Director of Volunteer and Gift Officer Partnership

Cornell University • Ithaca, MI

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Cornell University welcomes candidates for the position of Director of Volunteer and Gift Officer Partnership 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. The Director of Volunteer and Gift Officer Partnership is a member of the Annual and Leadership Giving (ALG) Leadership Team and is responsible for driving the culture of Annual Fund solicitations by Individual Giving Officers and developing a measurably effective volunteer giving program within Alumni Affairs and Development. This role partners across the division to strengthen dual-ask strategies, support donor cultivation and solicitation, and build coordinated volunteer fundraising efforts that contribute to Annual Fund revenue and pipeline growth. Cornell's Alumni Affairs and Development division, widely regarded as one of the top-performing advancement organizations in higher education, connects alumni, parents and friends with opportunities to advance the university's mission through philanthropy and engagement. As part of our team, you'll help cultivate meaningful relationships while working alongside dedicated professionals who share your commitment to excellence and educational advancement.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and at least 5 years of relevant experience or equivalent combination
• Demonstrated experience in annual giving or individual giving fundraising, including solicitation, cultivation, and stewardship strategies
• Proven ability to partner effectively with frontline gift officers and influence donor strategy and outcomes
• Experience analyzing fundraising performance data and translating insights into improved strategies, tools, or processes
• Demonstrated success developing or managing volunteer-based or peer-to-peer fundraising efforts
• Strong collaboration skills, with experience working across teams and organizational levels, including senior leadership

Responsibilities

• Drive and support the execution of Annual Fund dual-ask strategies across the division, partnering with Individual Giving Officers to integrate annual giving into donor strategies
• Analyze performance of dual-ask efforts, develop recommendations for improvement, and provide tools and resources to enhance effectiveness
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with Individual Giving Officers, Directors of Development, and Chief Development Officers to support donor strategy and solicitation outcomes
• Oversee and strengthen volunteer-led fundraising programs, including recruitment, training, and management of peer-to-peer solicitors
• Coordinate volunteer solicitation strategies, including assignment of prospects, ask amounts, and outreach plans across Annual Giving audiences
• Develop and maintain systems and tools to track volunteer activity, solicitation outcomes, and Annual Fund performance, ensuring strong data practices and reporting

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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees