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 Development, International

Job Profile Title

Major Gifts Officer

Job Description Summary

The International Development office, within University Strategic Philanthropy and Partnerships in Development and Alumni Relations at the University of Pennsylvania, is responsible for maximizing philanthropic support for priorities across the University and overseeing leadership engagement from Penn’s alumni, parents, and friends residing outside the United States. The team implements a comprehensive collaborative campus-wide program that deeply engages the international Penn community. Working closely with University and academic leadership, Penn Global, academic divisions, and colleagues across DAR, the team is responsible for developing, executing, and coordinating the university’s strategic global fundraising and donor engagement program with a goal of building a robust and sustainable donor pipeline through curated meaningful engagement opportunities. As part of that effort, the office also manages two international foundations and three global leadership fundraising committees to facilitate further giving and engagement.

Reporting dually to the Associate Vice President of International Development and the Director of Development for Asia and working in close partnership with vested interests across the University, the Associate Director of Development is a key member of the University’s international fundraising efforts.

The Associate Director will be responsible for identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of major gift prospects and donors in several countries/regions, including but not limited to and subject to change, India, Middle East and ASEAN. The Director will manage a personal portfolio of donors and prospects with capacity to make major gifts to the University. This position will participate as a strategist in building the University’s international major gift and principal gift fundraising capacity in the region and will act as a general resource and advisor to senior development colleagues and other members of the University for the regions covered.

This role has specialized knowledge in the planning and implementation of development activities and will execute fundraising projects, cultivation programs for prospective donors and for advisory boards.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

• Develop a short- and long-term strategy for donor cultivation, solicitation, engagement, and stewardship for assigned region(s). Using data, trends, and knowledge of the region to review the complexities of the assigned region(s) to create regional strategies.
• Learn and discern how to represent the priorities of the University of Pennsylvania and its constituent schools and centers to varied audiences. Build relationships to support school and center collaboration on prospects.
• Manage specific international geographical regions and portfolios of major gift prospects. The primary objective will be to accomplish meaningful prospect interactions throughout each phase of the prospect management process, from identification and qualification to stewardship. The portfolio will be made up of both donors and prospects. Assess and prioritize how to engage to maximize fundraising and engagement.
• Leads new prospect identification activity in assigned regions.
• Cultivates new and existing relationships with alumni and parents who have giving capacity, as well as unaffiliated friends whose philanthropic interests intersect with University priorities.
• Work the Director of Development – Asia and the AVP, along with school and center directors to collectively create school/center strategies and set expectations for central versus school/center roles in their international prospect activity in the specific regions.
• Serve as an advocate for international constituents. Help foster university-wide fundraising activities, recognize the interests and needs of international constituents, and advise colleagues appropriately. Become intimately familiar with and promote tax-beneficial giving opportunities that are available internationally.
• Help identify and develop volunteer leadership in the regions as appropriate and applicable. Be familiar with Penn’s volunteer structure and opportunities to help identify international prospects for the various opportunities.
• In partnership with the AVP, serve as an internal resource for DAR and the President, Deans, Faculty, and Senior Officers planning international trips. This responsibility necessitates familiarity with the various alumni clubs, top prospects, and existing university relationships; it requires the ability to strategically make optimum use of their time and to accompany these individuals on trips as required.
• Develop an understanding of the cultural protocols to follow in targeted region(s) and inform colleagues appropriately. This responsibility necessitates familiarity with the various alumni clubs, industries, and existing university relationships.
• Responsible for briefing materials in assigned regions for various leadership engagements, including presidential trips.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, and 3 to 5 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required preferably in higher education, including direct solicitation of six figure gifts from individuals, with a preferred emphasis on international fundraising.
• Knowledge of international cross-border charitable giving with jurisdiction-specific understanding of various tax regimes where tax-efficient gifts to a US institution can be made by donors outside the U.S. Especially familiarity with the UK Gift Aid scheme; Transnational Giving Europe (TGE); Canada, and Hong Kong tax incentives a plus.
• Cultural understanding and sensitivity; experience working and/or living in an international market is a plus.
• Ability to function with a high degree of independence and to act very collaboratively in the development and execution of regional strategies.
• Extensive international travel required; must be able to travel every month or every other month, sometimes for up to two weeks at a time, and to varied countries and cultures in a single trip.
• Excellent planning, organizational skills; attention to details.
• Manage multiple projects, issues, solicitations simultaneously and creatively, thoroughly, and confidentially; work independently under pressure.
• Be comfortable with ambiguity and be able to adapt to unfamiliar settings, cultural values and norms.
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral, especially in unaccustomed cultural settings. Preferably ease of working with people of foreign languages and even knowledge of a foreign language.
• Strong competency with standard software applications, and ability to learn new software.
• Valid Passport and U.S. driver’s license required; may need to obtain international driver’s license for work in some countries.

**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.**

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Development and Alumni Relations

Pay Range

$77,330.00 - $105,000.00 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