Associate Director of Donor Relations - University of Pennsylvania

University Overview


The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.




Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.




The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.








Posted Job Title

Associate Director of Donor Relations





Job Profile Title

Associate Director C, Development, Services





Job Description Summary

The Associate Director of Donor Relations supports Penn Arts & Sciences’ principal gift donors by overseeing donor recognition projects, producing stewardship and professorship reports, and enhancing communication systems. Reporting to the Director of Donor Relations, this role collaborates with leadership, faculty, staff, and gift officers to highlight the impact of donor support and inspire continued engagement.





Job Description





Penn Arts & Sciences forms the foundation of the scholarly excellence that has established Penn as one of the world's leading research universities. The largest of Penn’s academic divisions, SAS is the home of 27 departments that represent a full range of disciplines. The College, SAS’s undergraduate division, enrolls 6,500 students and is by far the largest undergraduate school at Penn. SAS also includes the Graduate Division, the College of Liberal and Professional Studies and numerous research centers and programs. The School’s Office of Advancement recognizes the importance of the liberal arts as the source of knowledge that changes the world and education that changes individual's lives and is committed to generating enthusiasm and support for the School and its mission.









Reporting to the Director of Donor Relations , the Associate Director of Donor Relations is a key member of the Donor Relations team . The Associate Director will work closely with major gift officers to implement creative donor recognition projects to strengthen and cultivate relationships between Penn Arts & Sciences and principal gift-level d onors . This position is responsible for communicating the impact of philanthropic support with the School’s most generous donors to encourage and inspire future philanthropic support and engagement. This includes special donor recognition projects, reporting analysis and strategy, enhancing systems for reporting, and implementing new digital communications platforms. The Associate Director is responsible for managing the School’s endowed professorship reporting portfolio , which includes writing and producing professorship reports on behalf of the School . In addition, the Associate Director will be responsible for writing personal and compelling stewardship reports and acknowledgments on behalf of S chool leadership , as well as drafting and editing scholarship reports. The position involves working closely with colleagues in SASOA, Penn leadership, faculty, staff, and major gift officers .









Specific Duties

+ Lead proactive, strategic , creative donor recognition and custom projects for the School’s principal -gift level donors. Work closely with School leaders, major g ift officers, and faculty to produce custom r eports, recognition activities, and other creative stewardship projects and events.

+ Implement new digital stewardship touchpoints and multim e dia projects, including a  new digital communications platform . Lead s trategy and data-informed analysis of Donor Relations activities and portfolio . Improve systems for stewardship reporting.

+ Manage the School’s endowed professorship reporting portfolio . Write, edit, and produce professorship reports a nd related communications and f or major gifts supporting the School . This includes researching, writing, and producing reports, working with faculty and departments on gift usage, and  ensuring that gifts are utilized correctly .

+ Donor Recognition: Work with development communications and major gift officers on public gift announcements. Assist with physical donor recognition , campus signage , and other donor recognition projects as needed. E nsure that donors are accurately and appropriately recognized in publications and online . Responsible for custom donor recognition gifts and other special donor recognition projects as needed.

+ Write personalized acknowledgments, correspondence, and other written communications to donors on behalf of School leadership, utilizing the  Salesforce Compass database for gift and donor information.











Q ualifications




Bachelor’s degree and 3-5 years of progressive experience in donor relations , stewardship, or development communications , preferably in higher education, required . S uccessful candidate s must have e xceptional writte n, communication, and proofreading skills. Writing samples are required .










Successful candidates must be highly creative and organized. A high level of attention to detail and strong organizational skills, with a proven ability to independently manage and execute multiple concurrent priorities and projects, meet deadlines , and track progress and activities . P revious project management experience, including the use of donor reporting software , is  preferred.









The position will also require s trong interpersonal skills and the a bility to communicate clearly, tact fully, and sensitiv el y with a broad range of constituencies , including donors, faculty , staff, and Penn leadership—and the ability to work effectively in a large, complex institutional setting and as part of a team.









Computer proficiency , including Microsoft Windows ( Excel, Word ) . Knowledge of databases and contact management systems. Salesforce experience is a plus , as well as the  a bility to learn new systems and databases unique to Penn.









Successful candidates will also reflect the core operating values of the Penn Arts and Sciences Office of Advancement, which include: demonstrated mutual commitment to excellence; professionalism, creativity and adaptability; respect for the roles and responsibilities of individual members of the SASOA team; a collaborative and collegial style, and transparency in communication.




* For consideration, please submit a writing sample along with a cover letter and resume in the CV section of your application. You can upload multiple documents to the "Resume/CV" section.








Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania





Department / School

School of Arts and Sciences





Pay Range

$51,824.00 - $85,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile.




Affirmative Action Statement Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.




Special Requirements Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.




University Benefits

+ Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts : Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

+ Tuition : Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits . You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

+ Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

+ Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

+ Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

+ Wellness and Work-life Resources : Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

+ Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

+ University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

+ Discounts and Special Services : From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

+ Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

+ Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

+ Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.




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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay



The University of Pennsylvania's special character is reflected in the diversity of the Penn community. We seek talented faculty and staff who will constitute a vibrant community that draws on the strength that comes with a substantive institutional commitment to diversity along dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, veteran status, interests, perspectives, and socioeconomic status. Grounded in equal opportunity, nondiscrimination, and affirmative action, Penn's robust commitment to diversity is fundamental to the University's mission of advancing knowledge, educating leaders for all sectors of society, and public service. The University of Pennsylvania prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.