"Major Gift Officer"

Position Summary

The School of the Arts is Columbia University’s hub for art making and education, and the largest arts school among its peers. Founded in 1965 (with arts taught at Columbia since 1881), it offers programs in Film (including Film and Media Studies), Theatre, Visual Arts (including Sound Art), and Writing. Located in New York City and within a leading research university, the School brings together distinguished full- and part-time faculty who are active practitioners across these disciplines.

Reporting to the Associate Dean for Development, the incumbent will identify, cultivate, and solicit major prospects to increase support for the School of the Arts’ programs in film, theatre, visual arts and writing with an emphasis on the graduate and undergraduate Film programs and related pedagogical priorities. The incumbent will also work closely with the Dean of the School, faculty, and other Development and University colleagues as appropriate.

Responsibilities

• Lead the evaluation, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of a portfolio of no more than 150 individuals, corporations and foundations with capacity to make six and seven figure gifts and cultivates their interest in the School of the Arts.
• Qualify prospects, develop solicitation strategies, identify gift opportunities that match donors’ interests, personally solicit gifts and is responsible for effective stewardship.
• The MGO will make 150 personal visits and 30 solicitations per year ranging from major annual fund, endowment, special events, planned giving and special projects.
• Successfully meet fundraising goals by identifying and personally working with prospects through gift closings. Contributes to an ongoing process of identifying, evaluating and tracking a comprehensive pool of prospects.
• The MGO will oversee the preparation of materials for prospect solicitations, develop outreach letters, prepare briefings and create gift proposals.
• Develop proposals for corporate support, working with the University’s offices of Alumni and Development and Sponsored Projects as needed.
• Manage the fundraising strategy for a portfolio of corporate prospects; secure significant institutional funding in long term support of scholarships, capital needs, prizes and special projects.
• Serve as the primary development officer to raise funds to support the Columbia University Film Festival. He/she will be responsible for increasing festival sponsorship.
• In consultation with the Associate Dean for Development and in cooperation with the Development Associate, ensure that the processing, acknowledgements, awarding and stewardship of gifts are completed in an accurate and timely manner.
• Serve as staff lead in managing the Columbia Film Advisory Committee (CFAC), a volunteer group of Columbia alumni in the film and television industry who are passionate about helping the Film Program thrive by assisting the Program with outreach, mentoring, making industry connections and engagement of key supporters.
• Perform special projects, liaison functions, and other duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum 4 to 6 years of fundraising, marketing, or client-management/business development experience required.
• Demonstrated track record in soliciting five and six-figure gifts or relevant corporate experience.
• Project management experience required.
• Ability to handle a multitude of tasks under the pressure of deadlines and work in a high-volume, high-demand office.
• Must be creative, enterprising, persuasive, detail-oriented and tactful. High energy level, enthusiasm, flexibility and an entrepreneurial spirit is essential.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and the ability to work successfully both independently and as part of a flexible, team environment is a must.
• Ability to think creatively in order to actively contribute to strategic planning.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, interpersonal skills, sound judgment, and experience handling highly confidential information required.
• Outstanding strategic thinking and analytical skills, as well as strong organizational and follow through abilities.
• A commitment to film, the arts, and higher education is a must.
• An ability to make a compelling case in support of the School of the Arts.
• Ability to travel and work evenings and weekends as needed required.
• All applicants must attach a cover letter and resume. Applications without these two documents will not be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in business development in the film or media industry a plus.