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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.

Posted Job Title

Leadership Annual Gifts Officer, 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 engaging 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.

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 differences 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:

The Leadership Annual Gifts Officer will cultivate, solicit, and steward undergraduate alumni in support of the University’s annual giving program. This frontline fundraiser will focus on securing leadership-level annual gifts ($2,500 and above), including gifts to support and establish individual endowed scholarships, which provide lasting impact on student access and opportunity at Penn. Reporting to the Director of Leadership Annual Gifts, this individual will play a critical role in achieving annual fundraising goals, expanding the pipeline of major gift prospects, and fostering a culture of philanthropy among undergraduate alumni.

The Leadership Annual Gifts Officer will manage a personal portfolio of prospects, design tailored solicitation strategies and conduct in-person and virtual donor visits. This individual will collaborate with colleagues across Development and Alumni Relations to align annual giving and scholarship support with university-wide philanthropic priorities and help build the major gift pipeline.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

Portfolio Management & Fundraising

+ Manage a portfolio of approximately 200 undergraduate alumni prospects with leadership annual giving capacity ($2,500–$100,000).

+ Cultivate, solicit, and steward leadership annual gifts—including individual endowed scholarship gifts—through personalized engagement.

+ Conduct at least 180 individual donor visits per fiscal year, including in-person, virtual, and phone meetings.

+ Meet or exceed an annual personal solicitation goal, including specific benchmarks for dollars raised and number of gifts closed.

+ Tailor cultivation and solicitation strategies in partnership with prospect managers across the division and the university.

+ Solicit multi-year commitments and gifts to priority areas across The Penn Fund.

Prospect Research & Pipeline Development

+ Identify and qualify new leadership and scholarship giving prospects using donor data, engagement trends, and referrals.

+ Partner with major gift officers to help transition high-potential prospects for further cultivation.

Data Tracking & Analysis

+ Maintain accurate records of prospect activity, solicitations, and results donor database.

+ Use data tools to track progress, refine strategies, and report on outcomes.

Internal Collaboration & Donor Engagement

+ Collaborate with colleagues across The Penn Fund, Alumni Relations, and School/Center teams to support coordinated outreach and donor strategy.

+ Represent The Penn Fund at events including Alumni Weekend, Homecoming, and scholarship recognition gatherings.

Other Duties as Assigned

+ Support departmental initiatives and contribute to team 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 of Science and 1 to 2 years of professional experience in fundraising, sales, alumni relations, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.

+ Demonstrated success in relationship-based solicitation, preferably including leadership or scholarship giving.

+ Strong communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.

+ Enthusiasm for data-driven decision-making and a commitment to goal achievement.

+ Experience with donor databases (e.g., Salesforce, Blackbaud, or similar CRM systems) and Microsoft Office Suite.

+ 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.

+ Ability to travel and work occasional evenings and weekends.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Development and Alumni Relations

Pay Range

$49,500.00 - $65,000.00 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

The University of Pennsylvania’s special character is reflected in the wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of the Penn community. We seek talented faculty and staff who will constitute a vibrant community and help create an educational and working environment that best supports the University’s commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and scholarship. 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.