Jeffrey McCarthy began his fundraising career at Cornell University in 1990. He worked in a variety of capacities beginning as an Associate Director in the Annual Fund and later as Director of Leadership Gifts where he managed the regional rollout of Cornell’s then record-breaking university campaign. He later became Director of College, Unit and Project Development, a position that oversaw 15 fundraising teams positioned throughout the university and which successfully raised funds for the university’s largest capital projects. In 1999, he became Director and later Associate Vice President of Principal Gifts where he and his team raised over $3 billion in philanthropy, including some of the biggest gifts raised in higher education. He also served as Interim Vice President for the division of Alumni Affairs and Development in 2015. 

Prior to Cornell, Jeff worked for 10 years as Buyer, Merchandise Manager and Senior Director for one of the biggest book chains in the United States, Waldenbooks.