornell Alumni Affairs and Development, we connect alumni, parents, and friends with opportunities to make a meaningful difference at Cornell and beyond. Our success is built on the strength of relationships, a commitment to excellence, and a culture of collaboration, innovation, inclusion, and continuous learning. As one of higher education's leading fundraising and engagement organizations, we recently completed a record‑setting campaign that engaged more than 221K alumni and raised $6.7 billion. Joining our team means growing your career alongside supportive, mission‑driven, and high‑performing colleagues while helping shape Cornell's future.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 3 to 5 years relevant experience or equivalent combination.
• Demonstrated success in relationship‑based work, preferably including solicitation, closing, or negotiations in a metric‑driven environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft multi‑tier asks and adapt messaging to diverse audiences.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to synthesize information to assess donor capacity, inclination, and appropriate next steps.
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.
• Ability to maintain a valid driver’s license, travel domestically and abroad, and work evenings and weekends as needed.

Work Location

This position is located in Ithaca, New York and is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. Employees typically perform this role remotely 3 days per week and on‑campus 2 days per week. The university reserves the right to modify, suspend, revoke or terminate the hybrid work arrangement at any time.

Rewards and Benefits

• Cornell receives national recognition as an award‑winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, and sustainability.
• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: Understand Your Benefits | Working at Cornell .
• Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1. To offer greater flexibility for observing faiths and traditions we also offer two additional floating holidays. Learn more about our generous leave provisions: Holiday and Accrued Time Off | Working at Cornell
• Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition‑free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children’s Tuition Assistance Program. Learn more about our extensive educational benefits: Education Benefits | Working at Cornell

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

University Job Title:

Gifts Officer II

Job Family:

Alumni Affairs Development

Level:

F

Pay Rate Type:

Salary

Pay Range:

$81,806.00 - $95,072.00

Remote Option Availability:

Hybrid

Company:

Endowed

Contact Name:

Rachel Colunio

Contact Email:

[e-mail]

EEO Statement:

Cornellwelcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world‑class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of “... any person ... any study.” No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, 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.

Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeksjob candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. Wehire based on merit, andencourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.

About Us

Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas to further the university’s mission of teaching, discovery and engagement. With our main campus located in Ithaca, NY, Cornell's far‑flung global presence includes the medical college’s campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, as well as the Cornell Tech campus located on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City.

We offer a rich array of services, programs and benefits to help employees advance in their career and enhance the quality of personal life, including: employee wellness, workshops, childcare and adoption assistance, parental leave, flexible work options.