Senior Major Gifts Officer, Penn Arts and Sciences

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

Senior Major Gifts Officer, Penn Arts and Sciences

Job Profile Title

Major Gifts Officer Senior

Job Description Summary

About the University of Pennsylvania School of Arts and Sciences:
Penn Arts and Sciences forms the foundation of the scholarly excellence that has established Penn as one of the world's leading research universities. The largest of Penn’s academic divisions, SAS is the home of 27 departments that represent a full range of disciplines. The College, SAS’s undergraduate division, enrolls 6,500 students and the largest undergraduate school at Penn. SAS also includes the Graduate Division, the College of Liberal and Professional Studies and numerous research centers and programs. The School’s Office of Advancement recognizes the importance of the liberal arts as the source of knowledge that changes the world and education that changes individual's lives and is committed to generating enthusiasm and support for the School and its mission.

Position Summary:
Reporting to the Associate Vice Dean for Advancement, the Senior Director of Advancement (Senior Major Gifts Officer) will be responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding a portfolio of prospects and donors capable of making gifts of $100,000 or more to priority projects of the School of Arts and Sciences and University. By developing a deeper meaningful relationship between the prospects and donors and Penn, the Senior Director of Advancement will endeavor to maximize lifelong giving advancing major and principal gift initiatives. Working as part of an experienced team of fundraisers in the School of Arts and Sciences within a University-wide donor-centric prospect management system, the Senior Major Gifts Officer will design and execute a major gifts plan for their assigned region and academic strategic priorities that creates visibility for the School, expand its prospect base, and build the School’s major gifts pipeline.

A key feature of this position is the need to work collaboratively and productively with colleagues across Development and Alumni Relations at Penn, including Major Gifts, Planned Giving, Principal Gifts, and Alumni Relations, contributing to a total team effort on behalf of SAS and Penn.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

• Manage and develop a personal portfolio of assigned donors and prospects, emphasizing those capable of making a gift of $100,000 or more. Significant travel is expected, including potential international travel.
• Act as the point person for an upcoming facility renovation and expansion project and science-related fundraising initiatives.
• Achieve mutually agreed upon annual goals for visits, solicitations, and gift totals.
• Develop and implement individualized strategies for top prospects that leverage key relationships within SAS and across Penn, leading to successful engagement, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. As part of this effort, staff school and university academic leadership, SAS board members, and other volunteers as needed.
• Build a depth of knowledge of the School and University fundraising priorities; support strategic fundraising opportunities including priority facilities research, and educational initiatives.
• Cultivate strong partnerships with central development staff and partners in other Penn Schools and Centers
• Work with the alumni engagement team in the SAS Office of Advancement to align fundraising with targeted engagement of SAS alumni in key cities and regions.
• Plan and staff special events in support of the School’s fundraising and alumni engagement efforts.
• Identify and recommend candidates, and manage philanthropic relationships for volunteer roles within the School and across the University as appropriate.
• Represent SAS on ad hoc University-wide committees and at events and professional conferences as required.
• Other related duties as assigned from time to time.

**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, Bachelor of Arts, and 5 to 7 years of fundraising experience – or a comparable, transferable skillset – with demonstrated ability to cultivate, solicit, and close six-and-seven-figure major gifts from high-net-worth individuals or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Experience in a complex higher education institution preferred.
• Experience and demonstrated success in fundraising for the sciences and facility projects preferred.
• Intellectual curiosity and appreciation for the academic mission of a liberal arts institution.
• Proactive approach that takes initiative and actively seeks to deepen current donor relationships and forge new ones.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team to achieve both engagement and revenue goals.
• Maturity and diplomacy to navigate relationships with the cultural fluency, interpersonal, and networking skills necessary to build relationships with external (donors, prospects, board members, volunteers, friends) and internal constituents (deans, faculty, staff, colleagues).
• Ability to manage multiple priority projects at once with ease and efficiency.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills. Ability to articulate the case for support and the vision/mission/goals of the School.
• Excellent attention to detail; strong organizational skills and ability to plan.
• Tact, sensitivity, maturity, judgment, and the ability to manage ambiguity and change necessary.
• Proficient in SalesForce or a similar relationship management solution and Microsoft Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Ability to travel extensively domestically and internationally, and for extended periods and work evenings and weekends as needed; a valid passport is required.
• Successful candidates will also reflect the core operating values of the SAS Office of Advancement, which include demonstrated mutual commitment to excellence; professionalism, creativity, and adaptability; respect for the roles and responsibilities of individual members of the SASOA team; a collaborative and collegial style, and transparency in communication.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Development and Alumni Relations

Pay Range

$92,592.00 - $125,000.00 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, 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