Mark Swartz
Silver Spring MD
markswartz123 [at] gmail [dot] com
917-517-6845
Silver Spring MD
markswartz123 [at] gmail [dot] com
917-517-6845
Seeking opportunities to design and direct integrated storytelling strategies
EXPERIENCE
Principal. Clear Writing for a Change (2013-Present)
Founder of an independent communications consultancy specializing in multimedia storytelling, ghostwriting, and engagement with foundations and philanthropists. Seamlessly embedded with communications and program teams at foundations, think tanks, and educational institutions.
Selected client engagements include:
The Bezos Family Foundation’s Early Learning Nation (now part of The 74 and called zero2eight)
Showcased innovations and solutions in child care and brain development, translating expert analysis and academic research for tens of thousands of educators, advocates, executives, and parents
Wrote over 250 features, including interviews with Mona Hanna-Attisha, Uché Blackstock, David Brooks, Ken Burns, Chelsea Clinton, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Kathy Ireland, Valerie June, and Kristi Yamaguchi
Child Care Innovation Reporting Grantee, Better Life Lab @ New America.
Included on Tech Edvocate’s list of “100 Most Influential People in Early Childhood Education,” 2025
Showcased innovations and solutions in child care and brain development, translating expert analysis and academic research for tens of thousands of educators, advocates, executives, and parents
Wrote over 250 features, including interviews with Mona Hanna-Attisha, Uché Blackstock, David Brooks, Ken Burns, Chelsea Clinton, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Kathy Ireland, Valerie June, and Kristi Yamaguchi
Child Care Innovation Reporting Grantee, Better Life Lab @ New America.
Included on Tech Edvocate’s list of “100 Most Influential People in Early Childhood Education,” 2025
The Stanford Center on Early Childhood’s ECX
Researched and wrote long-form stories detailing the interplay of community organizations focused on early childhood systems solutions
Partnered with the Center’s leadership and staff on planning, strategy, network building, social media, and a conference with a funder and five community partnerships
Researched and wrote long-form stories detailing the interplay of community organizations focused on early childhood systems solutions
Partnered with the Center’s leadership and staff on planning, strategy, network building, social media, and a conference with a funder and five community partnerships
Aging in America News (founder and publisher)
Developed brand, logo, website
Journalists in Aging fellow, Gerontological Society of America and the Journalists Network on Generations
Developed brand, logo, website
Journalists in Aging fellow, Gerontological Society of America and the Journalists Network on Generations
The Lever Fund (co-founder and managing director)
Orr Group
Crafted case statements and grant proposals for multimillion-dollar campaigns for direct service organizations, educational, cultural, and health care institutions
Developed executives’ reputation through ghostwriting blogs and op-eds for widely read nonprofit publications
Crafted case statements and grant proposals for multimillion-dollar campaigns for direct service organizations, educational, cultural, and health care institutions
Developed executives’ reputation through ghostwriting blogs and op-eds for widely read nonprofit publications
Additional clients: The Challenger Center, The Education Commission, Foundation for Art & Preservation in Embassies, The Environmental Film Festival, the Greater Washington Urban League, Save the Children, World Resources Institute
The Corcoran Museum of Art and College of Art + Design, Washington D.C. (2011–13) Director of Development Communications
Aligned leaders and staff to ensure consistent messaging across all media (press releases, blogs, grant applications, recruitment materials)
Collaborated with board and senior leadership on "Creative Exchange" visioning document for potential mergers
Engaged Behance (an Adobe company) to create a platform showcasing the work of faculty, students, and alumni
Aligned leaders and staff to ensure consistent messaging across all media (press releases, blogs, grant applications, recruitment materials)
Collaborated with board and senior leadership on "Creative Exchange" visioning document for potential mergers
Engaged Behance (an Adobe company) to create a platform showcasing the work of faculty, students, and alumni
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Washington D.C. (2010–11) Senior Writer
Robin Hood Foundation, New York City (2006–10) Senior Manager, CommunicationsDrove communications strategy supporting four consecutive years of $100M+ in donations and grants and a 100% increase in donors
Identified and developed powerful stories to illustrate organizational impact, reformulating portfolio structure into action verbs for impact reports
Managed a staff of five, overseeing publications, media, and donor relations
Wrote, edited, and oversaw design and production of donor communications: print publications, appeal and acknowledgment letters, e-mails, and web content
Identified and developed powerful stories to illustrate organizational impact, reformulating portfolio structure into action verbs for impact reports
Managed a staff of five, overseeing publications, media, and donor relations
Wrote, edited, and oversaw design and production of donor communications: print publications, appeal and acknowledgment letters, e-mails, and web content
The Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY. Marketing and Development (1999–2006)
Wrote copy for print and radio ads and brochures; devised slogans for 2006 public service announcement; “Manhattan is modern again” for 2004 reopening
Co-authored development materials for $800M capital campaign
Collaborated with Education department on a web feature for young children
Wrote and edited press releases and articles for member magazine
Wrote copy for print and radio ads and brochures; devised slogans for 2006 public service announcement; “Manhattan is modern again” for 2004 reopening
Co-authored development materials for $800M capital campaign
Collaborated with Education department on a web feature for young children
Wrote and edited press releases and articles for member magazine
SERVICE
Guns Down Friday. Board member, 2022–
Takoma Park Grants Review Committee, member, 2020-24
Per Scholas. Advisory board, National Capital Region, 2018-22
Takoma Park Grants Review Committee, member, 2020-24
Per Scholas. Advisory board, National Capital Region, 2018-22
EDUCATION
The University of Chicago, MA, Art History
The University of Michigan, BA, English Literature
The University of Michigan, BA, English Literature