James D. Gallo

James D. Gallo began his tenure as vice chancellor for University advancement in April 2022. In this role, he leads the University’s efforts in developing new fundraising streams and forging relationships with corporate and philanthropic foundations and private donors.

Gallo brings 16 years of experience in development roles at UCLA, Cornell, the University of Chicago and Dartmouth and has a demonstrated acumen for identifying and engaging potential donors and building innovative, efficient, effective fundraising strategies. As a leader of university fundraising efforts, Gallo has built a strong record of success.

At UCLA, where he worked from 2016 until he joined CUNY, he served as the assistant vice chancellor overseeing development for UCLA’s eight professional schools and Geffen Academy, a university-affiliated school for students in grades 6-12. UCLA’s professional schools raised more than $1 billion during his tenure. In addition to providing daily oversight of the schools’ development offices and administering their staffing, analytics, budgeting, prospecting and planning, Gallo played an active role in their solicitations and portfolio review and works in close collaboration with deans, development officers, volunteers and donors to help the schools meet their fundraising needs.

At Cornell, Gallo managed a team of fundraisers in the university’s Northeast Corridor office in Manhattan, more than tripling new gifts and commitments to Cornell in the course of six years. In four years at the University of Chicago, Gallo exceeded a target goal of 150 individual visits by major donors. He also served as a development officer at Dartmouth College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology.