Cornell University welcomes candidates for the position of Leadership Gifts Officer 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 Leadership Gifts Officer (LGO) is an important member of the Annual and Leadership Giving Team. Reporting to the Director of Leadership Gifts, this role is responsible for raising Annual Fund dollars through donor retention, upgrading, and pipeline development. The LGO will carry a portfolio of prospects and donors with loyal giving histories and/or the potential to support the Annual Fund at a higher level.
Key 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 solicits and closes 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.
Required Qualifications
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.
About Alumni Affairs and Development
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.
This position is located in Ithaca, New York and is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. Employees typically perform this role remotely 3 days per week and on-campus 2 days per week. The university reserves the right to modify, suspend, revoke or terminate the hybrid work arrangement at any time.
Rewards and 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:
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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
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Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
University Job Title:
Gifts Officer II
Job Family:
Alumni Affairs Development
Level:
F
Pay Rate Type:
Salary
Pay Range:
$81,806.00 - $95,072.00
Remote Option Availability:
Hybrid
Company:
Endowed
Contact Name:
Rachel Colunio
Contact Email:
[email protected]
Job Titles and Pay Ranges:
Non-Union Positions
Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:
Prior relevant work or industry experience
Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position
Unique applicable skills
Academic Discipline
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2026-05-20