Alumni Relations & Development

A career in alumni relations and development at Columbia University connects you with the brightest minds doing the most compelling work in every sphere, in one of the world's most inspiring cities.

You could join a team raising funds to provide a student with the transformative experience of a Columbia education or celebrate our filmmakers at Sundance with the Columbia Alumni Association. You could introduce potential donors to a Nobel Prize-winning neuroscientist or post on social media about climate change research breakthroughs. That's a stimulating work environment!

If you are a passionate professional who wants to make a difference, consider joining our dynamic and accomplished team as we partner with alumni, donors, and friends who share a dedication to furthering Columbia’s global impact. You will find that we are a cohesive community committed to a process of self-reflection, both to generate new strategies for fundraising growth and to become a leader in our field.

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Latest Alumni & Development Jobs

Title	Location	Summary
Major Gifts Officer II	Manhattanville	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.
Major Gifts Officer, Columbia College and Arts & Sciences	New York	Reporting to the Executive Director of Major Gifts, Columbia College and Arts & Sciences, the Major Gifts Officer serves as a key member of a dynamic fundraising team and is responsible for moving a portfolio of 150 prospects through the complete giving cycle: validation, engagement, cultivation, solicitation, gift negotiation, and stewardship.
Associate Director, Alumni Giving	New York	The Columbia College Development and Alumni Relations (CCDAR) team serves the more than 55,000 living alumni of Columbia College along with current and past College parents and friends. We are an innovative team of development and alumni relations professionals committed to fostering strong, lasting relationships between Columbia alumni, parents, students and friends through engagement, participation and philanthropic investment. We connect stakeholders to opportunities that support College goals and advance engagement and fundraising priorities. Reporting to the Director of Alumni Giving on the Columbia College Fund team, the Associate Director is responsible for leading the College’s reunion giving program. With guidance from the Director, the Associate Director is responsible for helping cultivate a culture of “stretch” giving and grow the Reunion Giving program, putting emphasis on milestone classes and generating energy, support, and involvement from volunteers and donors in those classes. The incumbent’s duties will include but are not limited to goal setting for milestone classes, volunteer committee recruitment and management, individual meetings with reunion volunteers, and identifying key reunion prospects and working closely with prospect managers to secure gifts from those prospects. The Associate Director works independently but partners closely with the Assistant Director of Alumni Events and Programs on all reunion related items. They handle multiple responsibilities, requiring strong prioritization skills. A successful candidate is interested in forming relationships with alumni volunteers and donors and creating opportunities for alumni to engage with and financially support Columbia College.
Associate Director, Development & Industry Partnerships	Columbia University Medical Center	Reporting to the Associate Dean for Development & Alumni Affairs at Columbia University School of Nursing, the Associate Director of Development and Industry Partnerships will manage and grow a portfolio of major and leadership gift prospects and donors, with a primary focus on corporations and foundations capable of making gifts of $100,000 or more. The Associate Director will develop and execute cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies that align with the School’s philanthropic priorities. The Associate Director will identify, research, and cultivate prospective corporate and foundation partners; design and develop compelling proposals and solicitation strategies; secure major and leadership gifts and grants; and steward donors through meaningful and sustained engagement. As a collaborative and strategic partner, the incumbent will work closely with the Dean, Associate Dean for Development & Alumni Affairs, the School’s Grants Management Office, and colleagues across Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) and the Office of Alumni Relations and Development (OAD) to identify funding opportunities and advance shared philanthropic objectives. This cross-functional role requires a strategic, relationship-driven professional with a collaborative spirt, strong program management skills, and the ability to operate with a broad institutional perspective. As a frontline fundraiser and member of the School’s Development & Alumni Affairs team, the Associate Director will build and maintain strong collaborative relationships with development colleagues across Columbia University to coordinate engagement strategies, identify fundraising opportunities, and support the School and University’s overall advancement priorities.
Senior Director of Development, Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute	New York	The Senior Director of Development reports to the Assistant Vice President of Development for Strategic Initiatives in Columbia's central Office of Alumni Relations and Development (OAD), with a dotted-line reporting relationship to the Director and CEO of the Zuckerman Institute. The Senior Director collaborates with colleagues across Columbia's schools and central departments and joins a vibrant community of fundraising professionals supporting more than two dozen strategic initiatives across the University.
Executive Director, Planned Giving	Columbia University Medical Center	The Executive Director of Planned Giving will report to the Vice President, Development, and work closely with senior development leaders, to enhance and lead a comprehensive planned giving program for the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, as well as providing support as needed to the other health sciences schools. The focus will be on working with prospects, donors and collaboratively with colleagues to generate support through testamentary bequests, charitable trusts, life income arrangements, and other complex gifts including real estate and closely held securities. The position manages a personal portfolio of major and planned gift prospects, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, closing, and stewarding donors locally and nationally. Annual expectations include closing multiple deferred gifts, raising significant dollars from the portfolio, and completing a robust schedule of donor visits. Donors and prospects include alumni, patients, and friends.