Major Gift Associate
Cornell UniversityAbout the role
Cornell University, a nationally ranked Ivy League institution, is looking for a Major Gift Associate to join the Alumni Affairs & Development (“AA&D”) division in Ithaca, NY.
The division of AA&D is semi-decentralized. This position will reside with the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business (“College”), which includes three schools: the Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration (Nolan), the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management (Dyson), and the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management (Johnson).
The College delivers undergraduate, graduate, MBA, and PhD programs and consists of approximately 240 faculty, 900 staff, 4,000 students, and almost 50,000 alumni. Together, the three schools transcend the traditional boundaries of business education and research to transform critical thinking into practical solutions. We collaborate within the college, across Cornell, and beyond to mobilize diverse expertise, generate world-class knowledge, inspire students, and positively impact society.
Reporting to the Director of Development, the Major Gift Associate (MGA) will be a strong, persuasive business writer who can synthesize information to develop compelling fundraising materials. The MGA will draft correspondence for use by the President, Provost, Deans, Senior Administrators, and Trustees. They will manage data and develop and maintain a strong understanding of university systems. In addition, the MGA will assist in executing stewardship activities for any prospect whose lifetime philanthropy to Cornell is $250k or more. This position will work independently and collaboratively with gift officers, program assistants, and others across Alumni Affairs and Development and the SC Johnson College of Business.
Key Responsibilities
Synthesize and summarize large amounts of data into a meaningful, narrative format.
Build strong working relationships.
Research and gather accurate information.
Utilize critical thinking.
Use sound judgment and forward-thinking.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree and 3-5 years relevant experience or equivalent combination.
Demonstrated ability to work independently.
High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
Strong research and computer software skills.
Ability to prioritize multiple projects under pressure with extremely tight deadlines.
Effective oral and written communication skills, especially in persuasive and business writing.
This position is based in Ithaca, NY, and has hybrid work arrangements.
No Visa Sponsorship is available for this position
University Job Title:
Gift Associate IIJob Family:
Alumni Affairs DevelopmentLevel:
FPay Rate Type:
SalaryPay Range:
$70,208.00 - $81,593.00Remote Option Availability:
HybridCompany:
EndowedContact Name:
Rachel ColunioJob 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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