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:

Reporting to the Director of Parent and Family Programs, the Associate Director supports the strategic direction and operational management of Swarthmore College’s parent and family philanthropy and engagement programs. This position will play a key role in executing the comprehensive annual plan, with a focus on enhancing communications, stewarding parent volunteers like Family Ambassadors, supporting the Parent and Family Leadership Circle, and strengthening engagement initiatives. The Associate Director will also manage a portfolio of rated parent and family donors and prospects with high leadership annual and/or major giving capacity.

The Associate Director will play a critical role in expanding the reach and impact of the parent and family program by helping to develop scalable engagement strategies, strengthening volunteer pipelines, and fostering a culture of philanthropy among families. This position will help expand the program’s reach and impact, cultivating a more connected and active parent and family community.

Essential Responsibilities

Program Support and Growth

• Assist the Director in developing and implementing a comprehensive parent and family engagement strategy that aligns with institutional fundraising goals.
• Identify opportunities for program growth, including the expansion of family volunteer programs, targeted engagement campaigns, and stewardship initiatives.
• Collect and analyze data on parent and family engagement and giving trends to inform strategy and communications.
• Support initiatives that increase parent and family involvement across the College, including affinity groups, regional networks, and leadership giving programs.

Fundraising and Portfolio Management

• Manage a portfolio of 60-75 parent and family donors and prospects, including identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Develop and execute individualized strategies to increase annual and leadership-level giving.
• Partner with Advancement colleagues on solicitations, proposals, and donor strategies.
• Engage volunteers, including Family Ambassadors and Parent and Family Leadership Circle members, in peer-to-peer fundraising efforts.
• Track and report on fundraising activity, progress toward goals, and outcomes.

Volunteer Management

• Serve as primary liaison to Family Ambassadors, supporting recruitment, orientation, and ongoing engagement. Develop and maintain relationships with appropriate campus partners who rely on the support of Family Ambassadors, both as a collective and individually.
• Plan and coordinate volunteer training, recognition, and involvement in College events fundraising initiatives.
• Assist in setting agendas, managing logistics, and facilitating meetings for volunteer leadership groups.
• Track volunteer activities and engagement metrics to enhance program effectiveness and support recognition efforts.
• Support the Director’s work with the Parent and Family Leadership Circle, serving as an additional liaison and resource to members.

Communications

• Collaborate with Advancement Marketing & Communications to develop and implement a parent/family-focused communications calendar.
• Manage timely and accurate communications with parents and families via email, event invitations, and newsletters, including drafting and finalizing content.

Event Support and Stewardship

• Assist in planning and executing high-touch parent and family events, including Send-off parties, Move-in Day, Garnet Weekend, small cultivation events, and regional gatherings.
• Work with Donor Relations and Advancement Events staff to ensure consistent and meaningful stewardship of parent and family donors.
• Help maintain accurate records of attendance, engagement, and follow-up for events and stewardship activities.

Who you are:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Experience coordinating volunteer programs or advisory councils.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with parents, families, volunteers, and colleagues.
• Detail-oriented, flexible, and able to work independently while collaborating in a team environment.

What you bring:

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 5-7 years of professional experience in advancement, alumni relations, or parent/family engagement.
• Strong project management skills with ability to juggle multiple initiatives, deadlines, and stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and fundraising databases.
• Valid U.S. driver’s license and willingness to travel locally, regionally, and nationally.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with parent and family philanthropy programs in a higher education setting.
• Knowledge of and practical experience in leadership annual giving or major gift strategies.
• Experience writing digital communications.
• Experience supervising volunteers
• Familiarity with data analytics and segmentation strategies in advancement 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, including a cover letter by June 1, 2026. 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 $82K-$109K 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.

MVR Clearance Required by Position

Due to operating a College owned motor vehicle while performing essential job responsibilities for this position, a motor vehicle report (MVR) clearance is required 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.

2026 Swarthmore Benefits Guidebook

Retirement Plans

Tuition Grant Program

Tuition Reimbursement Program

Paid Time Off (Staff)

Holiday Schedule

Swarthmore College is committed to creating a culture of respect and inclusion so that every member of our community feels a sense of belonging. We actively seek and welcome candidates with diverse perspectives and experiences, exceptional qualifications, and a demonstrable commitment to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on any identity or characteristic protected by law or College Policy.