Executive Director, Annual and Leadership Giving

About the role

Cornell University’s Alumni Affairs and Development division plays a central role in fostering lifelong engagement and philanthropic support across the university’s global community. The university’s To Do the Greatest Good capital campaign ends this June, having raised $6.6B+ on a $5B goal, and will culminate with the Cornell’s first $1B+ fundraising year. Serving as the bridge between Cornell and its alumni, parents, friends, and supporters, the division advances the institution’s mission by building meaningful relationships and inspiring investment in Cornell’s people, programs, and future. Its work reflects the belief that every gift makes a difference.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the annual and leadership giving model at Cornell and ensure it delivers sustained growth in unrestricted, broad-based, and leadership giving.
• Set the overall direction, define success, align resources across the team verticals, and make ongoing strategic adjustments in response to performance, donor behavior, and institutional priorities.
• Manage a dynamic team of approximately 23, including five program leads, and provide strategic leadership for the team and across central and unit-based annual giving functions, ensuring cohesive operations towards shared and measurable goals and desired outcomes.
• Work closely with the Annual Fund National Chair and other trustees to advance the overall strategy and drive fundraising success.
• Engage as a senior leader in efforts to advance the goals, mission, and values of the Division.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree and a minimum of ten years of fundraising or related experience. Expertise and track record of success leading an annual giving program. Senior leadership experience in annual giving, leadership giving, or closely related advancement functions within a complex organization. Demonstrated success leading mature fundraising enterprises with accountability for enterprise outcomes. Ability to provide management oversight, leadership, and direction with at least five years of significant supervisory experience. Strength in developing strategic and comprehensive fundraising plans and executing against these plans to achieve goals and objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum of ten years of fundraising or related experience
• Expertise and track record of success leading an annual giving program
• Senior leadership experience in annual giving, leadership giving, or closely related advancement functions within a complex organization
• Demonstrated success leading mature fundraising enterprises with accountability for enterprise outcomes
• Ability to provide management oversight, leadership, and direction with at least five years of significant supervisory experience
• Strength in developing strategic and comprehensive fundraising plans and executing against these plans to achieve goals and objectives

Skills

• Strategic planning and execution
• Leadership and management of fundraising teams
• Donor relations and stewardship
• Financial analysis and reporting
• Collaboration and relationship-building

Benefits

The position offers competitive compensation, comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. Additionally, employees may perform this role remotely 3 days per week and on campus 2 days per week. Cornell also provides a variety of educational benefits, including tuition-free extramural study and employee degree programs, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program.

Pay

$174,916.00 - $213,786.00

Schedule

This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. Employees may 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.