Director, Reunion Giving

Position Title:

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Who We Are:

The Opportunity:

Essential Responsibilities:

Reunion fundraising strategy and goals

• Designs and leads the reunion fundraising strategy for all 14 reunion classes, setting annual dollar and participation goals that currently total $2.7 million, including $1.7 million for The Swarthmore Fund, and building multiyear class giving plans with clear timelines, segmentation, and benchmarks.
• Sets class-level dollar and participation goals in consultation with Annual Giving, and partners with Alumni Engagement to set attendance goals that reinforce giving.
• Manages the reunion giving budget, allocating resources across classes and solicitation strategies.
• Contributes to the overall strategy of The Swarthmore Fund and provides insight into long-term planning for alumni giving.

Leadership gift cultivation and solicitation

• Manages a portfolio of reunion prospects, cultivating and soliciting leadership-level gifts that advance class and institutional goals. Personally manages the committees for two or more reunion classes, including their leadership gift prospects, while providing strategic oversight across all reunion classes.
• Partners with Development and Gift Planning on strategy for major and planned gift prospects within reunion classes.

Volunteer fundraising and committee strategy

• Leads engagement strategy for reunion volunteer committees, which include more than 130 volunteers across 14 classes, with a focus on fundraising subcommittees and volunteer-led solicitation.
• Approves class committee strategies and partners with Alumni Engagement, which manages the events subcommittees, on shared attendance goals and coordinated committee work.
• Directs the recruitment, training, and coaching of outreach and fundraising volunteers, preparing them to solicit their classmates effectively.
• Develops committee structures, volunteer role descriptions, timelines, and solicitation toolkits.
• Establishes volunteer stewardship and recognition practices and builds a pipeline of future class leaders in partnership with Alumni Engagement.

Staff leadership

• Supervises, mentors, and develops a team of three, setting priorities and holding staff accountable for fundraising, participation, and volunteer management results.

Cross-divisional collaboration

• Collaborates with colleagues across Advancement, including Annual Giving, Development, Gift Planning, Alumni Engagement, Special Events, and Advancement Marketing, to align reunion fundraising, communications, volunteer, and event plans with institutional priorities and deliver a seamless reunion experience.

Data and reporting

• Partners with Data Intelligence to track gift pipelines and progress toward dollar, participation, and attendance goals, using data to evaluate results and adjust strategy in real time.

Representation

• Serves as a visible representative of Advancement at Alumni Weekend, reunion volunteer gatherings, donor meetings, and other key events.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Three staff members on the Reunions team;

• 1 full-time Associate Director
• 2 full-time Assistant Directors

Who you are:

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Exceptional organizational and analytical skills.
• A collaborative spirit and demonstrated ability to work across departments and functions.
• Commitment to the mission and values of a liberal arts education and Swarthmore College.

What you bring:

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and at least ten years of related experience in fundraising, alumni relations, volunteer management, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated success developing and carrying out strategic fundraising plans and meeting annual dollar and participation goals.
• Proven track record cultivating and soliciting leadership-level gifts.
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, train, and lead volunteer fundraising committees, and to engage and inspire alumni volunteers.
• At least three years experience supervising, mentoring, and developing staff.
• Experience using CRM and fundraising databases (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, Slate).
• Valid U.S. driver’s license and willingness to travel occasionally.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience with reunion fundraising or class-based campaigns.
• Familiarity with Swarthmore College’s alumni community or a similar liberal arts college environment.
• Direct experience using Slate, Swarthmore’s CRM and fundraising database.

Physical Demands

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position, working at a computer, for extended periods.
• Moves around campus and event venues during Alumni Weekend and other events, sometimes for several hours at a time.
• Occasionally positions oneself to access file cabinets, remove files, and transport them.

Working Conditions

• This position follows a hybrid work model, with the flexibility to work remotely and on campus as determined by the vice president for advancement.
• Evening and weekend hours are required to support Alumni Weekend, volunteer committee meetings, and other key events and programs, with extended on-campus hours during Alumni Weekend.
• Occasional travel to meet with volunteers and donors.

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.

The market range for this position is $120,000-$130,000 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.

Applications received are reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. An optional cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position is preferred. 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).

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 Benefits and Programs

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.

About Us

Swarthmore College

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.

Welcome Applicants

Thank you for your interest in Swarthmore College. Swarthmore welcomes people who are not just looking for a job, but seeking a meaningful opportunity to make a positive difference in the world. Our highly selective liberal arts college is situated on a scenic suburban Philadelphia campus. Our mission focuses on providing students with the knowledge, insight, and experience they need to become leaders and agents of change on behalf of the common good.

As an employer, 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.

In our ongoing efforts to support the health of our community and to continue to safely operate our campus, all employees are strongly encouraged to be up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations.

We recognize that attracting and retaining outstanding faculty and staff is critical to maintaining our academic standard of excellence. And so, in addition to competitive salaries, we offer a high quality, comprehensive employee benefits program. We invite you to explore current Employment Opportunities at Swarthmore and to return to this site often. Again, thank you for your interest. We wish you success in your career search.

Interested in exploring our campus? Visit swarthmore.edu/campusmap