University of Pennsylvania Athletics

Tim Folan is in his 12th year at Penn and ninth as the Senior Associate Athletic Director, Development and Alumni Relations, in 2025-26. In addition to leading all development and alumni relations efforts for Penn Athletics, Folan serves as the sport administrator for the nationally-prominent men's and women's lacrosse programs. 

Under Folan's guidance, Penn Athletics surpassed the $150 million overall goal for the Game Onward Campaign which concluded in 2021, finishing with $241 million raised from more than 7,000 donors. Highlights from the Game Onward Campaign included $69.7 million in athletics specific endowment that in part was made possible by the creation of 32 new Student-Athlete Experience Endowments, which enhance the student-athlete experience by supporting operational expenses like travel, equipment, nutrition, and academic support. In addition, Penn Athletics secured the future of vital programs and key positions by more than doubling the athletic-specific endowment and naming 15 staff and coaching positions through other endowments that will support Penn Athletics and our student-athletes in perpetuity.

The 2019-20 NAADD Fundraiser of the Year, Folan led team that raised a record $63.4 million in commitments to Penn Athletics during the 2019 fiscal year and accumulated a record breaking 6,000+ donors to the Penn Champions Club. The previous annual fundraising record was $23.4 million set in the 2017 fiscal year, also under Folan, making the 2019 total even more impressive.

Folan arrived at Penn in 2014 as Director of Annual Giving and Major Gift Officer and was named Director of Major Gifts in 2015.  Before Penn, Folan held positions at Vanderbilt University as the donor operations coordinator for the National Commodore Club and was the athletic development associate at George Washington University.  He also worked as a strategy and management consultant prior to working in collegiate athletics.  

He received his bachelor’s degree in English and Political Science from Williams College in 2003 and a Master's in Sports Administration from Ohio University in 2014. Folan is currently a candidate for his doctorate in education with a focus on higher education management at Penn’s Graduate School of Education.

While at Williams he was a member of the 2003 NCAA Division III National Champion basketball team, and served as team captain for two years.