Executive Director of Development

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

Executive Director of Development

Job Profile Title

Director C, Development, Fundraising

Job Description Summary

Reporting to the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development & Alumni Relations (DAR), the Executive Director of Development provides strategic leadership for fundraising and engagement efforts. This role leads a frontline major gift team of three major gift officers and the Director of Development, who oversees three Assistant Directors of Development.

This position will manage a portfolio of major gift prospects capable of contributing $100,000+, but with a focus on gifts of $250,000 or more, to Penn Athletics and will oversee day-to-day fundraising and alumni relations activities for multiple varsity sports. In collaboration with an Assistant Director of Development, this includes managing multiple “sports boards” of 20+ volunteers that meet quarterly and that have a primary focus to support teams in achieving their fundraising goals across annual funds, endowment support, capital projects and planned gifts.

The position also plays an important lead role in working with the Athletics Director and the Senior Associate Athletic Director for DAR in planning high-level strategy and initiatives as well as helping to support and manage the unit’s interface and coordination with Penn’s Central overarching Office of Development and Alumni Relations.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of major gift officers, setting clear goals, evaluating performance, and supporting professional development to drive strong results across key fundraising metrics. Manage the Director of Development and co-create the strategic direction for the Assistant Director of Development team (3).
• Oversee all aspects of fundraising, alumni engagement and volunteer strategy for multiple varsity sports within the Penn Athletics sport portfolio, including enacting strategies to reach all fundraising goals
• Manage a personal portfolio of 100+ major and leadership gift prospects and develop and execute cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies to secure support for the Center’s strategic priorities.
• Identify and develop a pipeline of high-level gift prospects for immediate and long-term cultivation with a goal of growing the pool of top prospects who can provide significant philanthropic support for Penn Athletics.
• Work with the Central DAR data alignment team to analyze data, create portfolio strategies and develop a data driven program to maximize the engagement of the DRIA community.
• Work closely with the Sr. Associate Athletic Director, Development and Alumni Relations  to develop annual goals, plans, and budgets for a comprehensive, strategy-driven fundraising program and participate in the development and execution of a comprehensive plan to maximize the success of DRIA’s fundraising efforts. This would include the strategic design and implementation of a comprehensive fundraising strategy for any future Penn Athletics-specific or University-wide fundraising campaign.
• Partner with the Athletics Director, Sr. Associate AD, major gift officers, coaches, lead volunteers and other athletic administrators across the Division and University to maximize philanthropic support for Penn Athletics.
• Collaborate with Sr. Associate AD to develop comprehensive engagement and solicitation strategy for Penn Athletics Board of Advisors; and dotted-line oversight structure of the Assistant Director of Stewardship & Administration as it relates to management of Board of Advisors, including all BOA communications and planning of annual meetings.
• Articulate and communicate DRIA’s strategic priorities, aspirations, and values to alumni, parents and friends through informal and formal communications, including written proposals.
  

**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 of Science, Bachelor of Arts, and 7 to 10 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Preferred experience with Athletics fundraising within a higher education environment.
• Demonstrated success managing a portfolio of high-capacity prospects.

• Exceptional relationship-building and communication skills, with experience engaging senior leadership, faculty, and high-level external stakeholders.
• Proven experience supervising and developing professional staff, including goal-setting, performance management, and coaching.
• Advanced professional skills in complex problem-solving, decision-making, and navigating multifaceted donor situations.
• Must hold a valid driver's license.
• Position involves extensive travel and evening/weekend work.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Development and Alumni Relations

Pay Range

$110,907.00 - $175,000.00 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, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job’s level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement 

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements 
Background checks may be 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.

​

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