Assistant Director of Stewardship - Penn Engineering Development and Alumni Relations

Trustees of University of Pennsylvania; Meadow View Manor (MN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Penn Engineering Development and Alumni Relations at the University of Pennsylvania is seeking an Assistant Director of Stewardship to help execute the comprehensive donor relations and stewardship program.

The role will provide communications, project management, and event support across the School's Development and Alumni Relations program, producing high-quality development communications and stewardship materials.

Responsibilities

• Gift acknowledgments and donor correspondence. Manage an assigned portfolio of gift acknowledgments and personalized donor correspondence, including letters recognizing major gifts, pledges, pledge payments, annual gifts, and other philanthropic milestones.
• Stewardship reporting and donor impact. Research, write, edit, design, and coordinate stewardship reports and impact communications for an assigned portfolio of endowed and current-use funds, including scholarships, fellowships, faculty support, research and educational initiatives, capital projects, and other major gifts.
• Development and Alumni Relations program support. Provide communications, project management, and programmatic support for a broad range of Development and Alumni Relations initiatives based on evolving office priorities, including stewardship and alumni events, special projects, and constituent engagement activities. Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure initiatives are thoughtfully planned, effectively executed, and aligned with the School's development and alumni relations goals. Occasional evening and weekend work and local travel may be required.

Job description

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

Assistant Director of Stewardship - Penn Engineering Development and Alumni Relations

Job Profile Title

Staff Writer B

Job Description Summary

Reporting to the Director of Donor Relations, the Assistant Director of Stewardship will help to execute Penn Engineering's comprehensive donor relations and stewardship program and will provide communications, project management, and event support across the School's Development and Alumni Relations program. The Assistant Director will produce high-quality development communications and stewardship materials, manage a range of recurring and individualized projects, and help improve the systems and workflows that ensure constituents are thanked, informed, and engaged in timely and meaningful ways.

The Assistant Director will be a superb writer and editor who will translate complex engineering research, education, and institutional priorities into clear, compelling content for donors, alumni, prospects, and University leaders. The position will develop gift acknowledgments, fund reports, proposals, leadership briefings, remarks, and digital communications; support donor recognition activities such as donor walls and events; and use visual, video, and other digital media to demonstrate philanthropic impact.

The role will also provide broad support for the planning and execution of Development and Alumni Relations initiatives, including stewardship and alumni events, special projects, and other engagement activities. Working closely with colleagues across Penn Engineering, University Development, and Alumni Relations, the Assistant Director will work across the full range of donor relations and stewardship activities while independently managing projects appropriate to the assistant director level.

Job Responsibilities

• Gift acknowledgments and donor correspondence . Manage an assigned portfolio of gift acknowledgments and personalized donor correspondence, including letters recognizing major gifts, pledges, pledge payments, annual gifts, and other philanthropic milestones. Research gifts and donors; draft, edit, proofread, route, and track correspondence for the Dean and other School leaders. In partnership with the Director and Associate Director, evaluate and improve acknowledgment standards, templates, workflows, service levels, and quality-control practices to increase timeliness, personalization, accuracy, and scalability.
• Stewardship reporting and donor impact . Research, write, edit, design, and coordinate stewardship reports and impact communications for an assigned portfolio of endowed and current-use funds, including scholarships, fellowships, faculty support, research and educational initiatives, capital projects, and other major gifts. Gather and synthesize financial, programmatic, faculty, and student information; maintain reporting calendars and records; and recommend formats and content that make complex information accessible and meaningful to donors.
• Development and Alumni Relations program support. Provide communications, project management, and programmatic support for a broad range of Development and Alumni Relations initiatives based on evolving office priorities, including stewardship and alumni events, special projects, and constituent engagement activities. Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure initiatives are thoughtfully planned, effectively executed, and aligned with the School's development and alumni relations goals. Occasional evening and weekend work and local travel may be required.