Associate Director, Wharton 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

Associate Director, Wharton Fund

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 is responsible for the fundraising and engagement of Wharton School graduate alumni from students to nine years out. The position will contribute to achieving annual Wharton Fund cash and participation goals. They will have their own portfolio of Young Franklin Society members ($1,000+ to the Wharton Fund). They will be responsible for the management of two Reunion classes who conduct peer to peer solicitation among their classmates. This role also manages the Alumni Fellows, a group of second year MBA students that conduct their class gift, where participation is the goal. Frequent travel is expected to visit assigned alumni since the position is one of the key fundraisers for that alumni population.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

• Responsible for personally soliciting Wharton Fund prospects at the Young Franklin ($1,000+) and Benjamin Franklin Society level ($2,500+) as well as visiting 100-125 prospects/donors.
• Responsible for the full time MBA class gift. This includes but is not limited to recruiting MBA student leaders, instilling a culture of philanthropy with this group, coordinating programming, and working with colleagues in MBA student affairs. The leaders will become a core part of the first reunion committee. 
• Work with Alumni Relations colleagues to recruit fundraising volunteers in two 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.
• Achieve annual Wharton Fund cash and participation goals through proactive donor outreach, solicitation, stewardship, and relationship management activities designed to increase both philanthropic revenue and donor e