Established in 1955, the Benjamin Franklin Society (BFS) is the University of Pennsylvania’s unrestricted annual giving leadership group. Last fiscal year (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025), we were proud to celebrate 70 remarkable years of leadership annual giving alongside our dedicated BFS members.
Giving Societies
Benjamin Franklin Society
Chris Knoecklein
Associate Director
(215) 898-3639
bfs@lists.upenn.edu
These distinguished donors make gifts and pledge payments of $2,500 or more to annual giving funds across the University in a given fiscal year. Through their generosity and vision, members of the Benjamin Franklin Society exemplify our founder’s belief in impactful philanthropy and serve as an inspiration to fellow Penn alumni, parents, and friends.
The following levels of support and giving opportunities present several options for becoming a member of the Benjamin Franklin Society.
BFS Levels of Support (University-wide)
Ambassador: $25,000 and above
Founder: $10,000—$24,999
Fellow: $5,000—$9,999
Associate: $2,500—$4,999
(Some schools have introductory Associate levels for recent graduates. See individual school pages below for details.)
Connect with BFS
Follow @PennBFS on Instagram to connect with the BFS and larger Penn community! It’s a great way to stay up to date with what’s happening with BFS, learn more about our members through Member Spotlights, and see the impact of our membership’s generosity demonstrated across campus and beyond.
Calling all BFS Members!
We’d love to tell your story and spotlight you on @PennBFS.
Giving Opportunities
Undergraduate Areas
Gifts to The Penn Fund, Penn Parent & Family Giving, and Penn Athletics annual giving programs are put to immediate use to benefit the student experience for students attending Penn’s four undergraduate schools: College of Arts & Sciences, Penn Engineering, School of Nursing, and the Wharton School.
Graduate Schools
Gifts to each of Penn’s graduate schools support students, faculty, and researchers as they work to advance knowledge and practice in their disciplines.
Penn Arts & Sciences
Penn Carey Law
Penn Dental Medicine
Penn Engineering
Graduate School of Education
Perelman School of Medicine
School of Nursing
School of Social Policy & Practice
School of Veterinary Medicine
Weitzman School of Design
The Wharton School
Centers
Gifts to Penn’s center affiliates enrich and support arts and culture in both the Penn and Philadelphia communities.
Institute of Contemporary Art
Penn Libraries
Penn Live Arts
Morris Arboretum & Gardens
Penn Medicine
