"Development Officer"

Position Summary

The development officer builds and expands efforts to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward blended gifts (including leadership - $1,000, major - $25,000+) from SUNY Cortland alumni, parents, faculty/staff, emeriti, and friends. The development officer will engage and meet with prospects in person and virtually.

Salary Range: $65,000-$80,000

Watch to learn more about careers at SUNY Cortland: https://vimeo.com/1038936490

What makes SUNY Cortland a great place to work?

• Our positions provide predictable salary progressions, and many offer permanency.
• Generous benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance, various retirement program options, paid family leave and/or parental leaves, flexible spending and dependent care accounts, long term disability and tuition reimbursement.
• SUNY Cortland prioritizes work-life balance and well-being in all forms. The university's state-of-the-art Student Life Center is free for employees to use, with membership options for families. SUNY Cortland's Child Care Center welcomes the children of employees and community members, as space allows. Alternate work schedules are available with a supervisor's approval.
• Professional development opportunities exist through training, continuing education programs, tuition reimbursement and conference travel, based on funding.
• Cortland County and surrounding areas offer easy access to arts, entertainment, outdoor recreation and much more. Experience Cortland dives deep into the region's offerings

Major Responsibilities

Donor Relationship Strategy and Engagement:

• Identify, qualify, and manage a portfolio of existing and prospective donors with a wide range of giving capacity.
• Cultivate relationships through personalized outreach, including face-to-face and virtual visits.
• Solicit blended gifts, including leadership-level ($1,000+) and major gifts ($25,000+), in alignment with college priorities.
• Ensure all donors receive a positive and personally satisfying donor experience.
• Engage and meet with prospects in person and virtually.
• Steward donors through timely acknowledgments, impact reporting, and meaningful engagement.
• Collaborate with development officers, Alumni Engagement staff and the President's Office to create, plan, and attend donor events that enhance relationships and fundraising priorities.
• Travel nationally to cultivate, solicit and steward constituents.
• Represent the college during donor visits, alumni events, and other external engagements.

Fundraising Analytics and Prospect Insights:

• Maintain accurate and timely records in the donor management system, including actions, cultivation, proposals, solicitations, and stewardship activities.
• Prepare quarterly progress reports for the Cortland College Foundation Board meetings and attend related committee meetings.
• Track key performance metrics such as visits, dollars raised, and solicitations completed.
• Collaborate with advancement information services and use other forms of social media to identify new prospects for cultivation.
• Analyze donor data to advance cultivation strategies and improve fundraising outcomes.
• Utilize analytics and prospect insights as part of the discovery process for new constituents.

Collaboration and Strategic Alignment:

• Collaborate with campus partners and key influencers to help align donor philanthropic interests with the college's strategic priorities.
• Work closely with other development officers and Advancement colleagues to support integrated fundraising efforts.
• Participate in regularly scheduled development-related meetings and attend appropriate on- and off-campus events.

Functional and Supervisory Relationships

• Reports to Director of Development.
• Works with alumni, parents, faculty and staff.
• Works collaboratively with institutional advancement staff.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.
• Professional work experience in fundraising, marketing, public relations, higher education, sales or related field.
• Ability to travel monthly. Travel includes local and national areas through independent planning and scheduling trips/donor visits.
• Computer proficiency in word processing, spreadsheets, database, and presentation software.
• Valid driver's license.
• Availability for periodic evening and weekend work.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree.
• Three years' professional work experience in fundraising, marketing, public relations, higher education, sales or related field.
• Proficiency with Blackbaud Raiser's Edge/NXT, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, ASANA.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to form relationships with diverse constituent base.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills, including strong writing skills.
• Ability to meet tight deadlines.
• Sound judgement and decision-making ability.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Demonstrated dependability.
• Skilled in presenting complex information in a clear and persuasive manner.
• Effective problem-solving skills.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects at once.

About the University

A top public university of approximately 6,600 students located in the geographic center of New York State, SUNY Cortland provides accessible, affordable education to students from across the U.S. body. One of 13 comprehensive universities in the State University of New York system, SUNY Cortland prides itself on its rigorous undergraduate and graduate programs in the liberal arts, sciences, education, and professional studies. For more than 150 years, SUNY Cortland has provided unmistakable value for students seeking a well-rounded academic, athletic, and social experience. The University ranks among the top campuses in the nation on Money magazine's "Best Colleges for Your Money List," fields a powerhouse Division III athletics program and boasts an impressive network of alumni making a difference in education, business, government, fitness, medicine and many other fields.

EEO Statement

The State University of New York at Cortland is an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity/Americans with Disabilities Act (AA/EEO/ADA) employer. The university actively seeks applications from women, veterans, individuals with a disability, members of underrepresented groups or anyone that would enrich the diversity of the university.

Posting Number: S25039

Review Start Date: 12/03/2025