Alumni - Wharton Fund - Benjamin Franklin Society

Picture of Ben Franklin's bust and signature with The Benjamin Franklin Society logo

The Benjamin Franklin Society (BFS) is the University of Pennsylvania’s leadership circle of annual fund donors.

The Wharton School recognizes donors who generously contribute $2,500 or more annually to The Wharton Fund. Recent Wharton graduates, up to four years after graduation, can join at the Young Franklin Society level with gifts of $1,000 or more.

Picture of FY2O23–2O24 The Wharton Fund Investor’s Report

FY23-24 Investor’s Report

Benjamin Franklin Society members have an outsized impact on the Wharton School. We invite you to view The Wharton Fund’s FY23-24 Investor’s Report, which provides insight into how your leadership support powers Wharton.

View Investor's Report

Join the Benjamin Franklin Society today

Choose the leadership level that’s right for you

Dean’s Circle

The Dean’s Circle represents a small, elite group of the School’s most generous leadership donors who make up less than 1% of all Wharton Fund donors. Their contributions account for the largest portion of the Fund’s total giving.

Make a sustaining impact in the Dean’s Circle through a $500,000 commitment over five years.

Benefits

Recognition in the Donor Honor Roll
Recognition at alumni events
Exclusive Wharton-branded giveaways
Invitations to special events, including a BFS Reception at Reunion Weekend and one in New York City
Early access to Lifelong Learning opportunities, including webinars
Early access to The Wharton Fund’s Investor Report
Special acknowledgement from Dean Erika James

$100,000

Anvil Society

The Anvil Society is named after the symbol of the Wharton School in homage to Joseph Wharton’s contributions to the metal industry.

Make a sustaining impact in the Anvil Society through a $250,000 commitment over five years.

Benefits

Recognition in the Donor Honor Roll
Recognition at alumni events
Exclusive Wharton-branded giveaways
Invitations to special events, including a BFS Reception at Reunion Weekend and one in New York City
Early access to Lifelong Learning opportunities, including webinars
Early access to The Wharton Fund’s Investor Report
Special acknowledgement from Dean Erika James

$50,000

Joseph Wharton Society

Named for the School’s founder, the Joseph Wharton Society is one of the most impactful levels due to the number of members and the generosity of their contributions.

Make a sustaining impact in the Joseph Wharton Society through a $125,000 commitment over five years.

Benefits

Recognition in the Donor Honor Roll
Recognition at alumni events
Exclusive Wharton-branded giveaways
Invitations to special events, including a BFS Reception at Reunion Weekend and one in New York City
Early access to Lifelong Learning opportunities, including webinars
Early access to The Wharton Fund’s Investor Report
Special acknowledgement from Dean Erika James

$25,000

Founder

The Founder Level is the society’s most rapidly growing level of membership.

Make a sustaining impact at the Founder level through a $50,000 commitment over five years.

Benefits

Recognition in the Donor Honor Roll
Recognition at alumni events
Exclusive Wharton-branded giveaways
Invitations to special events, including a BFS Reception at Reunion Weekend and one in New York City
Early access to Lifelong Learning opportunities, including webinars
Early access to The Wharton Fund’s Investor Report
Special acknowledgement from Dean Erika James

$10,000

Fellow

The Fellow Level is for donors who wish to take their commitment to the next level.

Make a sustaining impact at the Fellow level through a $25,000 commitment over five years.

Benefits

Recognition in the Donor Honor Roll
Recognition at alumni events
Exclusive Wharton-branded giveaways
Invitations to special events, including a BFS Reception at Reunion Weekend and one in New York City
Early access to Lifelong Learning opportunities, including webinars
Special acknowledgement from Chief Advancement Officer, Bill Bole

$5,000

Associate

The Associate Level is the entry point to membership in the Benjamin Franklin Society.

Make a sustaining impact at the Associate level through a $12,500 commitment over five years.

Benefits

Recognition in the Donor Honor Roll
Recognition at alumni events
Exclusive Wharton-branded giveaways
Invitations to special events, including a BFS Reception at Reunion Weekend and one in New York City
Early access to Lifelong Learning opportunities, including webinars
Special acknowledgement from Chief Advancement Officer, Bill Bole

$2,500

Young Franklin Society

Eligible for Wharton graduate alumni who are 0-4 years since graduation, the Young Franklin Society is for recent graduates who want to be philanthropic leaders immediately after graduation.

Benefits

Recognition in the Donor Honor Roll
Recognition at alumni events
Exclusive Wharton-branded giveaways
Invitations to special events, including a BFS Reception at Reunion Weekend and one in New York City
Early access to Lifelong Learning opportunities, including webinars
Special acknowledgement from Chief Advancement Officer, Bill Bole

$1,000

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I become a Benjamin Franklin Society member?

Become a member by giving $2,500 or more to The Wharton Fund within a single fiscal year.

You can support The Wharton Fund through one or more gifts or pledge payments. Gifts from donor advised funds, private foundations, matching gifts, or spousal credit all qualify towards your BFS membership.

If you are a recent graduate of Wharton (0-4 years from graduation), your membership can start at $1,000 or more.

How are Benjamin Franklin Society members recognized?

Donors retain the right to be anonymous at any time. This does not affect their membership status.

BFS members receive recognition at University and School events and in publications such as Wharton’s annual Donor Honor Roll. View the School’s most recent Honor Roll.

BFS members have the opportunity to be featured in a Benjamin Franklin Member Spotlight.

What funds qualify for Benjamin Franklin Society membership?

While the Wharton School is grateful for support of any kind, only those gifts designated to The Wharton Fund are eligible for BFS membership at the Wharton School.

Gifts toward any annual fund across the University qualify for membership in the University-wide Benjamin Franklin Society.

“An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.”

Picture of Benjamin Franklin's Signature

Contact Us

If you wish to speak to someone about making a leadership gift to The Wharton Fund, please contact Diana Paterno at +1.215.898.1612 or email her at dianapat@wharton.upenn.edu.

Ways to Give

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Contact The Wharton Fund at +1.215.898.7868 or whartonfund@wharton.upenn.edu

The University's Tax ID is 23-1352685. The fiscal year is July 1 - June 30.

Give to The Wharton Fund

▼ Give Online

Use Our Secure Giving Site

Apple Pay and Google Wallet are accepted.

▼ Give by Phone

Call The Wharton Fund at +1.215.898.7868

▼ Give by Mail

Wharton External Affairs
Suite 500 FMC Tower
2929 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104

Make checks payable to: “The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania”
Please include your name (and your spouse’s name if applicable), affiliation(s) and how to allocate your gift (ex. The Wharton Fund).

▼ Donor-Advised Funds – Online Distributions

Give through your donor-advised fund on our giving website with DAF Pay.
Visit Wharton DAFpay and your preferred giving method will default to Donor Advised Fund. When ready to give, click DAFpay and select your DAF provider. Log in to your account and complete your gift.

▼ Donor-Advise Funds or Private Foundations

Contact your DAF provider or foundation manager(s) to direct your gift.

Make donations payable to The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
Include your Name, Affiliation, and Fund (ex. Susan Lee WG’97, Wharton Fund)
Penn’s Tax ID is 23-1352685

▼ Bank Wires

Send your gift via a bank wire to:
Wells Fargo Bank N.A.
420 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94104

Account Name: The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania – Gifts Accounting
Account# 2000030009956
Reference: Name and Affiliation (example: Susan Lee, WG’99)

For Domestic Wires and ACH’s
ABA Routing #: 121-000-248

For International Wires Only
SWIFT CODE: WFBIUS6S
CHIPS: 0407

▼ Appreciated Securities

To make a gift of appreciated securities, including stocks, you or your broker can complete a transfer form and initiate a transfer of stock to the University of Pennsylvania. If you hold the certificate, it is best if those certificates remain un-endorsed and you complete a separate stock power form authorizing the transfer of ownership from you to Wharton.

Penn Securities Transfer Form

Brokerage Firm: Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management
Attention: The Corcoran Ciarelli Group
Phone: +1.610.260.8526

DTC: 0015
Customer Name: University of Pennsylvania
Penn’s Tax ID: 23-1352685
Account Number: 858-010018

Contact our Securities Office at +1.215.898.7254 or stockgifts@lists.upenn.edu
Fax: +1.215.575.5118
University of Pennsylvania
2929 Walnut Street, Suite 300
Philadelphia, PA 19104-5099

▼ Charitable Gifts Through Your IRA

Individuals may make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from their IRA directly to Wharton beginning at age 70½. The amount of the QCD is excluded from a donor’s Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), and thus not subject to income tax; donors do not receive an income tax charitable deduction for the gift. Donors age 73 and over may use QCDs to satisfy some or all of their Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) up to $108,000 annually. The sample letter can be used to send to your IRA plan provider.

It is now possible to make a qualified charitable distribution from an IRA to fund a charitable gift annuity. This opportunity has some limitations and restrictions that differ from standard charitable gift annuities, and these should be examined closely when considering a gift. Contact us to learn more.

▼ Matching Gifts

Don’t miss the unique opportunity to increase the impact of your giving through a matching gift program. To find out if your employer participates and learn more about how to apply a match to your Wharton Fund gift, visit Penn’s matching gifts database.

For more information concerning the Matching Gifts Program, you can call +1.215.898.5069 or contact devgifts@dev.upenn.edu.

▼ Giving from Outside U.S.

If you live outside the United States and are considering a gift to Wharton, please visit Penn’s Giving from Outside the U.S. website. If you are a taxpayer in one of the following areas, please visit our country-specific giving pages before making your gift as your contribution may qualify for tax benefits in your home country.

Europe
Hong Kong
United Kingdom

▼ Planned Gifts

Planned gifts can be made through bequests, unitrusts, life insurance, pooled income funds, and real estate. If you are interested in learning more about planned giving opportunities, call +1.215.898.6171 or click on the link below.

Learn About Planned Gifts