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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

Development Assistant, Young Alumni and Student Philanthropy, The Penn Fund

Job Profile Title

Administrative Assistant B

Job Description Summary

Organizational Mission and Values:

Established in 1927, The Penn Fund supports the University’s mission through upholding the core values set forth by Development and Alumni Relations and both raising dollars and engaging donors to enhance undergraduate life and learning for all students. We are proud to serve as one of the primary annual giving vehicles within our generous Quaker community. Gifts that count toward The Penn Fund benefit the University’s highest priorities across the academic, extracurricular, and residential experience.

Future members of our team will hold the utmost integrity and accountability for their work; lead with collegiality to form bonds with colleagues united in common purpose; actively seek out collaboration with the best intention to work together; recognize and embrace diversity in background and of thought to create an inclusive environment; utilize transparency and open communication as regular tools to benefit both internal and external culture; and honor the dignity and personal rights of others through mutual respect and trust.

Position Overview:

The Penn Fund includes an important team partnering with young alumni and current student donors, volunteers, and prospects to educate every class graduating from the University about why giving back is so meaningful. When successful, this increases our collective overall donor pipeline and powers Penn for the future. Reporting to the Director of Young Alumni and Student Philanthropy, the Development Assistant provides primary logistical support for the frontline fundraisers and volunteer managers on the Young Alumni and Student Philanthropy team, aiding them in their goals to make individual solicitations and partner with volunteer committees to host events, solicit their peers, and beyond.

This position is critical to the department’s goals to increase leadership and loyal giving, maintain donor retention of young alumni, engage, recognize, and support young alumni and student volunteers, and access accurate and timely information for effective engagement—both solicitation and stewardship.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

Administrative Support

• Create and maintain accurate fundraising reports, class snapshots, volunteer training manuals, best practice guidebooks, and team resources.

• Compile, analyze, and summarize alumni giving and volunteer engagement data—including daily reports in preparation for solicitation, stewardship, outreach, and engagement.

• Provide excellent customer service to potential donor email and/or phone inquiries submitted to The Penn Fund.

• Help prepare for leadership solicitation visits by pulling together donor packets, reviewing lists for potential meetings, and preparing briefing documents with internally and externally available information on prospects.

• Respond to requests to update young alumni biographical data, which may include coding volunteers, updating contact and employment information, and completing mass actions.

• Provide general office management for and task assistance to the Young Alumni and Student Philanthropy team in addition to supporting the overall needs of The Penn Fund.

Volunteer Management and Campaign Strategy Support

• Partner with class and reunion giving volunteers on a wide array of projects that arise throughout any given fiscal year.

• Respond to volunteer requests for data, including (though not limited to) alumni calling lists, class progress statistics and giving metrics, and historical class giving benchmarks.

• Draft targeted solicitations and stewardship campaigns to increase and acknowledge both loyal and leadership young alumni and/or current student donors.

Event Management Support

• Help create and manage event processes from start to finish, including (though not limited to) invitations, nametags, event attendance tracking and documentation in our database, purchase requests for event materials, food, and space acquisition, and/or additional volunteer engagement efforts.

• Participate in and support both specific and major events attended by young alumni and/or students, such as Alumni Weekend, the Penn Reunion Volunteer Kick-off, and other regional donor events.

Additional Potential Opportunities

• Explore and take on additional opportunities for the sake of the individual and the team as assigned by the Director of Young Alumni and Student Philanthropy and/or the Executive Director.

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.

Qualifications

• High School Grad/GE Degree and 3 to 5 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required. BA/BS degree preferred.

• Desired skills include, but are not limited to, and may be described in other ways: excellent interpersonal, communication, and writing skills, strong attention to detail, ability to organize and manage multiple projects, and wish to work both individually and collaboratively while contributing to total team culture and effort.

• Ideally driven and motivated by the possibilities ahead, holds belief that innovation is critical to success, and seeks to support others in creative thinking.

• Prides oneself on high-quality work and naturally challenges our team to grow every year.

• Holds knowledge of fundraising principles, concepts, and techniques and is comfortable soliciting gifts from a diverse and engaged donor community.

• Proficiency in the use of word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation applications (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint) preferred in addition to capacity to learn systems and databases unique to the organization.

• Potential to work nights and/or weekends at limited times of the year.

  Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Development and Alumni Relations

Pay Range

$17.98 - $22.24 Hourly 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

  The University of Pennsylvania's special character is reflected in the diversity of the Penn community. We seek talented faculty and staff who will constitute a vibrant community that draws on the strength that comes with a substantive institutional commitment to diversity along dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, veteran status, interests, perspectives, and socioeconomic status. Grounded in equal opportunity, nondiscrimination, and affirmative action, Penn's robust commitment to diversity is fundamental to the University's mission of advancing knowledge, educating leaders for all sectors of society, and public service. The University of Pennsylvania prohibits unlawful discrimination based on 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.