Sr Director of Major Gifts

Sr Director of Major Gifts

• 555355
• New York
• School of Engineering and Applied Science Admin
• Full Time
• Opening on: Feb 11 2026
• Grade 15

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• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: $160,000 - $175,000

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University''s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Executive Director, Development and Strategic Initiatives at the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), the Senior Director of Major Gifts provides leadership and strategic direction for the major gifts program at Columbia Engineering. The Senior Director of Major Gifts is responsible for planning and executing year-on-year major gifts activity and goal setting for major gifts of $1,000,000 - $10,000,000 on behalf of the School. The Senior Director of Major Gifts will manage the frontline major gifts officers process, and set annual fundraising targets through careful coordination of the pipeline, strategy development, solicitation timeline, and ask outcomes for major gifts of $1,000,000 - $10,000,000 as a key partner to the Executive Director. Together with the Executive Director, the Senior Director sets ambitious and annual achievable targets for growing the major gift pipeline over time as Columbia Engineering focuses on ongoing high-priority areas, in addition to the School's building campaign, an exciting School expansion to Manhattanville. In addition to management responsibilities for the major gifts program, the Director also serves as an active fundraiser focused on growing six- and seven-figure donors to the school. The Director will also take a role working with the Vice Dean of Development and Alumni Relations and the Senior Director, Alumni Relations, high-level volunteer boards as needed.

Responsibilities

Management of major gifts team and program, including strategic planning, portfolio & research management 50%:

• Supervise and mentor a team of 2-3 major gift officers, including goal setting, performance evaluation, pipeline, and accountability using university based standardized metrics.

• Management of all elements of the major gift fundraising program (gifts ranging from $100,000-$5,000,000) including: population analysis; prospect validation; donor upgrades; volunteer/peer-to-peer outreach by existing major gift donors; proposal development; and coordination with key major gift partners in Central and across OAD.

• Conducts annual analysis of the major gift prospect pool to identify new opportunities and donor upgrades; guide advancement strategy and activity to meet fundraising targets, and set goals for the team and for individual fundraisers.

• Together with the Executive Director, Vice Dean, the Senior Directors, sets ambitious and achievable targets for growing the major gift pipeline over time to match Columbia Engineering's exciting growth priorities, including a $1B+ capital campaign, an exciting School expansion to Manhattanville, and plans for its next broader campaign.

• Key partner to the Executive Director and Vice Dean in planning and implementing solicitation strategies for School priorities for our major prospects, including the Building Campaign, Financial Aid, Professorships, Research Funding and other targeted OAD and School priority fundraising campaigns as needed.

• Helps the major gifts team prepare materials including proposals, briefings and talking points for Dean and senior leader meetings for donors in their portfolios.

• Works independently with internal and external partners to set and meet annual goals for the major gifts program at Columbia Engineering including donors and potential donors in the alumni, parents, industry and friends' communities; volunteers; faculty and students.

• Leads volunteer communities in tandem with the Major Gifts efforts

• Trains volunteer fundraisers and works with them to make solicitations of their peers.

• Attends regular full team meetings and leads additional fundraising meetings to evaluate progress and prospect assignments including leading EDAR's Bi-Monthly Moves Management Meeting ("M3") at which key prospects are discussed, analyzed and strategized. Will also lead other development team meetings as assigned.

• Serves as a role model across EDAR, beyond their team members.

• Builds internal relationships with administrators and faculty across the school and campus to understand School and University priorities. Attends related meetings.

Individual Portfolio Management including major and principal gift level donors 40%:

• In addition to management responsibilities for the major gifts program, the Senior Director also holds a personal portfolio and serves as an active fundraiser focused on growing six- and seven-figure donors to the school.
• Responsible for personal portfolio up to 100 prospects for cultivation, solicitation & stewardship of high-level portfolio of mostly major and some principal gifts level donors.
• Responsible for conducting 150 personal visits over 12 months to cultivate and solicit and close gifts, including interactions with members and prospective members of the Engineering Board of Visitors.
• Prepares written solicitation materials, proposals, talking points, and briefings tailored to individual donors and prospects.
• Staffs Dean and other senior leaders within their portfolio of donors.

Donor Engagement, events & other duties 10%:

• Volunteer Board Responsibilities: The Senior Director partners with the Vice Dean, donor managers, and the Senior Director of Alumni Relations to support and manage high-level volunteer boards, including the Board of Visitors (BoV). This role includes building and maintaining a pipeline of board volunteers in partnership with donor managers.
• Separately, EDAR also engages volunteer donors in its fundraising efforts. As needed, the Senior Director may be responsible for leading, planning, and executing the work of additional donor boards and committees as assigned across EDAR donor constituencies.
• Leads aspects of School's key events including class day, commencement, convocation as needed.
• Collaborates with the other Directors and Senior Directors to build team spirit and collectively achieve our ambitious goals across alumni engagement, donor engagement, and fundraising and participation goals.
• Collaborates on other events across the school's important communities key to facilitating engagement as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor''s degree required and advanced degree strongly preferred. Bachelor''s degree and 7-9 years of development experience (primarily in major gifts fundraising), or other related senior experience in a philanthropic environment, required. Demonstrated ability to effectively leverage the time of senior volunteers, and demonstrated success in all phases of cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding large gifts ($500,000 and above) from individuals. At least seven (7) years of previous leadership/management experience is necessary. This position requires evening and weekend work, as well as occasional travel.

Preferred Qualifications

Seven to nine years in fundraising or related transferable experience preferred, with demonstrated success in annual, major, principal, or capital giving or applicable ability. Experience with higher education is preferred. Having an intellectual interest in engineering and technology would be helpful.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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