Associate Director, Wharton Fund - Wharton External Affairs

Job Details

Associate Director, Wharton Fund - Wharton External Affairs

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, Wharton Fund - Wharton External Affairs

Job Profile Title

Annual Giving Officer B

Job Description Summary

Wharton School Overview Founded in 1881 as the world's first collegiate business school, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is shaping the future of business by incubating ideas, driving insights, and creating leaders who change the world. With campuses in both Philadelphia and San Francisco, Wharton has over 850 staff, a faculty population of more than 235 renowned professors, and 5,000 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral students. Each year 13,000 professionals from around the world advance their careers through Wharton Executive Education's individual, company-customized, and online programs. More than 104,000 Wharton alumni form a powerful global network of leaders who transform business every day. Wharton is home to a dynamic community of staff, bringing a wide range of skills, experiences, and perspectives. To learn more, visit www.wharton.upenn.edu.

The Associate Director of the Wharton Fund is responsible for the fundraising and engagement of Wharton School graduate alumni in assigned alumni and reunion classes. Frequent travel is expected to visit assigned alumni, as the position is a key fundraiser for that alumni population. The position will contribute to achieving annual Wharton Fund cash and participation goals. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing alumni and reunion volunteers who conduct peer-to-peer solicitation among their classmates. The role also contributes to the development of the leadership annual giving pipeline by identifying, cultivating, and partnering with prospects with the capacity for $25,000+ commitments.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

• Responsible for personally soliciting Wharton Fund prospects at the Benjamin Franklin Society level ($2,500+) as well as visiting 100-125 prospects/donors. Manage a portfolio of leadership annual giving prospects while strategically collaborating with the Leadership Gift Officer on select prospects at $25,000+ commitment levels.
• Work with Alumni Relations colleagues to recruit fundraising volunteers in three reunion years; manage those volunteers making sure they are trained and current in the use of the volunteer database; assign 10-20 classmates for these volunteers to solicit and oversee their progress; update the volunteers regularly regarding class progress towards goals, including identifying and elevating leadership giving prospects within reunion cohorts and leveraging volunteers to support cultivation strategies.
• Achieve Wharton Fund cash and participation targets each fiscal year.
• Analysis of reports in order to evaluate alumni giving patterns and to assess progress towards goals is a crucial part of this position, including identifying trends that inform leadership annual giving strategies and prospect prioritization.
• Identify, qualify, and cultivate leadership annual giving prospects; partner with the Leadership Gift Officer to develop strategies for prospects capable of $25,000+ gifts, including coordinated cultivation, solicitation, and transition of donors to major gift portfolios.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science and 3 to 5 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Demonstrated ability to build and manage relationships with alumni, volunteers, and high-capacity donors, with a focus on engagement and long-term pipeline development.
• Proven skill in frontline fundraising or sales, including the ability to confidently solicit gifts and meet or exceed performance goals.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage diverse stakeholders, including senior-level and international alumni.
• Excellent organizational and project management abilities, including managing multiple priorities, tracking progress toward goals, and using data to inform strategy.
• Ability to work independently with sound judgment while collaborating effectively across teams, including partnership with Alumni Relations and development colleagues.
• Experience working with CRM or fundraising databases (e.g., Salesforce, Blackbaud, or similar), including data entry, reporting, and prospect tracking.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook), with the ability to manage communications and analyze data.
• Ability to analyze reports and donor data to inform outreach strategies and track progress toward fundraising goals.
• Comfort using digital tools to support volunteer management, communications, and engagement efforts.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Wharton School

Pay Range

$64,500.00 - $75,000.00 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.