Assistant Director of Young Alumni Philanthropy

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 Young Alumni Philanthropy for The Penn Fund

Job Profile Title

Annual Giving Officer A

Job Description Summary

Organizational Mission and Values:
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 experiences.

Future members of our team will hold the utmost integrity and accountability for their work; lead with collegiality to form bonds with colleagues united in common purpose; actively seek out collaboration with the best intention to work together; recognize and embrace diversity in background and of thought to create an inclusive environment; utilize transparency and open communication as regular tools to benefit both internal and external culture; and honor the dignity and personal rights of others through mutual respect and trust.

Position Overview:
Reporting to the Director of Next Generation Philanthropy & Volunteer Strategy, the Assistant Director of Young Alumni Philanthropy is a frontline fundraiser essential to The Penn Fund’s success. This position works closely with annual giving officers and prospect managers across the University to ensure a coordinated approach in developing the next generation of Penn undergraduate alumni philanthropists. The role assists in developing strategy for increasing participatory and leadership giving among young alumni within ten years out from graduation. The primary goal for this position is to successfully solicit meaningful gifts from young alumni to bolster our team’s overall goals pertaining to dollars and donors. In addition, this role manages the 5th and 10th Reunion Gift Committees.

Job Description

Specific Responsibilities:

Frontline Fundraising

• Manage a pipeline of prospects to be solicited at Benjamin Franklin Society leadership giving levels ($250, $500, $1000+)—with additional focus on raising endowed scholarships from young alumni who may contribute $75,000 over five years.
• Conduct solicitations through personal visits, phone calls, emails, and texts of non-reunion young alumni prospects in addition to those celebrating milestone reunions (5th and 10th).
• Steward appropriately and effectively all top young alumni donors.
• Track and analyze results of the team’s young alumni philanthropic leadership activities.
• In collaboration with the Director of Next Generation Philanthropy & Volunteer Strategy, develop creative strategies to enhance the culture of philanthropy within and toward the University—including retention, activation, and acquisition of (new) leadership donors.
• Partner as appropriate with volunteers and divisional colleagues on various prospect strategies.

Volunteer Management

• Coordinate the recruitment, training, management, and evaluation of young alumni volunteers—including, but not limited to, event host committees, reunion committees, and/or specific campaign committees—especially related to the 5th and/or 10th milestone celebrations.
• Recruit new young alumni volunteers through visits, emails, and/or event outreach and engagement.
• Motivate young alumni volunteers to encourage peer attendance at all Penn Fund, and general regional events.

Event Management

• Organize and execute annual leadership giving, donor appreciation, and/or pre-reunion events to increase overall young alumni participation.
• Help to staff regional alumni events—including, but not limited to, happy hours, networking events, and alumni panels—in addition to relevant student philanthropy events.
• Participate at events such as the Penn Reunion Volunteer Kickoff, Alumni Weekend, and Homecoming in addition to other special 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.**

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science and 1 to 2 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Desired skills include, but are not limited to, and may be described in other ways: excellent interpersonal, communication, and writing skills, strong attention to detail, ability to organize and manage multiple projects, and wish to work both individually and collaboratively while contributing to total team culture and effort.
• Ideally driven and motivated by the possibilities ahead, holds belief that innovation is critical to success, and seeks to support others in creative thinking.
• Prides oneself on high-quality work and naturally challenges our team to grow every year.
• Holds knowledge of fundraising principles, concepts, and techniques and is comfortable soliciting gifts from a diverse and engaged donor community.
• Proficiency in the use of word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation applications (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint) preferred in addition to 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.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Development and Alumni Relations

Pay Range

$50,366.00 - $62,926.76 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, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job’s level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement 

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 protectedunder applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements 
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.

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