Senior Major Gifts Officer, Penn Arts and Sciences

University of Pennsylvania•Woodworth, OH

5d•$92,592 - $125,000•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Pennsylvania School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) is seeking a Senior Major Gifts Officer to join its Advancement team. SAS is the largest academic division at Penn, encompassing 27 departments and serving as the foundation for the university's scholarly excellence. The School's Office of Advancement is dedicated to fostering enthusiasm and support for SAS and its mission. The Senior Director of Advancement (Senior Major Gifts Officer) will report to the Associate Vice Dean for Advancement and will be responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding a portfolio of prospects and donors capable of making gifts of $100,000 or more. This role aims to deepen relationships between donors and Penn, maximizing lifelong giving and advancing major and principal gift initiatives. The Senior Director will develop and execute a major gifts plan for their assigned region and academic priorities, working collaboratively with colleagues across Development and Alumni Relations at Penn, including Major Gifts, Planned Giving, Principal Gifts, and Alumni Relations, to contribute to a total team effort on behalf of SAS and Penn.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, and 5 to 7 years of fundraising experience – or a comparable, transferable skillset – with demonstrated ability to cultivate, solicit, and close six-and-seven-figure major gifts from high-net-worth individuals or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
Intellectual curiosity and appreciation for the academic mission of a liberal arts institution.
Proactive approach that takes initiative and actively seeks to deepen current donor relationships and forge new ones.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team to achieve both engagement and revenue goals.
Maturity and diplomacy to navigate relationships with the cultural fluency, interpersonal, and networking skills necessary to build relationships with external (donors, prospects, board members, volunteers, friends) and internal constituents (deans, faculty, staff, colleagues).
Ability to manage multiple priority projects at once with ease and efficiency.
Excellent written and oral communication skills. Ability to articulate the case for support and the vision/mission/goals of the School.
Excellent attention to detail; strong organizational skills and ability to plan.
Tact, sensitivity, maturity, judgment, and the ability to manage ambiguity and change necessary.
Proficient in SalesForce or a similar relationship management solution and Microsoft Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
Ability to travel extensively domestically and internationally, and for extended periods and work evenings and weekends as needed; a valid passport is required.
Successful candidates will also reflect the core operating values of the SAS Office of Advancement, which include demonstrated mutual commitment to excellence; professionalism, creativity, and adaptability; respect for the roles and responsibilities of individual members of the SASOA team; a collaborative and collegial style, and transparency in communication.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a complex higher education institution preferred.
Experience and demonstrated success in fundraising for the sciences and facility projects preferred.

Responsibilities

Manage and develop a personal portfolio of assigned donors and prospects, emphasizing those capable of making a gift of $100,000 or more. Significant travel is expected, including potential international travel.
Act as the point person for an upcoming facility renovation and expansion project and science-related fundraising initiatives.
Achieve mutually agreed upon annual goals for visits, solicitations, and gift totals.
Develop and implement individualized strategies for top prospects that leverage key relationships within SAS and across Penn, leading to successful engagement, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. As part of this effort, staff school and university academic leadership, SAS board members, and other volunteers as needed.
Build a depth of knowledge of the School and University fundraising priorities; support strategic fundraising opportunities including priority facilities research, and educational initiatives.
Cultivate strong partnerships with central development staff and partners in in other Penn Schools and Centers.
Work with the alumni engagement 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 in support of the School’s fundraising and alumni engagement efforts.
Identify and recommend candidates, and manage philanthropic relationships 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.

Benefits

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
Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts
Tuition assistance for employees, spouses, and dependent children at Penn and potentially other institutions
Generous retirement plans (Basic, Matching, and Supplemental) with pre-tax or Roth options
Substantial time away from work (vacations, personal affairs, illness, family time)
Long-Term Care Insurance
Wellness and Work-life Resources
Professional and Personal Development resources
Access to a wide range of University resources, cultural, and recreational activities
Discounts and Special Services (arts, entertainment, transportation, mortgages, goods, services)
Flexible Work Hours
Penn Home Ownership Services (forgivable loan for eligible employees)
Adoption Assistance