Assistant Class Giving Director, The Penn Fund
Inside Higher Ed
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Qualifications
- 1 to 2 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
- Holds knowledge of fundraising principles, concepts, and techniques.
- Proficiency in word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation applications preferred.
Responsibilities
- Manage class fundraising efforts and maintain an individual prospect portfolio.
- Conduct virtual and in-person outreach, including travel as needed.
- Build and manage high-performing gift committees composed of alumni volunteers.
Skills
Education
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Job description
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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.
Annual Giving Officer A
Established in 1927, The Penn Fund supports the University’s mission through upholding the core values set forth by Development and Alumni Relations and raising both dollars and donors to enhance undergraduate life and learning for all students. We are proud to serve as one of the primary annual giving vehicles within our generous Quaker community. Gifts that count toward The Penn Fund benefit the University’s highest priorities across the academic, extracurricular, and residential experience.
The Penn Fund includes a dedicated team of Class Giving Directors who work closely with alumni volunteers and development colleagues to meet class fundraising goals, with a primary focus on quinquennial reunion classes under their management. Reporting to the Director of Class Giving and Reunion Programs, the Assistant Class Giving Director serves in a high‑performing role that motivates undergraduate alumni to support the University of Pennsylvania through both philanthropy and volunteer engagement. This individual is expected to serve as a collaborative and collegial partner within the broader Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) framework at Penn.
In addition to managing class fundraising efforts, the Assistant Class Giving Director will maintain an individual prospect portfolio. They will conduct virtual and in‑person outreach, including travel as needed, to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors, as well as to recruit and train volunteers. A key responsibility of the role is managing the solicitation of top Penn Fund prospects in at least one milestone reunion class, while also supporting additional classes to help drive growth in both dollars and donor participation.
The individual in this role will build and manage high‑performing gift committees, composed of enthusiastic alumni volunteers who solicit peers at the leadership giving level and foster a culture of loyal giving. Collaborating with other prospect managers to solicit assigned undergraduate alumni for unrestricted and scholarship support is also essential to success. The role requires the ability to manage, analyze, and draw insights from complex and confidential data to identify and prioritize top prospects and potential volunteers. Additional responsibilities may be assigned based on the evolving needs of the Class Giving and Reunion Programs Team and in alignment with the broader strategic goals of The Penn Fund.
- Regularly connect with prospective donors and volunteers—in and out of individual portfolio—through visits (virtual and in‑person), phone, and email
- Meet with prospective donors and volunteers to increase philanthropic support, with special emphasis on solicitation of leadership annual giving prospects ($2,500+) and endowed scholarship solicitations of at least $125,000
- Include solicitation of non‑reunion undergraduate alumni leadership donors in addition to those celebrating milestone reunions and those who may contribute below the leadership level across all assigned classes
- Document all prospect actions within internal database to ensure information sharing across the University
- Recruit, train, and manage the activity of reunion class giving committees and all volunteers within assigned class portfolio
- Effectively motivate volunteers in support of their solicitation efforts
- Communicate regularly with individual volunteers and committees to share progress toward goals, strategies for solicitation, and information regarding fundraising priorities
- Create and analyze data and reports while submitting accurate and timely database updates to reflect all volunteer and donor activity
- Staff additional reunion and/or non‑reunion classes, especially when fellow team member roles are vacant
- Serve as liaison to partner teams across the division
- Assist with and/or lead planning and execution of annual volunteer and/or donor events
- 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.
- Bachelor of Science and 1 to 2 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
- Holds knowledge of fundraising principles, concepts, and techniques and is comfortable soliciting gifts from an engaged donor community.
- Enthusiasm for data‑driven decision‑making and a commitment to goal achievement.
- Desired skills include, but are not limited to: excellent interpersonal skills, strong attention to detail, ability to organize and manage multiple projects, and a willingness to work both individually and collaboratively while contributing to the total team culture and effort.
- Proficiency in the use of word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation applications (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint) preferred in addition to the capacity to learn systems and databases unique to the organization.
- Must be willing to travel as necessary to meet with donors and volunteers.
- Potential to work nights and/or weekends at limited times of the year.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Development and Alumni Relations
$49,500.00 - $65,000.00 Annual Rate
The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.
Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.
- 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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Full‑time
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