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
Director of Development	Columbia University Medical Center	The incumbent will join the VP&S fundraising team, a leading fundraising unit within Columbia University, raising $200M+ annually. This role offers the opportunity to partner with world renowned faculty and institutional leaders across the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (VP&S) to secure philanthropic support for transformative initiatives.
Leadership Gift Officer, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences	New York	Reporting to the Executive Director of Major Gifts, Arts & Sciences, the Leadership Gift Officer, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GSAS), identifies, cultivates, and solicits alumni and friends of GSAS for unrestricted and restricted gifts for financial aid, professional development, and new academic initiatives focused on master’s and doctoral students.
Discovery Officer	New York	Reporting to the Global Development Officer and working at the intersection of prospect development, leadership annual giving, alumni engagement, and major gifts, the Discovery Officer uses data, research, engagement history, and direct engagement to assess philanthropic potential and recommend qualification status within established discovery and portfolio management processes.
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, 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.