Job Description Summary

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.

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.