Major Gift Associate - New York City
About The Position
The Major Gift Associate, a member of our University Major Gifts team, provides essential writing, research, and coordination support to a team of Major Gift Officers working with high-capacity donors. This role focuses on developing clear, compelling communications, including proposals, briefings, and correspondence, that advance fundraising strategies and ensure alignment with university priorities. In this role, the Major Gift Associate synthesizes complex information, prepares materials for senior university leaders, and helps coordinate donor engagement activities. This position plays a critical role in enabling effective relationship management by ensuring that gift officers are equipped with thoughtful, accurate, and strategically aligned content and support.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree and 3 to 5 years relevant experience or equivalent combination
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills with demonstrated excellence in persuasive and business writing
- Ability to build relationships with colleagues across AAD, faculty, alumni, volunteers, and administrative staff
- Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and exercise sound judgment with highly confidential information
- Strong organizational and project management skills with ability to meet tight deadlines
Nice To Haves
- Experience in higher education, nonprofit, or professional services environment
- Experience working in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments
Responsibilities
- Collaborate with gift officers to support the development and execution of donor strategies, leveraging partnerships with colleagues across the university
- Research and synthesize complex information to develop briefing materials and talking points for university leadership, tailoring content for diverse audiences
- Write persuasive proposals and donor correspondence, partnering with colleges and units to ensure accuracy and alignment with strategic priorities
- Develop personalized stewardship reports and communications that demonstrate donor impact, translating complex information into clear, compelling narratives
- Draft and edit high-level correspondence and acknowledgements for university leaders, ensuring consistency with institutional voice and donor preferences
- Build and maintain knowledge of university initiatives and programs while supporting compliance, workflow coordination, and operational processes
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
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
