Major Gifts Officer

Cornell University•Ithaca, MI

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Cornell University welcomes candidates for the position of Major Gifts Officer in our Alumni Affairs and Development division, based in Ithaca, NY. This role offers an exciting opportunity for an established fundraising professional to advance the university’s most significant academic priorities by leading complex, high-impact gift conversations and partnering closely with academic and university leadership across Cornell. The Major Gifts Officer is an experienced front-line fundraising professional responsible for managing and advancing key donor relationships with high-capacity prospects to secure transformational gifts in support of Cornell’s academic and institutional priorities. This role manages a smaller, highly focused portfolio based in Canada and the Pacific Northwest and regularly closes seven-figure and complex gifts through deep partnership with academic leadership and the execution of highly customized fundraising approaches.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and 7–10 years of relevant experience or equivalent combination.
Proven success in closing seven-figure gifts and managing complex donor relationships.
Exceptional oral and written communication skills; ability to craft compelling proposals and presentations.
Advanced strategic planning and analytical skills to develop multi-tiered engagement strategies.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate with senior leadership and faculty in a complex organization.
Results-oriented, proactive, and resilient in achieving ambitious goals.
Ability to maintain a valid driver’s license, travel extensively (up to 40% of time) and work evenings/weekends as needed.
Experience modeling values that support inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing.

Responsibilities

Manage a portfolio of approximately 80–100 high-capacity prospect households with giving potential ranging from $250,000 to $10M+, based primarily in Canada and the Pacific Northwest.
Develop and implement sophisticated, multi-year strategies for qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
Regularly solicit and close seven-figure and multi-year commitments, including gifts involving complex assets and blended giving strategies.
Partner closely with deans, faculty leaders, and senior administrators across the university to align donor interests with academic vision and institutional priorities.
Facilitate high-level donor engagement with academic leadership through individualized visits, proposal development, and strategic convenings.
Serve as a trusted advisor to internal partners and donors throughout the lifecycle of complex gift conversations.
Maintain accurate and timely documentation of prospect strategies and activities in compliance with University Fundraising Policy.