Assistant Director, Donor Relations and Stewardship

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

Assistant Director, Donor Relations and Stewardship

Job Profile Title

Annual Giving Officer A

Job Description Summary

Penn Vet engages alumni and friends in meaningful, lifelong relationships with the school, sustaining and strengthening a culture of giving that creates positive impacts for students, hospital clients and patients and affiliated communities. Four distinct teams within Penn Vet Advancement – Operations, Development, Alumni Relations, and Communications – work collaboratively across the School and the University to secure philanthropic commitments that empower world-renowned teaching, clinical care and research. Penn Vet celebrates diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging among its esteemed students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

Job Description

Reporting to the Director of Annual Giving and Advancement Operations, the Assistant Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship manages the development and execution of the long-range and short-term strategic planning for the areas of donor stewardship including specific donor recognition programs and meetings, stewardship writing, as well as additional related projects. The Assistant Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship works closely with major gift fundraisers, the annual fund staff, the alumni relations staff and the communications team to ensure quality in donor relations efforts and to manage goals and expectations that support the overall strategy for the department. This position plays a key role in the planning, strategy and execution of donor and stewardship program and will often interact and communicate with board members and high-level donors. This position plays a pivotal role in managing donor communications, publications, correspondence, and events.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Oversee all aspects of recognition, reporting and stewardship of gifts.
• In collaboration with advancement colleagues, manage standards, templates, and protocols for fund reporting that provide current-use and endowed fund donors with timely, relevant reports demonstrating the impact and significance of their support in a meaningful and targeted way that will result in greater affinity for Penn Vet.
• Produce and design the annual honor roll calendar publication.
• Plan and manage stewardship events for donors that have been identified as top prospects as well as highly rated hospital clients while highlighting the strengths of Penn Vet faculty, staff, alumni, and its partners.
• Manage and maintain Vet School donor walls.
• Leverage communication tools to craft unique touchpoints for top-level prospects/major gifts donors, such as the donor newsletter.
• Manage all aspects of highly functioning acknowledgement system that incorporates input from Deans, Vice President, and President, gift officers and other integral personnel.
• Provide strategic leadership, and stewardship functions with a focus on ensuring policies, protocols, and systems to achieve optimal experience for all donors.
• Leverage the potential of Compass (Salesforce) database to ensure donor relations and stewardship documents are submitted and updated to ensure efficiency for accessing these key documents; maintain scholarship donor records by linking records of student scholarship recipients to their gift funds on an annual basis.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree and 1 to 2 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required. Preference for 3-5 years of experience in advancement and donor relations. Excellent writing, communication and interpersonal skills required. Must be highly organized and self-initiating while working as a member of a team in a goal-oriented environment. The ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines is essential. Some evening and weekend work required. Experience with Salesforce is a plus. 
Applicants must submit a cover letter.

This position will be hybrid-eligible following the successful completion of orientation and the introductory period.

Job Location – City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Job Location – City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

School of Veterinary Medicine

Pay Range

$43,919.00 – $60,000.00 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