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 Donor Communications, Wharton External Affairs
Job Profile Title
Associate Director C, Business and Finance, Communications and Marketing
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 www.wharton.upenn.edu.
The Associate Director of Donor Communications is an executive-level writer and strategic collaborator who leads complex, high-impact projects that demonstrate the outcomes of philanthropy and inspire engagement with the Wharton School. This role reports to the Development Communications Director and is a core member of the Donor Relations team, situated as a part of the Development and Principal Gifts function in Wharton External Affairs.
Wharton External Affairs serves as the gateway for alumni, friends, and partners to remain actively engaged with the Wharton community. The department fosters meaningful connections among alumni, faculty, and students, facilitates philanthropic partnerships, and strengthens lifelong ties to the School.
Job Description
Job Responsibilities
Establish strong working relationships with research programs and centers across the School and the University to create compelling cases for support, proposals, and impact reports. Apply your experience and comfort with interfacing with executive leadership to guide conversations to yield giving outcomes. Lead conversations that inform shaping stories that motivate donors to give and illustrate outcomes and future direction to existing donors.
Become a trusted thought partner to Development and Principal Gift colleagues, versed in funding opportunities, gift structures, and storytelling strategy in various formats, suiting donors at various stages of gift conversations at six figure and above levels for…