"Major Gifts Officer, Penn Arts and Sciences"

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.

Job Description Summary

Reporting to the Associate Vice Dean for Advancement, the Major Gifts Officer will be responsible for maximizing lifelong giving to Penn by developing meaningful relationships with assigned prospects and donors. Working as part of an experienced team of fundraisers in the School of Arts and Sciences within a University-wide donor-centric prospect management system, the Major Gifts Officer will design and execute a major gifts plan for their assigned region that creates visibility for the School, expands its prospect base, and builds the School's major gifts pipeline.

A key feature of this position is the need to work collaboratively and productively with colleagues across Development and Alumni Relations at Penn, including Major Gifts, Planned Giving, Principal Gifts, and Alumni Relations, contributing to a total team effort on behalf of SAS and Penn.

Principal Duties

• Manage a personal portfolio of assigned donors and prospects, emphasizing those capable of making a gift of $100,000 or more, managing and developing prospect relationships from discovery through stewardship in support of School fundraising priorities. Significant travel expectation.
• Achieve mutually agreed upon annual goals for visits, solicitations, and gift totals.
• Create strategies for top prospects that leverage key relationships within SAS and across Penn and lead to successful engagement, cultivation, and solicitation. As part of this effort, staff school and university academic leadership, SAS board members, and other volunteers as needed.
• Be knowledgeable about School and University fundraising priorities, and programs and faculty/research/student initiatives within the School.
• Cultivate strong partnerships with central development staff and colleagues in other Penn schools and centers.
• Conduct discovery visits and work with the alumni outreach team in the SAS Office of Advancement to align fundraising with targeted engagement of SAS alumni in key cities and regions.
• Plan and staff special events supporting the School's fundraising and alumni engagement effort.
• Identify and recommend candidates for volunteer roles within the School and across the University as appropriate.
• Represent SAS on ad hoc University-wide committees and at events and professional conferences as required.
• Other related duties as assigned from time to time.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree plus 3-5 years experience and successful fund-raising experience, preferably in higher education, including directly soliciting six-figure gifts from individuals.
• Intellectual curiosity, understanding of a university environment, and appreciation for the academic mission of a liberal arts institution.
• Ability to work independently but collaboratively as part of a goal-oriented team.
• Skill at working effectively with colleagues in a decentralized fundraising system, participating in and contributing to a total team effort.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills. Ability to articulate the case for support and the vision/mission/goals of the School.
• Experience working with Salesforce or a similar relationship management database system. Familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Tact, sensitivity, maturity, judgment, and the ability to manage ambiguity and change necessary.
• Ability to travel and work evenings and weekends as needed; valid driver's license required.

Additional Information: This position is hybrid eligible, allowing for a combination of remote and on-site work. The successful candidate will reflect the core operating values of the SAS Office of Advancement, including a commitment to excellence, professionalism, creativity, adaptability, and transparency in communication.