Digital Media Consultant

The Chester Children’s Chorus seeks proposals from qualified digital media creative consultants to develop and execute short-term and long-term digital communications and marketing strategies to facilitate outreach to all segments of our stakeholder community.

About Chester Children's Chorus (CCC)

The Chester Children’s Chorus provides an intensive, sophisticated, and joyful choral music experience to young people of the city of Chester, PA, and targeted support for their academic and personal development.  The Chorus is a program of Swarthmore College and operates under the auspices of the College’s 501(c)(3) charitable status.  While the College provides in-kind support for the Chorus, the Chorus raises all revenues to support its operating costs including staff salaries, transportation, and year-round program administration. 

Now in its 25th year, the Chorus currently operates with a $1M budget and employs a full-time staff of six: Executive and Artistic Director; Managing and Education Director; Development Director; Assistant Music Director; Math Instructor; and Program Coordinator.  A 15-member Oversight Board guides the Chorus’ strategic decisions and its sustainability.

The Chorus typically presents 10 concerts per year, requiring after-school and Saturday rehearsals, and also provides math instruction and remedial assistance, as well as piano and voice lessons to Chorus members.  Each spring, the Chorus auditions every rising second-grade student in the city of Chester.  Those selected then join a six-week intensive summer program held for the entire Chorus on the Swarthmore College campus. The summer program includes a wide range of music and academic instruction plus swimming and other outdoor activities. The Chorus has a high retention rate and many children will have spent 10 years in the Chorus when they graduate from high school. 

The Chorus believes in making a transformative impact on the lives of the Chorus members by providing them with meaningful opportunities and concrete tools for achieving success.  The Chorus demonstrates excellence through on-stage artistry and by fostering positive interactions with all members of our community, transcending culture, class, and canon.  The exuberance of the Chorus members produces and is matched by the enthusiasm of its directors, instructors, benefactors, and audiences.

About Swarthmore College

Since its founding in 1864 by the Religious Society of Friends, Swarthmore College has given students the knowledge, insight, skills, and experience to become leaders for the common good. With a curriculum unmatched among liberal arts colleges of its size, Swarthmore offers more than 600 courses and undergraduate research opportunities—from the humanities and performing arts to the social and natural sciences and engineering. The diversity of perspectives represented by Swarthmore students, faculty, and staff—including different viewpoints, identities, and histories—contributes to the community’s strong sense of open dialogue and engagement with ideas and issues. Swarthmore’s idyllic, 425-acre arboretum campus features rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails. The College is home to 1,600+ students and is located just 11 miles from Philadelphia.

Scope of Work

The consultant, in partnership with the Swarthmore College Communications Office, will lead and manage the improvement of the Chester Children’s Chorus’ existing website and related social media platforms.  For our supporters, donors, and prospective donors, the consultant would develop and implement an integrated marketing approach using website, email, blogs, and social media, facilitate and expand on-line giving, and establish a consistent presence and visual brand for the Chorus.  For our chorus members – approximately 115 children in grades 3-12 – the plan would include ways to engage the children during current stay-at-home restrictions.

The consultant will work with the Chorus staff and the Oversight Board Marketing Committee to improve and increase digital engagement particularly with our community supporters.  The new strategy and content will utilize current and emerging approaches and technologies to polish our online appearance and raise awareness of the Chorus by establishing a consistent and authentic presence through multi-channel messaging.

Qualifications

The consultant must have:

• 3-5 years’ experience developing digital communications and marketing strategies for non-profit organizations
• extensive experience with social media, including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter as well as emerging platforms
• experience with creating engaging digital experiences, including video, graphics, blog posts, and website design and content
• Other considerations in evaluating consultants:
  • strong verbal communication skills and the ability to self-edit
  • thorough knowledge of the principles of digitally-based graphic design
  • experience leveraging social media to facilitate on-line giving
  • experience working with staff and volunteers to create content and establish a consistent presence on digital media
  • the ability to identify opportunities to expand the Chorus’ brand and generate financial and community support