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:
The Swarthmore Office of Advancement manages the College's relationship with its alumni, families, and friends to further Swarthmore's commitment to intellectual rigor and creativity, nurturing of student confidence and curiosity, production of new knowledge, and inclusive excellence, among other goals. Advancement works closely with the President, faculty, and senior colleagues to foster positive and productive relationships that not only accelerate the objectives of the College but also represent meaningful and beneficial engagement for the Swarthmore community.
The Office of Advancement manages and maintains alumni, family, and friend records; engages constituents in the life of the College in a variety of ways, contexts, and over time; provides and supports meaningful volunteering opportunities; and partners with the President and Board of Managers to share information about the College and raise critical philanthropic support for the College's priorities and new initiatives. Advancement ensures that alumni and donors are appropriately recognized and informed about the impact of their service and contributions, and manages all gift acceptance and stewardship.
The opportunity:
The Office of Advancement is seeking two Associate Director(s), Swarthmore Fund, responsible for the identification, engagement, and solicitation of Swarthmore alumni and friends who can make leadership-level annual gifts to The Swarthmore Fund.
The role supports the College’s heightened focus on annual support to meet student needs and is vital in engaging and growing Swarthmore’s 1864 Society ($1,864 -$99,999). The Associate Director manages a portfolio of up to 250 prospects and partners closely with Advancement colleagues to drive annual fundraising success and contribute to the long-term major gift pipeline.
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 build systems and practices that create consistently meaningful engagement for alumni and donors.
Essential Responsibilities
Portfolio Management
Manages a portfolio of 225-250 prospects capable of giving $1,864 to $100,000 annually.
Executes 100-125 personal meetings annually (virtually and in-person) to qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors.
Maintains accurate records of donor interactions, strategies, and outcomes in Slate CRM.
Donor Engagement & Solicitation
Develops and implements strategies to increase giving and grow membership in the 1864 Society by engaging alumni and friends of the College, focusing on increasing annual leadership-level gifts and deepening long-term donor commitment.
Writes compelling donor correspondence, proposals, contact reports, and briefing materials to support solicitations.
Conducts donor conversations that are mission-aligned, authentic, and grounded in institutional priorities.
Strategic Collaboration
Partners with colleagues across the Advancement Division to strengthen donor engagement and annual giving outcomes.
Helps structure and secure challenge funds to boost micro-campaigns and donor participation.
Campaign & Institutional Alignment
Stays informed about institutional priorities and strategic goals to align donor engagement efforts accordingly.
Represents The Swarthmore Fund at campus events and donor gatherings as needed.
Portfolio Management
Participates in project-based collaboration with colleagues and internal initiatives.
Takes part in at least two professional development opportunities annually.
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.
Track record of measurable and demonstrable success in soliciting and closing gifts or in sales or equivalent fields.
Demonstrated ability to strategize, implement, and build programs and implement coordinated activities.
Flexibility and initiative, as well as the ability to work independently, are 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 locally, regionally, and nationally, and work evenings and weekends as needed.
Preferred Qualifications
Advanced degree
Proficiency in CRM systems and office technologies; Slate CRM a plus.
Physical Demands
This position requires the ability to focus in a stationary position for extended periods, including at a desk in front of a computer.
Documents may occasionally be stored in physical form and require positioning oneself to access file cabinets, remove files, and transport them, and require lifting of light-weight boxes.
The incumbent must be able to meet the physical demands of off-campus travel for attending meetings or events.
Working Conditions
The incumbent must be able to ride an elevator or climb stairs to get to the office or work space.
Office and work space environments are not individually controlled, resulting in possible variance from personal preferences or needs. The incumbent must be able to adapt to a range of conditions.
On occasion, the incumbent may be required to work outside of normal office hours, including night and weekends, for such tasks as staffing events, meeting with constituents, or completing tasks required to meet deadlines. These responsibilities may require travel off-campus.
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 a collaborative work environment. Join a team of passionate, creative people who work hard and have fun supporting the College students, faculty, and staff.
We want to hear from you if you are excited about this role! For full consideration, submit applications with an uploaded resume, including a cover letter, by July 7, 2025. Applications received after this date may be reviewed on a rolling basis until the job has been filled. A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position. If you have experience that meets any of the preferred qualifications, please include a detailed explanation of any such experience in your cover letter and how it meets the preferred qualification(s).
The market range for this position is $80,000-$106,000 per year, which represents the College’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range at the time of posting. The salary offered is determined based on factors including, but not limited to, experience and education of the final selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information.
PA Criminal Clearance Required
Swarthmore College requires a PA Criminal background check for all staff positions prior to the start of employment.
Education Verification Required by Position
An education verification is required for this position because a college degree is a required qualification for this position.
Preview our Benefits Flyer. 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.
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.
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