Leadership Gift Officer, General Studies

Position Summary

The Columbia University School of General Studies is Columbia’s nontraditional undergraduate school. The Leadership Gift Officer, General Studies, is an integral member of GS fundraising and identifies, cultivates, and solicits alumni and friends of the School for unrestricted and restricted gifts supporting financial aid and academic initiatives for undergraduate students, with an emphasis on securing gifts up to $100,000. These annual gifts provide important support for financial aid, new academic initiatives, and ongoing expenses, and the position is also responsible for ensuring the GS annual fund achieves its goals. This role reports to the Executive Director of Major Gifts, Arts & Sciences.

Responsibilities

• Under the guidance of the Executive Director of Development, Major Gifts, Arts & Sciences, the Leadership Gift Officer manages a portfolio of 300 prospects.
• Conducts 125-150 personal visits with a personal annual production goal of $500,000.
• Focuses on discovery work with increased focus on creating new parent engagement and giving strategies.
• Conducts all follow-up development efforts needed to sustain and advance prospect relationships.
• Ultimately responsible for sustaining a productive annual fund on behalf of GS, which will include but is not limited to partnering with Annual Fund Programs, Alumni relations, and gift officers across the Office of Alumni Relations and Development. The Leadership Gift Officer is expected to be self-motivated, well-organized, a collegial partner, possess an entrepreneurial spirit and, above all, a persuasive advocate for Columbia University's priorities.
• Manages a small committee of volunteer fundraisers that help to solicit high-end annual gifts; acts as a primary liaison to these committee members to ensure efforts to promote General Studies.
• Performs other duties and projects as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree and or equivalent.
• A minimum of three (3) to five (5) years of related experience required, preferably in fundraising or related transferable experience, with demonstrated success in annual or planned giving or applicable ability.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with higher education fundraising.
• Advanced degree preferred.
• Preference given to candidates with a documented record of successfully closing gifts within or near the range of gifts expected from the incumbent.

Other Requirements

• Excellent writing and communication skills, tact, sensitivity and mature judgment are required.
• Must be professional, organized, creative and efficient, able to work successfully both individually and as part of a team.
• This position requires evening and weekend work and travel as necessary.
• Subject to business needs, the Office of Alumni Relations and Development supports a hybrid work arrangement for this position. Options will be discussed during the interview process.

Columbia University offers a full range of benefits to help you and your eligible dependents stay healthy, build long-term financial security for retirement, and meet educational goals. To explore the available Health and Welfare, Tax Savings, Tuition, Well-being and Voluntary Benefits options visit: https://humanresources.columbia.edu/benefits.