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 of Development, Major Gifts (New York Regional Office)

Job Profile Title

Major Gifts Officer

Job Description Summary

Lead major gift efforts and donor engagement in a specific region. Develop fundraising strategies, plan cultivation events, oversee government and foundation funding, and manage grant writing and submissions

Job Description

This role is based in our New York office.

Job Responsibilities

Major Gifts Fund-raising

Cultivate and solicit alumni donor prospects in the New York region, with emphasis on securing commitments of $100,000 or more to the University’s top priorities. Responsibilities include:

• Manage a prospect pool of ~ 150-200 names
• Identify and rate new prospects capable of making gifts of $100,000 or more.
• Develop and implement individualized cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies for prospects and donors with an emphasis on increasing their financial commitment to the Penn Fund and University priorities.
• Write gift proposals and other case building and stewardship materials as needed.
• Represent the University at regional and on-campus events.

Collaboration with University Development Staff

Work closely with the Director of Development for Major Gifts on individual prospects, special events, and development of overall strategic plan for assigned donor prospect pool. Collaborate with campus-based colleagues including Penn Fund/Reunion Program, Principal Gifts, School/Center development officers, Gift Planning, and Alumni Relations staff.

• Work closely with campus-based development colleagues to create and support events and programs (both regionally and on campus) that will lead to increased high-level involvement of alumni in the region as well as to develop individual strategies to cultivate and steward prospect interests across a variety of areas across the University.
• Staff prospect visits for University leaders, e.g. President, Dean or faculty member, and by senior development officers; includes developing prospect briefing/goals and managing follow up actions.

Volunteer Management

Identify, recruit, train and support volunteers. Cultivate local alumni for future volunteer leadership roles at the University (e.g. boards of Trustees and Overseers, Advisory boards, reunion volunteers, speakers and other alumni leadership activities).

• Work strategically with volunteers to encourage them to build bridges and utilize their networks to help Penn develop stronger relationships with other prominent alumni, parents, and friends of the University.
• Engage volunteers in prospect identification and evaluation process
• Oversee select prospect assignments to volunteers, including the provision of pre- and post-contact support and, as appropriate, accompanying volunteers on cultivation/solicitation visits.
• Keep volunteers informed about the University and its fundraising priorities.

**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 Degree and 3 to 5 of successful fund-raising experience, preferably in higher education and in the New York metropolitan area, including direct solicitation of five and six figure gifts from individuals or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Familiarity with Penn and/or solid understanding of a major research university environment.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• Ability to work independently, but collaboratively, in goal-oriented team environment.
• Must be willing to travel and work evenings and weekends as needed (valid driver's license required)

Job Location - City, State

New York, New York

Department / School

Development and Alumni Relations

Pay Range

$77,330.00 - $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

About Us

The University of Pennsylvania’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) supports Penn’s vision for the future of higher education by increasing philanthropy, engaging donors and friends, and building a strong and welcoming alumni community. One of our primary goals is to help students and alumni forge lifelong connections to the University and each other. Penn’s more than 300,000 alumni are the core of our philanthropic and volunteer network.

Penn DAR is a robust and high-performing program. We are most successful when drawing from a rich and broad repository of cultures, thoughts, and experiences. We seek candidates who are innovative, passionate, and committed to DAR’s mission to advance Penn’s impact through philanthropy and volunteer engagement. DAR team members must also reflect DAR’s core values – Valuing Diversity, Collaboration, Trust, Collegiality, Transparency, Respect, and Integrity – which help to create and maintain a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace for all.