Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. As one of the nation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Swarthmore College is global in outlook and draws students from around the nation and world. The 425‐acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete with gardens, rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails in the Crum Woods.

Who We Are: 

We are a team of talented relationship builders with the shared mission of connecting, engaging, and supporting our Swarthmore College alumni and families. 

We are committed to the following:

• Creating opportunities in everything we do that connect Swarthmore alumni, students, and the wider Swarthmore community;
• Developing programs valued by our alumni, families, and students who will become our future alumni;
• Building enduring and mutually beneficial relationships that inspire conversational, experiential, volunteer, and philanthropic engagement;
• Taking risks and championing new and creative ideas; and
• Strengthening the College’s reputation and advancing its mission.

The opportunity: 

The Associate Director, Swarthmore Fund, provides direction, management, and hands-on work in developing and growing Swarthmore’s annual fund (TSF) programs, focusing on reunion, athletic, family, and student philanthropy. A builder, strategist, and effective project manager, the Associate Director applies their experience in annual fundraising and volunteer management to engage and develop volunteers and solicit gifts for the College’s current use, unrestricted purposes. In addition, they bring effective tools, practices, and approaches to the thriving academic culture of this liberal arts undergraduate community. The Associate Director is responsible for growing the Alumni and Family Programs department, including increasing gifts to and participation for TSF, increasing volunteer activities, and implementing best practices.

Swarthmore values intentional community building by creating spaces for dialogue that foster intellectual curiosity and meaningful connections. The Alumni and Family Programs team contributes to this ethos and the educational mission of the College by engaging alumni, families, and friends in the life of the College.

In partnership with and reporting to the Director, Swarthmore Fund Leadership Programs, the Associate Director will anticipate constituent needs, use insights to craft responsive offerings, and shape the organizational capacity and shared expectations necessary to consistently deliver joyful and meaningful connections. In collaboration with the entire Swarthmore Fund Leadership Programs team, the Associate Director will establish routine pathways for volunteers to fully access all of the opportunities available across Advancement to contribute, participate, and lead.

Essential Responsibilities 

Reunions

• Direct and manage volunteer-led reunion and class-based leadership giving programs that activate and maximize giving to the Swarthmore Fund. 
• Enable volunteer-led fundraising through resonant and relational programming.
• In collaboration with the Alumni and Family Communities team and the Advancement Events team, recruit, staff, and engage class fundraising committees in their 5th and 10th reunion cycles as well as other major class committees as needed.
• Utilizing data and prospect analytics, develop, recruit, staff, and engage reunion fundraising committees.
• Engage virtually and travel for volunteer recruitment, engagement, and training; committee meetings; cultivation; solicitation; and stewardship of young alumni leadership donors to the Swarthmore Fund.

Athletics

• Manage Athletics current-use fundraising efforts for the Garnet Club, raising gifts of $10K or less. 
• Co-Manage with an Associate Director, Individual Giving, the Garnet Club Advancement Council (GCAC), an athletics advancement committee of 20-25 volunteers composed of alumni, parents, and friends. Execute 12-18 council meetings per year, with a minimum of one on-campus meeting. Identify, recruit, and train new members for the GCAC.
• Execute and manage comprehensive digital fundraising campaigns as they relate to athletics (an athletics day of giving) by working with members of the marketing team, Advancement Communications, and other campus partners. 
• Write, edit, and manage the logistics of sending athletics appeals (print and electronic), working closely with the Athletics Director and/or volunteers on the development of each appeal.
• Collaborate with Athletics and the events team for the planning and implementation of special events and programs designed to attract, identify, cultivate, and steward athletics alumni, prospects, and donors, including, but are not limited to Garnet Weekend, individual team games/matches/races, Hall of Fame Dinner, and Athletic alumni receptions.
• Manage the fundraising priorities for the Golf for the Garnet event including committee management and securing and managing corporate sponsorships, foursomes, and auction items.
• Track success of the Garnet Club fundraising efforts through reports and other data-driven mechanisms.

Student Philanthropy

• Manage the Student Philanthropy Council (SPC), a 15-30 person student-led council. Responsible for recruiting, training, and advising students on SPC. Includes managing two to four paid student positions.
• Oversee a Class Gift program for all four undergraduate classes by enlisting, engaging, training, and advising student volunteers from each undergraduate class. 
• Manage a student-philanthropy-education program by implementing creative, effective ways to educate the student body about philanthropy.
• With SPC collaboration, develop and execute 4-8 student-focused events per academic year. 
• Coordinate 10-15 SPC meetings per year. 
• Develop effective materials to facilitate productive student fundraising practices that comply with department and College standards.
• Coordinate digital and print communication initiatives in collaboration with the Marketing and Donor Relations team.
• Communicate the vital role of philanthropy and volunteerism at Swarthmore College. Contribute to the development and implementation of institutional messages for broad-based constituencies.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of institutional messages for broad-based constituencies.

Additional Responsibilities

• Attends and assists other College Advancement staff at College events as needed.
• Serves voluntarily on ad-hoc or standing College committees, as appropriate and with approval of the supervisor.
• Takes advantage of opportunities for professional development at least twice annually.
• Performs other assignments as directed by the supervisor.

Who you are: 

• Demonstrated ability to strategize, implement, and build alumni and family programs and implement coordinated affinity activities, along with a talent for motivating volunteers.
• Flexibility and initiative, as well as the ability to work independently, combined with the skills for thriving in a team environment.
• High professional and ethical standards for handling confidential information.
• Ability to organize and complete multiple tasks simultaneously with close attention to detail and prioritization to meet deadlines.
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal skills; personal solicitation experience is valued.
• Strong computer skills and knowledge of database research and maintenance.
• Ability to work with students, as well as volunteers of all ages.
• Must be able to travel and work evenings and weekends as needed.

What you bring: 

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• A minimum of five (5) years working in institutional advancement, higher education, annual giving, or an equivalent combination of education and/or professional experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a college or university setting, especially in a comprehensive fund-raising environment.

What You Will Get:

You’ll work at one of the world’s most renowned liberal arts Colleges, with incredible benefits, a stunning 420-acre campus and collaborative work environment. Come join a team of passionate, creative people who work hard and have fun supporting the College students, faculty, and staff.

For full consideration, submit applications including resume and cover letter with pay expectations by June 5, 2023. If you are excited about this role, we want to hear from you!

Notice to Applicants – Covid-19 Vaccination Requirement

Review the Swarthmore Benefits Guidebook, we offer benefit plans starting at zero cost! Upon benefit eligibility, the College contributes 10% of an employee’s salary to their retirement account. Employees are 100% vested in their accounts on the date participation begins.

Tuition Grant Program

Paid Time Off (Staff) 

Holiday Schedule

Swarthmore College actively seeks and welcomes applications from candidates with exceptional qualifications, particularly those with demonstrable commitments to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

Swarthmore College actively seeks and welcomes applications from candidates with exceptional qualifications, particularly those with demonstrable commitments to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.