Major Gift Officer - University Major Gifts

Cornell University welcomes candidates for the position of Major Gift Officer, based in California. This role offers an exciting opportunity to advance Cornell's highest fundraising priorities by building relationships with high-capacity donors and securing transformational philanthropic support.

Position Summary

The Major Gift Officer is an experienced frontline fundraising professional responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding high-capacity prospects and donors across Cornell University's Southwest Mountain region and Mexico. Working in partnership with academic leaders, volunteers, and Development colleagues, this position develops and executes strategic engagement plans that inspire philanthropic investment in Cornell's mission and priorities.

Success in this role requires strong relationship-building skills, strategic thinking, and a proactive approach to fundraising. The ideal candidate is an energetic and self-directed fundraiser who takes initiative, identifies opportunities, and effectively advances prospect relationships from initial engagement through solicitation and stewardship. This individual thrives in a dynamic environment, maintains momentum across a portfolio of prospects, and is motivated by achieving ambitious fundraising goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 80–100 high-capacity prospect households with giving potential ranging from $250,000 to $10M+, based primarily in Colorado, Texas, and other Southwest/Mountain states.
• 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.

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 7–10 years of progressively responsible fundraising experience or equivalent combination.
• Proven success in closing seven-figure gifts and managing complex donor relationships.
• Proven ability to take initiative, develop new opportunities, and independently drive fundraising activity and results.
• 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.

Work Location

This position is designated as a fully remote position to be performed from within California to meet specific business needs associated with the role. Up to 40% business travel required. This position is not eligible for ongoing work outside of California. The successful candidate must be located in California at the time of hire and must maintain California as their primary work location throughout employment. Relocation assistance is not available.

Although this position is performed remotely from California, it is assigned to the university’s operations in Ithaca, New York. Employees who work remotely may receive multiple W-2 Forms depending on their work location. The New York Convenience of Employer guidelines require New York State individual tax reporting and withholding for this position. Additional individual state income tax filings may also be required if working remotely outside of New York State.

*The California salary range for this position is $152,654 - $186,577.*

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: Understand Your Benefits | Working at Cornell.
• 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.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

University Job Title:

Major GIfts Ofcr IV

Job Family:

Alumni Affairs Development

Level:

H

Pay Rate Type:

Salary

Pay Range:

$138,776.00 - $169,615.00

Remote Option Availability:

Hybrid

Company:

Endowed

Contact Name:

Laura Clark

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

To learn more about Cornell’s non-union staff job titles and pay ranges, see Career Navigator.

Union Positions

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined in accordance with the rates in the respective collective bargaining agreement. To learn more about Cornell’s union wages, see Union Pay Rates.

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For general questions about the position or the application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting or email [email protected].

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Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of “... any person ... any study.” No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeks job candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We hire based on merit, and encourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.

2026-08-03