• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Building: Pulitzer Hall
• Salary Range: $105,500 - $121,400

Position Summary

Reporting to the Associate Dean, Alumni and Development, at the Graduate School of Journalism, the Major Gift Officer focuses on identifying, cultivating and soliciting alumni, foundations and friends of Columbia with the capacity to make gifts in the $100,000 to $3,000,000 range. The Major Gift Officer is responsible for a portfolio of up to 150 individuals and foundations. Serving as a key member of a dynamic fund-raising team, the Major Gift Officer is responsible for moving gift and grant prospects through the complete giving cycle: validation, engagement, cultivation, solicitation, gift/grant negotiation and stewardship.  In collaboration with the Associate Dean, identify priorities for fundraising focus. 

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio through all phases of the giving cycle, from validation and engagement through cultivation, solicitation, gift negotiation, and stewardship.
• Conducts a minimum of 150 personal visits annually to identify, cultivate and solicit prospects and close gifts. Annually fulfill a minimum of 15 major gift asks,10 leadership level asks and five planned giving conversations. Meet fundraising goals and metrics by identifying and working with major gift prospects through successful gift closings.
• Responsible for managing communications and follow-up, including maintaining detailed activity reports and moves management information on all prospects in the portfolio. Conducts regular validation meetings with prospects who have not been visited previously to help determine giving potential and opportunities for engagement.  
• Serves as a high-level representative for School, including advocating for the School’s funding priorities with donors, internal stakeholders, faculty, directors of centers, and colleagues from across the organization. Collaborates with administrators and faculty to understand Journalism School priorities, works with them on meetings, solicitations and gifts.  Attends prospect meetings with the Dean of Columbia Journalism School, schedules the meetings and briefs the Dean prior to the meetings and drafts follow up communications for the Dean.
• Develops written solicitation and other development materials  for prospects, including compelling proposals, donor reports, foundation letters of inquiries, and grant applications.
• Works with finance and development colleagues to ensure compliance and accurate reporting of grants and gifts.
• Travels domestically and internationally and attends events, occasionally with leadership, to grow relationships between prospects and the School. Helps organize bespoke prospect events with high level prospects featuring the Dean or a faculty member.
• Performs other related tasks and special projects as required.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 4-6 years of fundraising or related experience is required.
• Computer proficiency (Word, Excel) required. Some evening and weekend work, and travel, is required. 
• Must have excellent writing and presentation skills and be a persuasive advocate for Journalism School priorities.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, interpersonal, oral and written communication skills, including a high level of attention to detail and being an active listener. Must be able to problem-solve and troubleshoot, and work independently in a dynamic team environment.
• A demonstrated ability to effectively partner with a diverse group of administrators and academic leaders is necessary.
• The successful candidate must be a strategic thinker, diplomatic and discerning, with sound judgment and a collaborative style that fosters teamwork and cooperation beyond the immediate team to the broader organization.  

Preferred Qualifications

• An advanced degree preferred, as is experience or a strong interest in journalism.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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