Assistant Director, Reunion Giving

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 Assistant Director of Reunion Giving plays a vital role in Swarthmore College’s fundraising and engagement efforts by managing and enhancing the reunion program. This position is responsible for implementing strategies that boost participation, inspire alumni engagement, and strengthen philanthropic support during the reunion cycle.

Working closely with colleagues across Advancement and in partnership with dedicated alumni volunteers, the Assistant Director helps guide and support reunion committees to carry out meaningful and effective class fundraising efforts. This role contributes to a culture of philanthropy and lifelong connection that helps sustain the College’s mission and values.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Execute and enhance reunion fundraising strategies that align with institutional priorities and support class-specific campaign efforts.
• Identify, recruit, train, and manage alumni volunteers for a portfolio of reunion committees, providing regular updates, tools, and motivation to drive the success of peer-to-peer fundraising.
• Partner with colleagues in Development and Gift Planning to set class-specific fundraising goals and ensure coordinated frontline, peer-to-peer and broad class communication efforts to help achieve them.
• Collaborate closely with the Alumni Engagement team to align volunteer-led reunion fundraising efforts with volunteer-supported program planning, ensuring a cohesive and rewarding reunion experience that supports both philanthropic and engagement goals.
• Analyze and report on participation and giving trends, using data to inform outreach strategies and strengthen class philanthropy.
• Represent the Reunion Giving team at key alumni and College events, including Alumni Weekend.

Who You Are:

• Ability to work collaboratively across teams while independently managing multiple projects and deadlines.
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic environment and adjust strategies based on evolving priorities and audience needs.
• Strong interpersonal skills to engage and collaborate with internal stakeholders and alumni audiences.

What You Bring:

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with at least three years of job-related experience in fundraising, alumni relations, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with a keen eye for detail.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, timelines, and priorities effectively.
• Valid US driver’s license and ability to travel locally, regionally, and nationally.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education advancement.

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 $67,000-$83,000 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.

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.

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.