Donor Relations Manager - Lab of Ornithology

Department Background

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is the world's leading resource for conservation, research, education, and citizen science focused on birds. The Lab is a vibrant unit within Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), where twelve world-class, mission-driven programs are directed by full-time faculty and other renowned professionals. Lab staff teach undergraduate courses, advise graduate students, collect and disseminate world-famous digital resources on biodiversity, and engage with partner organizations and citizens around the world to conduct scientific research and conservation actions. Our management and staff are committed to the highest standards of ethics and excellence in all areas of our work, and our Board leadership includes faculty from Cornell and other universities, successful entrepreneurs and managers from the business and non-profit sectors, and conservation-minded citizens from the United States and beyond. The Cornell Lab is committed to fostering a healthy workplace that values diverse perspectives and backgrounds as well as supporting growth and advancement opportunities. The Lab is an inclusive community, and we recognize that diverse, inclusive communities create more innovative and impactful work to address global challenges and benefit humanity and nature. The Lab welcomes staff who are still learning in their careers and who are motivated to take on new challenges.

Position Summary

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a psychologically healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

Reporting to the Director of Gift Planning Administration and Donor Stewardship, the Donor Relations Manager serves as an integral member of the Lab of Ornithology's Development team. Key responsibilities will be to: sustain positive and mutually rewarding relations between the Lab and its supporters, partnering with Director, MGOs, faculty, and staff to plan and implement personalized stewardship activities for principal-gift and major-gift-level donors to the Lab, with a particular emphasis on individualized strategies for principal-gift donors; create stewardship reports, acknowledgements, PowerPoint, videos and emails; coordinate tailored donor stewardship and recognition events and trips; and spearhead other personalized activities.

The Donor Relations Manager will collaborate with Cornell's Alumni Affairs & Development (AAD) on donor/gift stewardship and accounting (resolving questions of gift crediting, account establishment, etc.), as well as ensure timely, thorough, and transparent tracking of stewardship activities in the various donor databases. The position requires a keen understanding of the importance of building relationships between the Lab and its supporters and must be able to initiate and prepare sensitive and confidential correspondence and other documents with a high level of discretion.

This is a full-time (40 hours/week) Contract College position that is based in Ithaca, NY at the Lab of Ornithology approximately 3 miles from Cornell's main Ithaca campus. This position follows a 3:2 in-person-to-home hybrid work arrangement after a period of orientation and training. This hybrid work arrangement is subject to change at any time. Typical work hours are between 9am-5pm.

What You Need (Required Qualifications)

We are seeking a team member who is organized, good at relationship building, and good at communicating. Additionally, you will:

• Bachelor's degree with at least 5 years' experience or equivalent.
• Strong knowledge of fundraising and stewardship best practices.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and extreme comfort with writing, proofreading, and editing.
• Excellent organizational skills, ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously, and attention to detail.
• Must take initiative and have the ability to work independently, display original thinking and creativity, and meet challenges with resourcefulness.
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment, including working in teams to solve challenges, and in situations where tasks/directions might change quickly.
• Demonstrated respect and sensitivity for cultural differences and ability to foster relationships with current and potential donors.
• Must handle situations with a high degree of confidentiality, discretion, judgment, tact, and diplomacy.
• Highly capable in working with database software, spreadsheet software (such as Excel), graphing and charting software, word processing software (such as Word) and presentation software (such as Power Point).
• The ability to learn and understand the Lab's priorities and its accounting and financial processes is required.
• Must have demonstrated ability for working collaboratively and inclusively. Proven ability to work in a team environment where cooperation between colleagues and flexibility to different styles and approaches is required.
• Must have demonstrated ability for working collaboratively and inclusively.
• Proven ability to work in a team environment where cooperation between colleagues and flexibility to different styles and approaches is required.
• Support may be required at times throughout the 7-day week and thus must be able to work weekends and evenings.

If you possess these experiences and skills this may be the role for you! There are a few other qualifications we would view as incredibly helpful in this role, to include:

• Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, fundraising or other relevant discipline.
• Fundraising and/or volunteer management experience in a non-profit setting.
• Events management experience.

Rewards and Benefits

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position

Relocation assistance is not available for this position

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Non-Union Positions

Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience

• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position

• Unique applicable skills

• Academic Discipline

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EEEO Statement:

Cornell University's history of diversity and inclusion encourages all students, faculty and staff to support a diverse and inclusive university in which to work, study, teach, research and serve. No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual's genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

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