Senior Associate Director, University Foundation Relations and Corporate Philanthropy

Senior Associate Director, University Foundation Relations and Corporate Philanthropy

Cornell University welcomes candidates for the position of Senior Associate Director, University Foundation Relations and Corporate Philanthropy (UFRCP), 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.

Position Summary

The Senior Associate Director of UFRCP manages a portfolio of private foundations, corporations, and corporate foundations, leading the development of highly competitive proposals in the 6- to 8- figure range. This position serves as a key liaison for a portfolio of foundations and select corporate prospects, developing high-value alliances and cultivating philanthropic support that aligns with both Cornell's innovative research and strategic initiatives and each funder's giving priorities.

Key Responsibilities

• Portfolio Management:
  Manage a portfolio of approximately 40–50 top-priority foundation donors and prospects, cultivating relationships through in-person meetings, on-campus site visits, and regular communications to generate significant philanthropic investment, with an expectation of securing $3M–$5M in new gifts and commitments annually.
• Strategy Advisement:
  Engage campus thought leaders and facilitate dialogue around new ideas, developing strategies that align University leadership priorities with funder priorities across research, professorships, fellowships, scholarships, programs, space, and equipment.
• Proposal Development:
  Advise on best practices for high-quality, competitive proposals, including writing/editing support, letters of inquiry, and letters of endorsement/support.
• Collaboration:
  
  Collaborate with colleagues across Alumni Affairs and Development, college/unit-based CFR practitioners, principal and major gifts teams, Weill Cornell Medicine NYC, Cornell Tech NYC, the Office of the President, General Counsel, the Office of the Provost, Academic Leadership, and Research and Innovation to build compelling cases for philanthropic support.
• Research:
  Conduct independent research on foundation leadership, priorities, and industry trends; participate in campus information-sharing sessions to stay current on AAD updates, faculty research, and deans' priorities.
• Stewardship:
  Oversee post-award management and stewardship activities, including impact reports, site visit coordination, and campus events, to meet reporting requirements and strengthen funder relationships.

About Alumni Affairs and Development

At Cornell Alumni Affairs and Development, we connect alumni, parents, and friends with opportunities to make a meaningful difference at Cornell and beyond. Our success is built on the strength of relationships, a commitment to excellence, and a culture of collaboration, innovation, inclusion, and continuous learning. As one of higher education's leading fundraising and engagement organizations, we recently completed a record-setting campaign that engaged more than 221K alumni and raised $6.7 billion.

Joining our team means growing your career alongside supportive, mission-driven, and high-performing colleagues while helping shape Cornell's future.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 5 to 7 years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated ability to understand and advocate for the importance of university research and higher education, along with the ability to communicate technical, scientific, and educational activities effectively.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with proven ability to conceive, develop, and write strategic plans and proposals that result in financial support; excellent presentation, proofreading, and editing skills.
• Strong organizational skills with demonstrated ability to establish priorities, manage multiple projects, and meet deadlines in a detail-oriented manner.
• Experience proactively developing partnerships with external and internal stakeholders, with a proven track record of achieving results both personally and through others.
• Team-oriented and self-directed, with…