Leadership Gift Officer

Cornell University•Ithaca, NY

12d•Hybrid

About The Position

Cornell University is seeking a Leadership Gift Officer (LGO) for its Alumni Affairs and Development division in Ithaca, NY. This role is a key part of the Annual and Leadership Giving Team, reporting to the Director of Leadership Gifts. The LGO is responsible for increasing Annual Fund dollars through donor retention, upgrading, and pipeline development. The position involves managing a portfolio of prospects and donors who have a history of giving or the potential to increase their support for the Annual Fund.

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.

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.

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: 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.
Two additional floating holidays
Tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program
Tuition aid for external education
Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program