Leadership Gift Officer

Cornell University; Town of Ithaca (NY); Hybrid; USD 82,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care options

Generous retirement contributions

Wellness programs

Employee discounts

Paid leave and holidays

Tuition benefits

Job summary

Cornell University in Ithaca, NY is seeking a Leadership Gift Officer to advance the Annual Fund through donor retention, upgrades, and pipeline development. You will manage a portfolio of loyal donors and prospects, and drive solicitations, reporting, and strategy with the Alumni Affairs and Development team.

The role emphasizes relationship-based fundraising, strong communication, and collaboration across campus.

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.

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 solicit and close 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.

Skills

Relationship-building

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Donor prospecting

Multitasking

Education

Bachelor’s degree

3–5 years fundraising experience

Tools

CRM software

Job description

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
• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell: Total Rewards | 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]

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

To learn more about Cornell’s non‑union staff job titles and pay ranges, see Career Navigator.

Union Positions

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined in accordance with the rates in the respective collective bargaining agreement. To learn more about Cornell’s union wages, see Union Pay Rates.

EEO Statement

Cornell welcomes 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 seeks job candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We hire based on merit, and encourage 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.

2026-08-28