Major Gifts Officer II

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $130,000 - $155,000

Position Summary

Reporting to the Associate Dean, Development, the Major Gifts Officer II plays a critical role in advancing the mission of Columbia Business School by cultivating and soliciting gifts of $250,000 and above. This position is responsible for independently managing a portfolio of up to 150 prospects, including alumni, parents, and friends, with a focus on discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. This role requires a strategic and donor-centered approach to secure major gifts that support the School's top priorities, including scholarships, curriculum, research, and operating support.

The Major Gifts Officer II fosters meaningful relationships with donors through regular communication, tailored engagement strategies, and participation in bespoke events. This role also collaborates with internal stakeholders to align donor strategies with institutional priorities. Travel, including to domestic and international regions, is required to build and strengthen relationships with donors and prospects.

This individual must be a strong and motivated team member invested in raising the bar for Development and Alumni Relations at Columbia Business School. Our team's overarching culture is rooted in the core values of Respect, Inclusion, Service, Empathy, and Excellence. We strive to foster an environment where mutual respect, inclusivity, dedicated service, empathy towards colleagues and constituents, and a commitment to excellence are not just principles but integral aspects of our daily interactions and work ethic.

About Columbia Business School:

For over a century, Columbia Business School (CBS) 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 that 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, innovation, twenty-first-century finance, the intersection of business and society, and climate and sustainability. The CBS administration enables CBS's 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

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  Manage a portfolio of approximately 150 prospects through all phases of the giving cycle, from validation and engagement through cultivation, solicitation, gift negotiation, and stewardship.

  
  
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  Responsible for managing communications and follow-up, including maintaining detailed activity reports and moves management information on all prospects in the portfolio.

  
  

Donor Engagement

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  Conduct a minimum of 120 prospect meetings annually to cultivate and solicit prospects and close gifts.

  
  
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  Conducts regular validation meetings with prospects, alumni, and parents who have not been visited previously to help determine giving potential and opportunities for engagement.

  
  
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  Meet agreed-upon fundraising goals and metrics by identifying and working with major gift prospects through successful gift closings.

  
  

Collaboration and Representation

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  Serves as an effective, high-level spokesperson and representative for Columbia Business School and for its funding priorities with donors, internal stakeholders, faculty, directors of centers, and colleagues from across the organization.

  
  
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  Travels independently and with leadership to deepen relationships between prospects and the School. Enthusiastic and flexible on behalf of the school.

  
  

Team Engagement & Special Projects

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  Actively participate in the life of the team, learning and growing with colleagues.

  
  
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  This individual will instill the values of teamwork, integrity, accountability, and respect.

  
  
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  Performs other related tasks and special projects as assigned.

  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required. Minimum 6-8 years related experience required.
• A minimum of 6 years of fundraising or a combination of fundraising and sales experience is required, with a proven track record of closing six-figure and seven-figure gifts.
• The ability and comfort to interact effectively with business executives, CEO-level contacts, and high-net-worth individuals are essential.
• Additional position-specific requirements include the following: Demonstrated excellent oral and written communication skills. Outstanding strategic thinking and analytical skills, interpersonal skills, sound judgment, and experience handling highly confidential information.
• Strong initiative, creativity, organizational ability, and attention to detail.
• Ability to analyze a problem and present a strategic solution.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and cooperatively with other staff.
• Ability to be creative, enterprising, and tactful.
• Some weekend and evening work hours required. Up to 40 days travel.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated success in higher education fundraising, with a proven ability to cultivate, solicit, and close six- and seven-figure major gifts from alumni, parents, and friends.
• Experience managing a broader portfolio of high-value donors and designing strategic, donor-centric engagement plans to strengthen long-term relationships.
• Advanced skills in developing and executing strategic communication plans that align donor priorities with institutional goals, leveraging data-driven insights to identify trends and guide targeted engagement strategies.
• Proven ability to collaborate across departments and with senior leadership, serving as a bridge between donors and the organization while managing complex internal and external stakeholder relationships.
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to adapt messaging across diverse audiences and formats and confidently represent the School's mission and funding priorities.
• Ability to handle complex gift proposals and work seamlessly with leadership, faculty, volunteers, and colleagues to secure transformational philanthropic commitments

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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