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Senior Associate Vice President for Alumni Affairs and Development
Cornell University
A leading, privately endowed research university and the federal land-grant institution of New York State, Cornell University strives to be a model university for the interweaving of liberal education and fundamental knowledge with practical education and impact on societal and world problems. While offering the highest level of education possible, Cornell has earned a reputation as one of the top ten research institutions in the world.
Cornell Alumni Affairs and Development (AAD), led by Fred Van Sickle, operates with a budget of $63 million. The staff is dedicated to engaging alumni, parents, and friends in the life of Cornell and helping Cornellians connect with one another and with the University throughout their lives. Together with more than 15,000 volunteers, AAD produces hundreds of events; helps Cornellians build community in many ways; and raises funds in support of the University’s mission. With a long, distinguished history, the division remains one of the strongest and most vibrant university alumni affairs and development programs anywhere.
Cornell will publicly announce a university-wide $5B campaign in October 2021 to achieve further success in service to society. As of July 5, 2021, $2.5B has been raised toward this effort which will end in 2026. Fiscal year 2021 was Cornell’s best fundraising year to date, nearly exceeding $800M for the first time; the Annual Fund exceeded $50M, also a historic high for the institution. Additionally, 130K of the 200K undergraduate alumni have been engaged, achieving another set target last year.
The Opportunity
Cornell University is seeking its next Senior Associate Vice President for Alumni Affairs and Development (SAVP) to manage leadership and major gifts fundraising programs activities, campaign planning, and prospect research. Reporting to the Vice President for Alumni Affairs and Development, this role will manage the day-to-day operation of a team of approximately 200; collaborate internally to set priorities, devise and execute strategies for meeting University-wide objectives; ensure that the management team is effective and maximizing resources to mobilize a talented staff in engaging an extraordinarily loyal and diverse group of alumni, parents, and friends; and balance ambitious goal setting and processes within an operation that supports group achievement and individual development. A key member of the Senior Leadership Team, the SAVP will serve as a critical thought partner to the VP for Alumni Affairs and Development in implementing the annual organizational and longer-term fundraising growth strategies creating a sustainable model for Cornell’s next campaign.
