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About the job

Cornell University welcomes candidates for the position of Principal Gift Officer in our Alumni Affairs and Development division, based in Ithaca, NY. This role offers the opportunity to work closely with university leaders and engage with some of Cornell's most devoted philanthropic partners in advancing the university's highest priorities.

Position Summary The Principal Gift Officer is a senior fundraising professional responsible for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding Cornell's highest-capacity donors and prospects. This position manages a portfolio of principal gift households, consisting of individuals with the potential to make philanthropic commitments of $10 million or more.

Working closely with university leadership, faculty, deans, volunteers, and development colleagues, the Principal Gift Officer develops and implements individualized fundraising strategies designed to deepen engagement and inspire transformational philanthropic support. The role is responsible for advancing prospects through the fundraising cycle, including cultivation, solicitation, proposal development, stewardship, and ongoing relationship management.

The Principal Gift Officer regularly solicits and closes annual gifts and multi-year commitments at the principal gift level and collaborates with partners across the university to align donor interests with institutional priorities. The position also provides strategic support to senior leaders and volunteers engaged in principal gift fundraising efforts and ensures a high level of donor stewardship and engagement throughout the fundraising process.

Key Responsibilities

  • Manage a portfolio of approximately 30-40 principal gift households, developing and implementing strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors and prospects capable of making transformational philanthropic investments.
  • Regularly solicit and close annual gifts and multi-year commitments of $10 million or more, advancing donor relationships and aligning philanthropic interests with university priorities.
  • Partner with university trustees, senior leaders, faculty, deans, unit directors, volunteers, and development colleagues to develop and execute fundraising strategies for principal gift prospects.
  • Build and advance relationships with principal gift prospects through individualized cultivation activities, including visits, events, advisory councils, committees, and other university activities aligned with donor interests and philanthropic priorities.
  • Conduct frequent travel and in-person visits with prospects, donors, and volunteers to build relationships, advance gift discussions, and secure philanthropic commitments.
  • Provide professional guidance on giving opportunities and collaborate with colleagues in Trusts, Estates and Planned Giving and other specialized areas to support complex gift discussions and customized giving strategies.
  • Ensure exceptional stewardship and ongoing engagement for principal gift donors, coordinating with colleagues across the university to deliver meaningful and individualized donor experiences.
  • Oversee the development of donor correspondence, briefing materials, proposals, reports, and other communications that support fundraising strategies and solicitation efforts.
  • Maintain current knowledge of university priorities and accurately document prospect activity, fundraising strategies, and solicitation outcomes.

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 10+ years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, including the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major and principal gift prospects, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Demonstrated success securing significant philanthropic commitments from high-net-worth individuals.
  • Experience managing complex donor portfolios and developing individualized fundraising strategies.
  • Proven ability to partner effectively with senior academic leaders, faculty, administrators, trustees, and volunteers.
  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop compelling donor proposals, presentations, and correspondence.
  • Strong relationship-building, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively in a complex and collaborative environment.
  • Proficiency with fundraising databases, Microsoft Office applications, and related technologies.
  • Ability and willingness to travel frequently and work evenings and weekends as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience securing seven- and eight-figure philanthropic commitments.
  • Experience fundraising within higher education or another complex nonprofit environment.
  • Familiarity with principal gift fundraising strategies and donor engagement practices.

Work Location

  • This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. Employees typically perform this role remotely three (3) days per week and on campus two (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. 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: Principal Gifts Ofcr Job Family: Alumni Affairs Development Level: I Pay Rate Type: Salary Pay Range: $200,766.00 - $245,380.00 Remote Option Availability: Hybrid Company: Endowed Contact Name: Laura Clark Contact Email: lhc66@cornell.edu

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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Online Submission Guidelines : Most positions at Cornell will require you to apply online and submit both a resume/CV and cover letter. You can upload documents either by “dragging and dropping” them into the dropbox or by using the “upload” icon on the application page. For more detailed instructions on how to apply to a job at Cornell, visit How We Hire on the HR website.

Employment Assistance: For general questions about the position or the application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting or email mycareer@cornell.edu .

If you require an accommodation for a disability in order to complete an employment application or to participate in the recruiting process, you are encouraged to contact Cornell Office of Civil Rights at voice (607) 255-2242, or email at accommodations@cornell.edu .

Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library, or local Department of Labor. You may also request an appointment to use a dedicated workstation in the Office of Talent Attraction and Recruitment, at the Ithaca campus, by emailing mycareer@cornell.edu .

Notice to Applicants: Please read the required Notice to Applicants statement by clicking here . This notice contains important information about applying for a position at Cornell as well as some of your rights and responsibilities as an applicant.

EEO Statement: 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.

2026-11-13

From Cornell University's careers page (Workday), checked 13 Nov 2026.

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