Assistant Class Giving Director, The Penn Fund
About The Position
The Penn Fund includes a dedicated team of Class Giving Directors who work closely with alumni volunteers and development colleagues to meet class fundraising goals, with a primary focus on quinquennial reunion classes under their management. Reporting to the Director of Class Giving and Reunion Programs, the Assistant Class Giving Director serves in a high-performing role that motivates undergraduate alumni to support the University of Pennsylvania through both philanthropy and volunteer engagement. This individual is expected to serve as a collaborative and collegial partner within the broader Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) framework at Penn. In addition to managing class fundraising efforts, the Assistant Class Giving Director will maintain an individual prospect portfolio. They will conduct virtual and in-person outreach, including travel as needed, to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors, as well as to recruit and train volunteers. A key responsibility of the role is managing the solicitation of top Penn Fund prospects in milestone reunion classes, while also supporting additional classes to help drive growth in both dollars and donor participation. The individual in this role will build and manage high-performing gift committees, composed of enthusiastic alumni volunteers who solicit peers at the leadership giving level and foster a culture of loyal giving. Collaborating with other prospect managers to solicit assigned undergraduate alumni for unrestricted and scholarship support is also essential to success. The role requires the ability to manage, analyze, and draw insights from complex and confidential data to identify and prioritize top prospects and potential volunteers. Additional responsibilities may be assigned based on the evolving needs of the Class Giving and Reunion Programs Team and in alignment with the broader strategic goals of The Penn Fund.
Requirements
- B.A./B.S. and 1 to 2 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
- Holds knowledge of fundraising principles, concepts, and techniques and is comfortable soliciting gifts from a diverse and engaged donor community.
- Enthusiasm for data-driven decision-making and a commitment to goal achievement.
- Must be willing to travel as necessary to meet with donors and volunteers.
- Potential to work nights and/or weekends at limited times of the year.
Nice To Haves
- excellent interpersonal skills
- strong attention to detail
- ability to organize and manage multiple projects
- a willingness to work both individually and collaboratively while contributing to the total team culture and effort.
- Proficiency in the use of word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation applications (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint) preferred in addition to the capacity to learn systems and databases unique to the organization.
Responsibilities
- Regularly connect with prospective donors and volunteers—in and out of individual portfolio—through visits (virtual and in-person), phone, and email
- Meet with prospective donors and volunteers to increase philanthropic support, with special emphasis on solicitation of leadership annual giving prospects ($2,500+) and endowed scholarship solicitations of at least $125,000
- Include solicitation of non-reunion undergraduate alumni leadership donors in addition to those celebrating milestone reunions and those who may contribute below the leadership level across all assigned classes
- Document all prospect actions within internal database to ensure information sharing across the University
- Recruit, train, and manage the activity of reunion class giving committees and all volunteers within assigned class portfolio
- Effectively motivate volunteers in support of their solicitation efforts
- Communicate regularly with individual volunteers and committees to share progress toward goals, strategies for solicitation, and information regarding fundraising priorities
- Create and analyze data and reports while submitting accurate and timely database updates to reflect all volunteer and donor activity
- Staff additional reunion and/or non-reunion classes, especially when fellow team member roles are vacant
- Serve as liaison to partner teams across the division
- Assist with and/or lead planning and execution of annual volunteer and/or donor events
Benefits
- excellent healthcare
- 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
- Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts
- comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits
- flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars
- exceptional tuition benefits for employee, spouse, and dependent children
- generous retirement plans
- substantial amount of time away from work
- Long-Term Care Insurance
- Wellness and Work-life Resources
- Professional and Personal Development
- access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities
- Discounts and Special Services
- Flexible Work Hours
- Penn Home Ownership Services
- Adoption Assistance
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Associate degree
