Major Gifts Officer, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; CALS

Major Gifts Officer III (MGO) For The College Of Agriculture And Life Sciences (CALS)

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is a pioneer of purpose-driven science and Cornell University's second largest college. We work across disciplines to tackle the challenges of our time through world-renowned research, education, and outreach. The questions we probe and the answers we seek focus on three overlapping concerns: achieving next-generation scientific breakthroughs, access to nutritious food and a healthy environment, and ensuring a prosperous global future.

Cornell University welcomes candidates for the position of Major Gifts Officer III (MGO) for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) 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 CALS Major Gifts Officer III (MGO) is a front-line fundraising professional responsible for building and managing relationships with alumni, parents, and friends to secure major gifts in support of priorities for the Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS).

Key Responsibilities

• Manage an estimated portfolio of 100-120 prospect households with a giving potential of $250,000 or more, with an emphasis on prospects with $1 million or more capacity. The expectation is that portfolios will generate $1 million to $3 million or more annually.
• Build and sustain purposeful relationships and prospects through strategic qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Complete a minimum of 120 in-person visits or significant contacts per year, including discovery visits for a pipeline strategy to identify new donors to establish and refresh a full portfolio. This gift officer will facilitate strategic visits and meetings with college representatives, including the CALS Dean and other senior leadership and faculty members.
• Regularly solicit and close gifts, including gifts to the Cornell Fund for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences along with multi-year commitments.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of prospect strategies, contact reports, and gift commitments.

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 5-7 years of relevant experience or equivalent combination.
• Proven ability to build strategic relationships and influence outcomes.
• Results-oriented, organized, proactive, and resilient in achieving ambitious goals.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills with the ability to inspire donor interest in college priorities and to craft compelling proposals and presentations.
• Demonstrated collaboration and teamwork across diverse stakeholders.

Work Location

This position 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

NOTE:

This is a Contract College position with statutory benefits