Associate Director of Major Gifts, Penn Vet

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 of Major Gifts, Penn Vet

Job Profile Title

Major Gifts Officer

Job Description Summary

Penn’s School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) is internationally recognized as a leader in veterinary medical education, animal healthcare, biomedical and clinical research, public health, animal agriculture and food security. Established in 1884, Penn Vet is one of the leading teaching, research and clinical veterinary institutions in the world. Its two teaching hospitals are among the busiest in the world with Ryan Hospital for Companion Animals handling approximately 35,000 cases per year and New Bolton Center, located in Kennett Square PA, handling over 8,000 equine and large animal cases per year. Founded on the recommendation of Penn’s School of Medicine, it is the only veterinary school in the U.S. to be developed in association with a medical school. Today, Penn Vet alumni, numbering over 5000 living alumni, are working across the country and around the world to improve the health and welfare of animals and humans.
Under the guidance of the Associate Dean for Institutional Advancement, the Associate Director of Major Gifts cultivates, solicits, and stewards individual prospects capable of making gifts of $100,000 and greater for the School and select clinical departments, divisions, and programs within Penn Vet. The Associate Director manages a portfolio of 150 prospects consisting of Penn Vet alumni, clients from both hospitals, and other friends of Penn Vet. This position is based in Philadelphia with an expectation that they will be rotating periodically through New Bolton Center.
Reporting to the Executive Director of Development, the Associate Director of Major Gifts will work in a highly collaborative team environment and serve a vital role as part of the overall Institutional Advancement division at Penn Vet. This person will build philanthropic support from an assigned portfolio made up of alumni, friends and referrals from sources throughout Penn Vet, including clinical faculty and staff from both hospitals, Penn Vet faculty, and other members of Penn Vet. The ability to build strong relationships within the Penn Vet community and with referring clinicians in the hospitals is a must. The Associate Director will successfully coordinate complex prospect relationships with colleagues on the Penn Vet Institutional Advancement team as well as with central development partners to maximize philanthropic support. Responsibilities include creating and executing coordinating strategies for outright gifts and planned gifts for prospective donors, volunteer and clinician interaction with prospects, and executing targeted stewardship to demonstrate impact. Ability to work collaboratively in a highly-integrated team is a must.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

• Develop an understanding of the educational, research, clinical, and financial needs and goals of Penn Vet.
• Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of 150 prospective donors.
• Conduct 120 substantive prospect meetings annually and document all significant contacts in the University’s prospect tracking system.
• Build and maintain relationships with clinicians and/or Department Chair(s) for purposes of identifying major gift prospects.
• Coordinate the participation of faculty, administration, volunteers, and other members of the development staff for the purposes of identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewardship donors in the associate director’s prospect portfolio.
• Plans, coordinates, and directs visits for prospects and donors.
• Executes stewardship activities for assigned prospects.
• Assist other Penn Vet Institutional Advancement team members on an as-needed basis. e.g., Annual Fund, Alumni Relations, etc.

**Please provide a resume and cover letter in order to be considered for this role. Please upload all documents in the “Resume/CV” section of the application prior to submitting.**

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 3 to 5 years of experience in institutional development (or related field) with experience in closing outright and deferred gifts of $50,000 and greater from individuals or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.  Experience working in a higher education academic institution development program is preferred. Ability to function independently and also work successfully in a collaborative centralized development structure. Excellent writing / communication skills essential. Strong administrative experience and ability to establish objectives, set performance standards, and organize a successful approach to achieving fund-raising goals. Experience with development travel both locally and nationally is required. Occasional work in evenings and weekends is required. Valid driver’s license

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Development and Alumni Relations

Pay Range

$51,824.00 - $100,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile. 

Affirmative Action Statement 
Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.

Special Requirements 
Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay