Senior Major Gifts Officer, Penn Arts and Sciences

Senior Major Gifts Officer, Penn Arts and Sciences

Penn Arts and Sciences forms the foundation of the scholarly excellence that has established Penn as one of the world's leading research universities. The largest of Penn's academic divisions, SAS is the home of 27 departments that represent a full range of disciplines. The College, SAS's undergraduate division, enrolls 6,500 students and the largest undergraduate school  also includes the Graduate Division, the College of Liberal and Professional Studies and numerous research centers and programs.

The School's Office of Advancement recognizes the importance of the liberal arts as the source of knowledge that changes the world and education that changes individual's lives and is committed to generating enthusiasm and support for the School and its mission.

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Associate Vice Dean for Advancement, the Senior Director of Advancement (Senior Major Gifts Officer) will be responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding a portfolio of prospects and donors capable of making gifts of $100,000 or more to priority projects of the School of Arts and Sciences and University. By developing a deeper meaningful relationship between the prospects and donors and Penn, the Senior Director of Advancement will endeavor to maximize lifelong giving advancing major and principal gift initiatives.

Working as part of an experienced team of fundraisers in the School of Arts and Sciences within a University-wide donor-centric prospect management system, the Senior Major Gifts Officer will design and execute a major gifts plan for their assigned region and academic strategic priorities that creates visibility for the School, expand its prospect base, and build the School's major gifts pipeline.

A key feature of this position is the need to work collaboratively and productively with colleagues across Development and Alumni Relations at Penn, including Major Gifts, Planned Giving, Principal Gifts, and Alumni Relations, contributing to a total team effort on behalf of SAS and Penn.

Job 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 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.

Qualifications

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