Executive Director of Engagement and Annual Giving - Wharton External Affairs

Executive Director of Engagement and Annual Giving
- Wharton External Affairs

Hybrid
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Sep 4, 2026

$167,379 - $235,000/year

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 Engagement and Annual Giving
- Wharton External Affairs

Job Description Summary

Wharton School Overview
Founded in 1881 as the world’s first collegiate business school, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is shaping the future of business by incubating ideas, driving insights, and creating leaders who change the world. With campuses in both Philadelphia and San Francisco, Wharton has over 850 staff, a faculty population of more than 235 renowned professors, and 5,000 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral students.

Each year 13,000 professionals from around the world advance their careers through Wharton Executive Education’s individual, company-customized, and online programs. More than 104,000 Wharton alumni form a powerful global network of leaders who transform business every day. Wharton is home to a dynamic community of staff, bringing a wide range of skills, experiences, and perspectives. To learn more, visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

The Executive Director of Engagement and Annual Giving is a senior leader within Wharton External Affairs responsible for setting and executing a comprehensive, integrated strategy for communications, alumni engagement, and annual giving in support of the School’s philanthropic and engagement priorities. Reporting to the Sr Exec Dir of Development, this role provides strategic direction across Annual Giving, Alumni Relations, and Advancement Communications to strengthen donor engagement, deepen alumni connection, expand broad-based participation, and grow annual fund revenue.

This position oversees teams responsible for strategic communications, alumni engagement, and annual fund initiatives, aligning messaging, outreach, and engagement opportunities across the full donor lifecycle, from identification and cultivation through solicitation and stewardship. The Executive Director partners closely with senior leaders across External Affairs, Wharton leadership, and Penn Development and Alumni Relations to ensure that communications, alumni engagement strategies, and annual giving efforts are coordinated, data-informed, and effectively advance institutional priorities.

The…