Major Gifts Officer/Senior Major Gifts Officer, 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

Major Gifts Officer/Senior Major Gifts Officer, Wharton External Affairs

Job Profile Title

Major Gifts Officer Senior

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.

As part of a team of experienced fundraisers, the Major Gifts Officer or Senior Major Gifts Officer reports to the Director of Regional Development, with position level determined based on requisite experience. This position manages the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of assigned prospects with the giving ability of $100,000 and above, or $250,000 and above for the Senior Major Gifts Officer level. The position will focus primarily on assigned Tier 1 domestic region(s) and is responsible for designing, planning, and implementing a major gifts plan that proactively extends the reach of Wharton domestically to expand Wharton’s prospect base and build the donor pipeline.

At the Senior Major Gifts Officer level, the role carries a higher degree of independence in developing and executing fundraising strategies, managing more complex prospect relationships, and advancing high-level cultivation and solicitation efforts that may require greater engagement with School and Development leadership. Across both levels, the role requires strong collaboration, sound judgment, and a commitment to team-based strategy. At the Major Gifts Officer level, the role manages a meaningful portfolio of major gift prospects and works closely with colleagues and leadership to develop effective strategies, particularly for more complex opportunities.

This position requires the willingness and ability to travel frequently domestically, as well as availability to work some weekends and evenings.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

• Maintain a top-tier portfolio of approximately 150 donors and prospects, with an active schedule of moves-management interactions including identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Develop st