Major Gift Officer, Cornell Bowers College of Computing and Information Science

Cornell University; Ithaca (MI); Hybrid; USD 104,000 - 127,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Health and retirement benefits

Leave and vacation benefits

Job summary

Cornell University in Ithaca, NY invites applications for a Major Gifts Officer in the Alumni Affairs and Development division. You will build and manage strategic relationships with alumni, parents, and friends to secure philanthropic support aligned with college and university priorities.

You will identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors to advance Cornell Bowers’ mission through leadership and major gifts, managing a $1M+ annual fundraising portfolio and guiding proposals through to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 5–7 years of relevant experience or equivalent.
• Proven ability to cultivate and maintain high-net-worth donor relationships.
• Results-driven with proactive fundraising goals.
• Strong written and verbal communication for proposals and donor meetings.
• Strategic, analytical thinking to align donor interests with goals.
• Collaboration with faculty leadership and colleagues across departments.
• Travel up to 40% including evenings/weekends as needed.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of ~100 prospects with gifts from $250K to $1M+, and plan annual solicitations.
• Conduct 120 personal visits or significant contacts annually, with ≥50% in person.
• Complete 50+ discovery qualifications to identify new major gift prospects.
• Partner with faculty and volunteers to align donor interests with priorities.
• Develop funding proposals and structure complex gifts to secure major donations.
• Maintain knowledge of computing, information science, statistics, data science and AI priorities to assist colleagues.

Skills

Portfolio Mgmt

Donor Engagement

Discovery & Prospecting

Collaboration

Proposal Development

Knowledge of Priorities

Education

Bachelor’s degree + 5–7 years experience

Job description

Cornell University welcomes candidates for the position of Major Gifts 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 Cornell Bowers College of Computing and Information Science Major Gifts Officer builds and manages strategic relationships with alumni, parents, and friends to secure philanthropic support aligned with college and university priorities. This role involves identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors to advance Cornell Bowers’ mission through leadership and major gifts.

Key Responsibilities

• Portfolio Management and Fundraising: Manage a portfolio of approximately 100 prospects with gift capacities ranging from $250K to $1M+. Develop and execute an annual solicitation plan for each prospect, ensuring appropriate cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. Regularly solicit and close gifts, including annual fund gifts and multi-year commitments, aiming to generate $1M+ annually through gifts of diverse sizes.

• Donor Engagement: Conduct a minimum of 120 personal visits or significant contacts annually, with at least 50% in person, to build relationships and advance fundraising strategies.

• Discovery and Prospect Identification: Complete 50+ discovery qualifications annually to identify new major gift prospects and expand the portfolio.

• Collaboration and Coordination: Partner with faculty, staff, and volunteers to align donor interests with college and university priorities. Prepare faculty and senior leadership for donor meetings, including briefing materials.

• Proposal Development and Negotiation: Independently match donor interests with Cornell Bowers’ priorities, developing funding proposals and structuring complex gifts to secure major donations.

• Knowledge and Relationship Building: Develop and maintain substantial knowledge of the college’s priorities in computing, information science, statistics, data science, and artificial intelligence, and proactively serve as a resource for colleagues regarding these priorities.

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 $6.8 billion. Joining our team means growing your career alongside supportive, mission-driven, and high-performing colleagues while helping shape Cornell’s future.

About Cornell Bowers College of Computing and Information Science

Born from a bold experiment that united technical innovation with a deeper understanding of the interplay of technology with humanity, the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science continues to define the new frontier of tech. Across the growing areas of computer science, information science, and statistics and data science—including artificial intelligence—the community pioneers emerging fields, develops the algorithms that power the information age, and is committed to creatively and thoughtfully exploring technology’s potential to advance our world. If you’re excited by the intersection of technology and humanity, you’ll find a meaningful home here.

Required Qualifications

• Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree and 5–7 years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Relationship-Building: Proven ability to cultivate and maintain strong, long-term relationships with high-net-worth donors and prospects and to influence outcomes.

• Results-oriented : Proactive and resilient in achieving ambitious goals.

• Communication and Presentation: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to craft compelling proposals and engage in meaningful donor meetings.

• Strategic and Analytical Thinking: Strong analytical and planning skills to develop data-driven fundraising strategies that align donor interests with organizational goals.

• Collaboration and Teamwork: Demonstrated experience working with faculty, senior leadership, and colleagues across departments to coordinate and align fundraising efforts.

• Travel and Flexibility: Ability to travel domestically and internationally (up to 40% of time), including frequent travel to the west coast, and to work evenings and weekends as needed.

Work Location

• This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. Employees typically perform this role remotely 2 days per week and on-campus 3 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:

Major Gifts Ofcr III

Job Family:

Alumni Affairs Development

Level:

G

Pay Rate Type:

Salary

Pay Range:

$104,037.00 - $127,157.00

Remote Option Availability:

Hybrid

Company:

Endowed

Contact Name:

Laura Clark

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

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

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.

2026-09-02