Associate Director of Development, International

About the role

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.

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.
• Led new prospect identification activity in assigned regions.
• Cultivate new and existing relationships with alumni and parents who have giving capacity, as well as unaffiliated friends whose philanthropic interests intersect with University priorities.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Benefits

The University of Pennsylvania 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.