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 Associate Director of Direct Marketing is responsible for developing and executing strategic, segmented multi-channel direct response fundraising campaigns for The Swarthmore Fund. This role leads content and segmentation strategy for appeals and stewardship, manages the Asterisk Society and Sustainers Circle programs, and collaborates closely with colleagues in Operations, Donor Relations, Development, and College Communications to drive donor acquisition, retention, and upgrades through coordinated, data-informed outreach. 

Essential Responsibilities

• Develop content strategy for annual giving appeals and renewal efforts.
• Develop segmentation strategies based on annual giving priorities.
• Write and coordinate copy for direct response mail, email, and texting communications.
• Collaborate with the Associate Director of Digital Fundraising to translate messaging into effective digital assets and ensure accurate delivery.
• Oversee calendar planning and execution of segmented campaigns.
• Collaborate with Donor Relations to align messaging and stewardship touchpoints.
• Analyze campaign performance and test messaging, frequency, and formats.
• Partner with the Sr. Director and other members of the Marketing and College Communications teams to ensure coordinated messaging across all donor-facing channels (digital campaign websites, giving website, social media, giving form, etc.).

Who you are:

You are a creative, collaborative, and curious team player with experience planning and executing segmented, multi-channel direct marketing campaigns. You have excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills; strong analytical skills; and exceptional organizational skills.

What you bring:

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with at least five (5) years of job-related experience or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
• Demonstrated experience planning and executing segmented, multi-channel direct marketing campaigns (print, email, text, etc.).
• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills with a strong understanding of donor-centric messaging and storytelling.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret campaign performance data and apply insights to optimize results.
• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, timelines, and priorities effectively.
• Experience using CRM and fundraising databases (e.g., Raiser's Edge, Slate).
• Familiarity with graphic design tools, particularly Canva, and the ability to create or adapt basic visual content for marketing use.
• Collaborative and team-oriented mindset with strong interpersonal skills and a commitment to continuous learning and improvement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in higher education, nonprofit fundraising, or annual giving environments.
• Familiarity with donor segmentation strategies, including LYBUNT/SYBUNT analysis, leadership giving, reunion campaigns, and affinity-based targeting (e.g., parents, athletics).
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator) for collaboration with designers or for light creative work.
• Direct experience using Slate, Swarthmore's CRM and fundraising database.
• Understanding of donor stewardship programs and lifecycle communications, especially for recurring and loyal donor audiences.
• Knowledge of accessibility best practices for email, web, and print communications.

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 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 $75,000 to $95,000 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.

2025 Swarthmore Benefits Guidebook

Retirement Plans

Tuition Grant Program

Tuition Reimbursement 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.