Job Description

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $70,000 - $84,000

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Senior Director of Leadership Giving at Columbia Business School (CBS), the Leadership Gift Officer plays a pivotal role on the frontline fundraising team, responsible for  identifying, cultivating, and soliciting alumni and friends of CBS for gifts up to $250,000, in  support of the Columbia Business School Annual Fund. The Leadership Gift Officer I will play a critical role in developing and maintaining a robust fundraising pipeline of prospects and reinforcing a culture of unrestricted annual giving 

This position focuses on enhancing philanthropic giving through direct, personal outreach, building relationships that foster financial support for CBS. The Leadership Gift Officer I will be instrumental in securing critical resources that support the School???s innovative academic programs, research initiatives, and strategic priorities.  This role requires a results-oriented, strategic thinker who embodies the Development and Alumni Relationship Teams (DAR) core values of  innovation, teamwork, integrity, accountability, and respect. 

For over a century, Columbia Business School has helped develop leaders and builders of enterprises who drive value for their stakeholders and society at large through our MBA, MS, PhD, and Executive Education programs. We are equally committed to cultivating new scholars and teachers, and to creating and disseminating pathbreaking knowledge, concepts, and tools which advance the understanding and practice of management through our faculty research and PhD programs.

Our vision is simple: to develop ideas and leaders that transform the world???from the very center of business. Our ever-evolving curriculum - featuring pioneering courses, STEM certification, and immersive experiential learning -prepares students to excel in key areas such as digital transformation, entrepreneurship, and innovation, twenty-first century finance, the intersection of business and society, and climate and sustainability. The CBS administration enables CBS??? educational and scholarly mission through strategic and operational guidance and support, optimizing School resources through well-designed, transparent processes with a culture of respect for all.

Responsibilities

Portfolio Management

• Manages a portfolio of up to 300 prospects, with a focus on building relationships and increasing philanthropic investment in Columbia Business Schools Annual Fund.

• Tracks and advances donor engagement from identification to solicitation, ensuring timely execution of development strategies.

• Collaborates with internal stakeholders, to develop compelling donor engagement opportunities that demonstrate the impact of their contribution.

Fundraising Strategy 

• Conducts at least 200 prospect visits, both virtually and in-person, with an emphasis on in-depth conversation that align donor interests with CBS???s priorities. 

• Conducts research to identify potential leadership donors in and beyond the assigned portfolio, ensuring a targeted and strategic approach to cultivation and solicitation. 

• Secures a minimum of $1 Million annually in gifts and pledges for the CBS Annual Fund and related priorities, working with prospects capable of leadership-level commitments (ideally gifts between $10,000 and $250,000). 

Additional Responsibilities

• Collaborates with Senior Director, Leadership Giving and other team members to align strategies with broader School initiatives, including reunion giving, special campaigns, and capital projects.

• Maintains accurate and up-to-date records in the donor database, documenting all activities, meetings, and next steps to ensure consistent communication and follow-up with prospects. 

• Prepares regular reports on progress towards goals.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor???s degree and/or its equivalent required. Minimum 3-5 years of related experience is required.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to engage and inspire diverse stakeholders. 

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel is required.

• Must be willing to travel within NY and the tri-state region up to 45 days per year and work occasional evenings and weekends to meet with prospects and attend events.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with or strong knowledge of higher education advancement principles, practices, and trends is preferred.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.

About Columbia University

Columbia University is one of the world's most important centers of research and at the same time a distinctive and distinguished learning environment for undergraduates and graduate students in many scholarly and professional fields. The University recognizes the importance of its location in New York City and seeks to link its research and teaching to the vast resources of a great metropolis. It seeks to attract a diverse and international faculty and student body, to support research and teaching on global issues, and to create academic relationships with many countries and regions. It expects all areas of the university to advance knowledge and learning at the highest level and to convey the products of its efforts to the world.

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