Associate Director of Major Gifts, Parent and Family Giving - 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 Major Gifts, Parent and Family Giving





Job Profile Title

Major Gifts Officer





Job Description Summary

The Office of Parent & Family Giving engages undergraduate parents and families to support the highest priorities of the University.


Reporting to the Executive Director, Parent & Family Giving, the Associate Director is an integral member of the Parents Program team, primarily responsible for securing gifts from a portfolio of non-alumni and alumni parent and family prospects. The Associate Director manages a portfolio of non-alumni and alumni parent and family prospects and donors nationally with emphasis on individuals with the ability to give six+-figure gifts. The Associate Director works closely with the Executive Director in Parent & Family Giving office and colleagues on the Capital Giving team to implement priorities and devise fundraising strategies, communications, and events geared toward engaging parents as donors, volunteers, and in leadership roles on the Penn Parents Council.


The successful candidate will be a self-starter with a strong ability to identify and cultivate non-alumni and alumni parent and family prospects and move them toward solicitation. This position will take the lead in identifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding non-alumni and alumni parent donors and will be particularly skilled at creatively identifying and engaging parent and family prospects in meaningful ways that further productive philanthropic relationships and significantly advance Penn’s mission. They will recommend, facilitate, and attend development and other cultivation and engagement activities for Penn, ensuring execution at the highest level. Regional and national travel is required.





Job Description


Job Responsibilities



+ Develop an understanding of strategic priorities at the University of Pennsylvania that may appeal to parents.


+ Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a significant portfolio of donors.


+ Conduct substantive prospect meetings annually and document all significant contacts in the University’s prospect tracking system.


+ Manage a significant portfolio of qualified potential parent and family donors with the capacity of making six+–figure or larger gifts. Includes developing long-term fundraising strategies for each assigned donor or identified prospects in the course of his/her work and in accordance with University priorities.


+ As appropriate, engage senior administrators, faculty, trustees, and volunteers in the process of cultivating and soliciting potential donors to Penn.


+ Maintain a comprehensive working knowledge of the University and the fundraising priorities across the institution, as well as Undergraduate and Individual Giving goals and objectives.


+ Responsible for identifying, recruiting, and onboarding Parents Council members.


+ Write and/or edit briefing documents, funding proposals, and other materials as needed.


+ Perform other duties as assigned.







Please provide a resume and cover letter in order to be considered for this role. Please upload all documents in the “Resume/CV” section of the application prior to submitting.




Qualifications




• Bachelor's degree and 3-5 experience in institutional development (or related field) with experience in closing six-figure or greater outright and deferred gifts from individuals or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.• Experience working in a higher education academic institution development program is preferred.• Entrepreneurial and strategic fundraiser with a proven track record of successful fundraising.• Strong familiarity with Penn and its mission.• Exceptional written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.• Proven ability to develop and foster relationships with people at all levels of an organization, and to collaborate and influence at a high level.• Evidence of self-motivation and the ability to work both independently and in teams, with high personal standards representative of Penn’s commitment to excellence.• Strong strategic planning and project management skills necessary to set and monitor progress against goals, to develop plans and timelines, and to measure success toward goals.• Discretion, good judgment, and commitment to keep confidential all data related to Penn and its parents, alumni and donors.• Ability to respond quickly to changing business needs and priorities. Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously and to produce high-quality and compelling work product under tight deadlines. Ability to work with a high degree of flexibility in a highly-collaborative, fast-paced, goal-oriented environment.• This position will require the willingness and ability to frequently travel domestically; and to be able to work some weekends and evenings.








Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania





Department / School

Development and Alumni Relations





Pay Range

$51,824.00 - $90,000.00 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.