A Leadership Challenge
From April 1 through May 15, all Benjamin Franklin Society contributions will be matched by two anonymous Challenge donors, one-to-one, up to a total of $1 million.
Our challengers have a clear message to the Wharton community:
Meet Us at $1 Million
ONE GIFT. TWICE THE IMPACT.
MEET US AT $1 MILLION TODAY.
Benjamin Franklin Society (BFS) members have an outsized impact on
the Wharton School.
This was never clearer than in spring 2021 when over three hundred BFS members participated in The Wharton Fund’s $1 Million Match campaign. In six short weeks, leadership contributions were doubled, providing over $2 million in unrestricted funding for Wharton.
And now, inspired by this precedent, two anonymous donors are creating a new leadership challenge. These donors have made up to $1 million available for doubling the impact of memberships in the Benjamin Franklin Society.
Join the Challenge and double your impact today.
Track Our Progress
Up to $1 Million in matching funds have been made available by our Challengers. See how many gifts have already been matched!
Find Your Giving Level
The Wharton School recognizes the following Benjamin Franklin Society levels:
$100,000+ Dean’s Circle
The Dean’s Society represents a small, elite group of leadership donors who make up less than one percent of all Wharton Fund donors, but whose contributions account for a substantial portion of the fund’s total giving. This level is ideal for those considering a sustaining impact with a $500,000 commitment over five years.
For all Dean’s Circle members who make a $100,000+ gift by May 15, our Challengers will make a matching $100,000+ gift.
$50,000+ Anvil Society
The Anvil Society is named after the symbol of the Wharton School, the anvil, in homage to Joseph Wharton’s contributions to the metal industry. This level is ideal for those considering a sustaining impact with a $250,000 commitment over five years.
For all Anvil Society members who make a $50,000+ gift by May 15, our Challengers will make a matching $50,000+ gift.
$25,000+ Joseph Wharton Society
The Joseph Wharton Society, named for the School’s founder, is one of BFS’s most impactful levels due to the number of members and the generosity of their contributions. This level is ideal for those considering a sustaining impact with a $125,000 commitment over five years.
For all Joseph Wharton Society members who make a $25,000+ gift by May 15, our Challengers will make a matching $25,000+ gift.
$10,000+ Founder Level
The Founder Level is the society’s most rapidly growing level of membership. This level is ideal for those considering a sustaining impact with a $50,000 commitment over five years.
For all Founder Level members who make a $10,000+ gift by May 15, our Challengers will make a matching $10,000+ gift.
$5,000+ Fellow Level
The Fellow Level is for donors who wish to take their commitment to the next level. This level is most utilized by those making a sustaining impact with a $25,000 commitment over five years.
For all Fellow Level members who make a $5,000+ gift by May 15, our Challengers will make a matching $5,000+ gift.
$2,500+ Associate Level
The Associate Level is the entry point to membership and the society’s most popular level.
For all Associate Level members who make a $2,500+ gift by May 15, our Challengers will make a matching $2,500+ gift.
$1,000+ Young Franklin Society
Eligible for Wharton Graduate Alumni from 2017 to 2021, the Young Franklin Society is for recent graduates who want to start leading the Wharton School right after graduation.
For all Young Franklin Society members who make a $1,000+ gift by May 15, our Challengers will make a matching $1,000+ gift.
For more information about the Meet Us At $1 Million Challenge, or to speak with someone directly about your leadership support of the Wharton School, please contact your Wharton Fund Liaison.
Beth Truta Morris
Director
The Wharton Fund
truta@wharton.upenn.edu
+1.215.898.3552
Diana Paterno
Senior Associate Director
The Wharton Fund
dianapat@wharton.upenn.edu
+1.215.292.5959
Cynthia Orr
Associate Director
MBAs for Executives
corr@wharton.upenn.edu
+1.267.698.5700
Jamie Lemisch
Associate Director
35th-50th Reunions & prior
Full Time MBA Classes:
1990 and prior
jlemisch@wharton.upenn.edu
+1.267.353.4149
Kinjal Mathur
Senior Associate Director
25th and 30th Reunions
Full Time MBA Classes:
1991-2000
kinjalm@wharton.upenn.edu
+1.302.668.9895
Josh Karp
Associate Director
10th, 15th and 20th Reunions
Full Time MBA Classes:
2001-2014
whartonfund@wharton.upenn.edu
+1.215.898.7868
Laurie Rothenberg
Associate Director
1st and 5th Reunions
Full Time MBA Classes:
2015-2022
lauriero@wharton.upenn.edu
+1.215.779.7330
For more information about the Meet Us At $1 Million Challenge, or to speak with someone directly about your leadership support of the Wharton School, please contact your Wharton Fund Liaison.
Beth Truta Morris
Director
The Wharton Fund
truta@wharton.upenn.edu
+1.215.898.3552
Diana Paterno
Senior Associate Director
The Wharton Fund
dianapat@wharton.upenn.edu
+1.215.292.5959
Cynthia Orr
Associate Director
MBAs for Executives
corr@wharton.upenn.edu
+1.267.698.5700
Jamie Lemisch
Associate Director
35th-50th Reunions & prior
Full Time MBA Classes:
1986 and prior
jlemisch@wharton.upenn.edu
+1.267.353.4149
Kinjal Mathur
Senior Associate Director
25th and 30th Reunions
Full Time MBA Classes:
1987-1998
kinjalm@wharton.upenn.edu
+1.302.668.9895
Josh Karp
Associate Director
10th, 15th and 20th Reunions
Full Time MBA Classes:
1999-2011
whartonfund@wharton.upenn.edu
+1.215.898.7868
Laurie Rothenberg
Associate Director
1st and 5th Reunions
Full Time MBA Classes:
2012-2021
lauriero@wharton.upenn.edu
+1.215.779.7330
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 fiscal year is July 1 – June 30.
▼ Give Online
▼ Give by Phone
Call The Wharton Fund at +1.215.898.7868
▼ Give by Mail
At this time, we are asking that all checks be sent directly to the bank for processing. Please include your name (and your spouse’s name if applicable), affiliation(s) and how to allocate your gift (ex. The Wharton Fund).
Make checks payable to
“The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania”
For USPS
University of Pennsylvania
Office of the Treasurer
PO BOX 71332
Philadelphia, PA 19176-9913
For FedEx and UPS Deliveries Only
University of Pennsylvania
Wharton External Affairs
Suite 300 FMC Tower
2929 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
▼ Gifts of Cash
Cash gifts can be made by check or charged to a credit card. Charitable gifts of cash are deductible up to 60% of the donor’s adjusted gross income in the year of the gift with any balance carried forward up to five more years. In valuing any charitable gift for tax purposes, the donor must reduce the gift amount by the fair market value of any goods or services received from the charity. Wharton’s Fiscal Year is July 1- June 30.
▼ Donor-Advised Funds or Private Foundations
Recommend or direct gifts through donor-advised funds or private foundations.
Penn’s Tax ID/EIN is 23-1352685
Make donations payable to “The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania”
Designate gift to The Wharton Fund.
▼ 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
The transfer of stock from a donor to Wharton is a fairly simple transaction. Morgan Stanley serves as the University’s main brokerage firm. You will need to work directly with your broker to 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 unendorsed and you complete a separate stock power form authorizing transfer of ownership from the donor to Wharton.
▼ Charitable Gifts Through Your IRA
The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015, has extended the IRA Charitable Rollover permanently. The extension allows individuals age 70½ and older to donate up to $100,000 from their IRAs to The Wharton School tax-free. You do not receive an income tax charitable deduction. This provision allows you to transfer money from your IRA directly to Wharton, without having to recognize the transfer as taxable income. You should consult with your tax advisors about your specific situations.
The sample letter can be used to send to your IRA plan provider.
▼ 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. Most matching gifts are made by companies employing Wharton alumni, including:
- Bank of America
- Deloitte & Touche LLP
- Exxon Mobil
- Goldman Sachs
- IBM
- Microsoft
- PricewaterhouseCoopers
- Wells Fargo
- And many more
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.
▼ 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.