Associate Director, Parent & Family Programs

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.