Associate Director, Parent Fundraising, Parent & Family Giving

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, Parent Fundraising, Parent & Family Giving

Job Profile Title

Major Gifts Officer

Job Description Summary

The Office of Parent & Family Giving engages undergraduate parents and families in support of the University of Pennsylvania’s highest philanthropic priorities through meaningful relationships, volunteer leadership, and strategic fundraising.

Reporting to the Executive Director of Parent & Family Giving, the Associate Director is a key member of the Parent & Family Giving team and a valued partner to colleagues across Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) and the broader University. The Associate Director will manage a portfolio of approximately 120 non-alumni parent and family prospects and donors, with a primary focus on individuals capable of making outright and planned gifts of $100,000+.

Working closely with the Executive Director and colleagues across University Strategic Philanthropy and Partnerships (USPP) and central development teams, the Associate Director will develop and implement thoughtful, individualized strategies to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, close, and steward major and planned gifts. The Associate Director will collaborate with faculty, senior administrators, volunteers, and development colleagues to strengthen relationships, maximize philanthropic opportunities, and advance institutional priorities.

Success in this role requires exceptional relationship-building and communication skills, sound fundraising judgment, and the ability to engage parents and families as both philanthropic partners and volunteer leaders. The Associate Director will develop and execute comprehensive cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies; coordinate complex prospect strategies across the University; engage volunteers in meaningful fundraising activities; and demonstrate the impact of philanthropy through strategic stewardship.
The ideal candidate will be a highly motivated and collaborative fundraiser who thrives in an integrated, team-oriented environment and is committed to advancing the University’s fundraising goals and priorities.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

• Develop a strong understanding of the University of Pennsylvania’s educational, research, and financial priorities and effectively articulate the impact of philanthropy in support of those priorities.
• Manage a portfolio of approximately 120 non-alumni parent and family prospects and donors, with a focus on individuals with the capacity to make gifts of $100,000+.
• Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, close, and steward outright and planned gifts through strategic, individualized engagement plans.
• Conduct approximately 120 substantive prospect and donor meetings annually and maintain timely and accurate documentation of significant contacts and strategies in the University’s prospect tracking system.
• Develop and execute comprehensive cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies in collaboration with the Executive Director and colleagues across DAR and the University.
• Coordinate the participation of faculty, senior administrators, volunteers, and development colleagues in prospect and donor engagement, including identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities.
• Develop and manage complex prospect strategies in partnership with colleagues across USPP and school and center development teams, ensuring a coordinated and donor-centered approach.
• Plan, coordinate, and manage prospect and donor visits, including local and national travel.
• Engage parent and family volunteers in meaningful fundraising and leadership activities, including recruitment and engagement of volunteers for leadership roles such as the Penn Parents Council.
• Execute thoughtful and impactful stewardship activities that demonstrate the difference philanthropy makes across the University.
• Partner with colleagues across DAR, including Annual Giving, Alumni Relations, and other development teams, to advance shared fundraising and engagement priorities.
• Perform other related duties and assist with special projects as needed.

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 years of experience in institutional development, fundraising, or a related field, with demonstrated experience securing outright and/or deferred gifts of $100,000+ from individuals, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, is required.
• Experience working in a higher education or academic institution development program is preferred.
• Demonstrated success in major gift fundraising, including the ability to develop and execute effective strategies for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, closing, and stewarding individual donors.
• Ability to work independently while also contributing effectively within a collaborative, centralized development structure.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to establish credibility and trust with donors, volunteers, faculty, administrators, and colleagues.
• Strong organizational and administrative skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, establish objectives, and develop effective strategies for achieving fundraising goals.
• Experience with local and national development travel is required.
• Ability and willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends.
• Valid driver’s license required.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Development and Alumni Relations

Pay Range

$77,330.00 - $104,040.00 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, 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 protected under 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