Principal Gifts Associate

Cornell University, a nationally ranked Ivy League institution, is looking for a Principal Gifts Associate to join the Alumni Affairs & Development division in Ithaca, NY.

The Principal Gifts Associate (PGA) partners with one or more Principal Gifts Officers (PGOs) to help manage up to 60 of the university's closest and most generous families with the capacity to make gifts of $10M+. Utilizing excellent writing and organizational skills, the PGA ensures timely and robust stewardship of hundreds of millions of dollars of lifetime giving to the university. The PGA works collaboratively with PGOs, development colleagues, faculty, students, and university staff, and plays a vital role in the effort to secure significant support for teaching and research programs and university priorities from individuals and their personal foundations.

The PGA manages and triages workflow to allow PGOs to spend optimal time interacting with prospects or working with senior academic leaders and faculty to advance goals. With a broad, sophisticated understanding of the university's strengths and in-depth knowledge of institutional priorities, the PGA is a key partner with PGOs, contributing to setting and delivering principal gifts fundraising and engagement strategies and goals. The PGA is especially relied upon when PGOs are unavailable to provide insight and guidance to leadership and colleagues on matters related to donor engagement and philanthropy.

Creativity, flexibility, and a proactive approach are vital in this role. The PGA has excellent communication skills-verbal and written-and demonstrates exceptional integrity. With access to sensitive and confidential information, the PGA maintains a keen sense of accountability, sound judgement, and ethical professionalism in a deadline-driven, high-performing environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Write highly customized, detailed correspondence on behalf of the president, provost, deans, faculty, and senior development staff.
• Contribute to the management of prospect portfolios at the principal gifts level, advancing university-wide fundraising priorities as well as new and emerging initiatives.
• Collaborate with AAD colleagues, faculty, and university staff to develop and implement highly personalized engagement, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies and materials.
• Be accountable for key action items, follow-up, and project management in the delivery of prospect strategies within a rapidly evolving environment with competing priorities, opportunities, challenges, and deadlines.
• Draft well-researched, well-written, and compelling proposals for philanthropic support. These proposals are often complex and highly individualized, and-with input from university leaders and faculty-help attract transformational gifts to advance Cornell's mission.
• Plan and deliver innovative, creative, and individually tailored stewardship activities.
• Manage high-level events and recognition activities in Ithaca and in locations around the globe.

Core Qualifications

• College degree with two to four years of directly related experience, such as fundraising, project management, and/or communications experience.
• Demonstrated strong time and project management skills and ability to work independently with little supervision.
• Superior writing skills.
• Sound judgment and demonstrated experience dealing with sensitive and confidential data and information in a professional and ethical manner.
• Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and inter-personal skills. Ability to work with individuals from across the university's campuses, as well as external partners.
• Ability to learn and understand the university's priorities and accounting and financial processes.
• Ability to work both independently and collegially with a diverse range of colleagues, faculty, donors, volunteers, and prospects in building consensus and achieving desired outcomes.

Rewards and Benefits

Cornell receives national recognition, as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, sustainability, and diversity initiatives. Benefits include:

• Comprehensive health care options
• Access to wellness programs
• Employee discounts with local and national retail brands
• Generous retirement contributions
• Leave provisions including three weeks of vacation and 12 holidays
• Impressive educational benefits including tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, Tuition Aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance program
• Learn more about benefit opportunities

This position is based in Ithaca, NY with hybrid work arrangements, which means 2 or 3 days in person and the remainder can be remote from a commutable distance.

No visa sponsorship is available for this position.

Familiarize yourself with Cornell's COVID-19 workplace guidance as well as the university's COVID-19 services and information.

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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:

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• Unique applicable skills

• Academic Discipline (faculty pay ranges reflects 9-month annual salary)

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Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University's heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, and we do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic, including race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex/gender, 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. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.

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EEO Statement: Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University’s heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students, and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose, and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement.

Minimum Salary: 31200.00 Maximum Salary: 31200.00 Salary Unit: Yearly