Assistant Class Giving Director, The Penn Fund

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 Class Giving Director, 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 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 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:
The Penn Fund includes a dedicated team of Class Giving Directors who work closely with alumni volunteers and development colleagues to meet class fundraising goals, with a primary focus on quinquennial reunion classes under their management. Reporting to the Director of Class Giving and Reunion Programs, the Assistant Class Giving Director serves in a high-performing role that motivates undergraduate alumni to support the University of Pennsylvania through both philanthropy and volunteer engagement. This individual is expected to serve as a collaborative and collegial partner within the broader Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) framework at Penn.

In addition to managing class fundraising efforts, the Assistant Class Giving Director will maintain an individual prospect portfolio. They will conduct virtual and in-person outreach, including travel as needed, to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors, as well as to recruit and train volunteers. A key responsibility of the role is managing the solicitation of top Penn Fund prospects in milestone reunion classes, while also supporting additional classes to help drive growth in both dollars and donor participation.

The individual in this role will build and manage high-performing gift committees, composed of enthusiastic alumni volunteers who solicit peers at the leadership giving level and foster a culture of loyal giving. Collaborating with other prospect managers to solicit assigned undergraduate alumni for unrestricted and scholarship support is also essential to success. The role requires the ability to manage, analyze, and draw insights from complex and confidential data to identify and prioritize top prospects and potential volunteers. Additional responsibilities may be assigned based on the evolving needs of the Class Giving and Reunion Programs Team and in alignment with the broader strategic goals of The Penn Fund.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

Frontline Fundraising—

• Regularly connect with prospective donors and volunteers—in and out of individual portfolio—through visits (virtual and in-person), phone, and email

• Meet with prospective donors and volunteers to increase philanthropic support, with special emphasis on solicitation of leadership annual giving prospects ($2,500+) and endowed scholarship solicitations of at least $125,000

• Include solicitation of non-reunion undergraduate alumni leadership donors in addition to those celebrating milestone reunions and those who may contribute below the leadership level across all assigned classes

• Document all prospect actions within internal database to ensure information sharing across the University

Volunteer Management—

• Recruit, train, and manage the activity of reunion class giving committees and all volunteers within assigned class portfolio

• Effectively motivate volunteers in support of their solicitation efforts

• Communicate regularly with individual volunteers and committees to share progress toward goals, strategies for solicitation, and information regarding fundraising priorities

• Create and analyze data and reports while submitting accurate and timely database updates to reflect all volunteer and donor activity

Other Potential Duties as Assigned—

• Staff additional reunion and/or non-reunion classes, especially when fellow team member roles are vacant

• Serve as liaison to partner teams across the division

• Assist with and/or lead planning and execution of annual volunteer and/or donor 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

• B.A./B.S. and 1 to 2 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.

• Holds knowledge of fundraising principles, concepts, and techniques and is comfortable soliciting gifts from a diverse and engaged donor community.

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

• 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.

• Proficiency in the use of word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation applications (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint) preferred in addition to the 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 - $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 orientati