PHILADELPHIA, PA - United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey (UWGPSNJ) is proud to announce Jennifer Larkin as its new Chief Development Officer. Larkin has been with the organization in several roles – including Managing Director of Social Venture Partners Philadelphia (SVP) and Director of Major and Individual Gifts – since 2012. As Chief Development Officer, Larkin will plan and direct all aspects of UWGPSNJ’s fundraising strategies, policies, and development initiatives.
Most recently, Larkin served as Founding Managing Director of SVP Philadelphia, a position she has held since 2019. SVP is an initiative of UWGPSNJ that works to build and nurture an equity-driven community of philanthropists and nonprofit organizations committed to disrupting the structures that enable intergenerational poverty. Prior to her role at SVP, Larkin worked within the Department of Major and Individual Gifts, first as a Development Officer and then as Director. She previously oversaw initiatives designed to sustain and strengthen UWGPSNJ’s nonprofit partners through leadership development programming and strategic partnership grants as Program Manager of Capacity Building.
“Jen’s tenacity, skillset, and passion for our mission has played an integral role in shaping who we are today – and will continue to advance our vision for the future. Having worked at United Way for over a decade, she has deep attunement and extensive experience serving in leadership roles on both the mission and fundraising teams,” said Bill Golderer, CEO & President of UWGPSNJ. “Jen’s experience launching SVP Philadelphia, combined with her institutional knowledge and long-term stakeholder relationships, uniquely positions her to lead United Way’s fundraising strategy.”
In her role as Chief Development Officer, Larkin will be responsible for leading a team of fundraising professionals throughout the organization. She will partner closely with the senior leadership team, staff, and the Board of Directors to build a stream of contributed revenue to support UWGPSNJ’s high-impact initiatives.
“United Way’s mission has been central to my career, and I’m thrilled to continue to serve in this new role,” said Larkin. “I look forward to strengthening existing partnerships and forging new relationships to maximize our resources in the fight against poverty.”
Larkin previously served on the Board of Camp to Belong River Valley, which is dedicated to reuniting brothers and sisters placed in separate foster, adoptive, or kinship homes through events that encourage positive sibling connections and empower meaningful relationships. She also served on the Advisory Board for Sibling Connections in Massachusetts and has volunteered with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and Big Brothers, Big Sisters Independence Region, in addition to serving as chair of the Philadelphia chapter of Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP). In 2022, she was awarded the Greater Philadelphia Social Innovation Award for Innovative Investment Strategy leading to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for her work with SVP Philadelphia.
Larkin holds a Bachelor of Social Work from James Madison University, as well as a Master of Social Work with a concentration in Nonprofit Management from Bryn Mawr College.