Assistant Director, Prospect Research

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.

In the office of Prospect Discovery and Development, part of the Office of Advancement, we increase fundraising effectiveness and efficiency through prospect research and prospect management.

The opportunity:

The Assistant Director, Prospect Research discovers, analyzes, synthesizes, summarizes, and distributes information in order to increase the identification, engagement, and solicitation of prospects by Advancement staff and College leadership. Through this work, they act as a key partner in the strategic planning and efficient operation of fundraising programs at Swarthmore College.

Essential Responsibilities

• Research constituents and write extensive, well-written, and visually engaging profiles for the president, Board of Managers and other staff at Swarthmore in order to bolster fundraising results and guide strategy. Some scenarios that require profiles include one-on-one meetings between a constituent and the president; small, curated donor events involving the president, such as a private dinner; planned interactions between the president and an event host or VIP speaker, among other interactions. Other related projects include researching and writing honorary degree nominee briefing documents for the President’s Office in order to guide College leadership, staff, and faculty in their decisions about awarding honorary degrees. This includes acting as the department’s liaison to the President’s office for that project.
• Discover and evaluate potential new prospects on a regular basis, evaluating their philanthropic capacity, level of engagement, inclination, and their affinity for Swarthmore.
• Discover, analyze, synthesize, and summarize large volumes of biographic, business, philanthropic, and financial data, including complex financial and legal disclosures, technical and trade documents, court and tax records, corporate annual reports, SEC filings, and real property files in order to contribute to fundraising strategies for donors, campaigns, and events. Monitor, evaluate, and share constituent activity through daily news alerts on groupings of donors. Review Swarthmore College publications, Web pages, and social media accounts. Also assist in the review of national and international publications for general news and trend data that may assist in prospect research and management
• Monitor constituent activity through regular review of CRM reports and dashboards.

Additional Responsibilities

• Assist as needed in prospect management activities, including meeting with staff who hold a portfolio of prospects
• Assist Advancement staff at College events, as needed.
• Serve on College or Advancement committees, as requested.
• Perform other assignments as directed by the Director of Prospect Discovery and Development. 
• Participate in professional organizations and conferences to enhance prospect research and prospect management skills and keep updated on best practices as possible with current budgets.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Who you are:

• Excellent writing and research skills.
• Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite
• Capacity for assimilating disparate data and providing analysis and recommended strategy based on findings
• Excellent organizational abilities. Excellent attention to detail and ability to handle multiple and varied tasks independently, while also working collaboratively.
• Skill in communicating with people, using tact and diplomacy, and the ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality.
• Appreciation for the value of higher education.

What you bring:

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with three or more years of experience in prospect development or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Familiarity with Google Workspace
• Familiarity with major prospect research databases, relational databases, and internet search tools.
• Familiarity with a variety of other technical applications, such as fundraising databases and reporting software, and various research databases. Willingness to learn new computer and software skills as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in prospect development in higher education.
• Working knowledge and experience with major prospect research databases, relational databases, and internet search tools
• Working knowledge and experience with Google Workspace
• Familiarity with the Slate CRM

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 May 15, 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 $65,000-$79,000 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.

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.