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About the Role

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

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.

Requirements

• 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.

Skills

• Relationship-based work
• Solicitation
• Closing
• Negotiations
• Written communication
• Verbal communication
• Analytical skills
• CRM proficiency

Location

• Ithaca, New York

Work Type

• Hybrid

Experience Level

• 3 to 5 years

Education Level

• Bachelor’s degree

Salary/Compensations

• $81,806.00 - $95,072.00

Benefits

• Comprehensive health care options
• Generous retirement contributions
• Access to wellness programs
• Employee discounts with local and national retail brands
• Health and personal leave
• Three weeks of vacation
• 13 holidays
• Two additional floating holidays
• Tuition-free Extramural Study
• Employee Degree Program
• Tuition aid for external education
• Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program

About the Company

• 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.

Equal Opportunity

• 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 be 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.