Discovery Officer, Office of Alumni Relations & Development

Columbia’s University Development team serves schools and units across the University and leads Columbia’s Discovery Initiative, a strategic effort to identify, engage, qualify, and convert more prospects into donors.

The Discovery Officer plays a critical role in strengthening the University’s leadership, major, and principal gift pipeline by identifying, engaging, and supporting the qualification of prospective donors with the capacity and inclination to make philanthropic commitments. This position focuses on alumni, parents, friends, and other constituents who are newly identified as major gift-rated prospects and are unassigned, under-engaged, or not yet fully qualified for cultivation.

Reporting to the Global Development Officer and working at the intersection of prospect development, leadership annual giving, alumni engagement, and major gifts, the Discovery Officer uses data, research, engagement history, and direct engagement to assess philanthropic potential and recommend qualification status within established discovery and portfolio management processes.

This position is central to expanding the University’s donor base, improving the quality of the prospect pipeline, and supporting long-term fundraising growth.

• Two (2) to four (4) years of related experience required.
• Professional experience in fundraising, university advancement, alumni relations, nonprofit development, or another relationship-management field desired.