top of page
Philly skyline.png

ABOUT

Illustration of brain in light bulb

PHILOSOPHY

​I'm deeply passionate about advancing the mission of higher education and nonprofits through enhancing the way they communicate and engage with their constituents.

 

But success isn’t just about outcomes—it’s also the people behind them, which is why I provide close personal attention and hands-on guidance to an intentionally small number of partners. I focus on developing tailored strategies that drive real, measurable impact and results. When you partner with me, you can trust that we'll work to ensure your efforts are aligned with your business goals and that you’re satisfied with your investment.

MY STORY

Dan Giroux hallway

For 20 years, I’ve refocused brands and marketing programs for clients across a variety of industries. From Fortune 100 companies like Nike to elite universities, hospitals, small businesses, and everything in-between, my depth and breadth of experience solving complex business challenges and leading high-performing agency and in-house teams have enabled me to efficiently identify and drive opportunities that unlock accelerated results.​​

 

I specialize in higher education and nonprofit organizations, having partnered with many regional, national, and global institutions to create highly effective and award-winning work. Collectively, this work has supported fundraising campaigns and activity with over $6 billion in cumulative philanthropic impact.

​

My expertise includes brand development / positioning, reputation enhancement, enrollment marketing, website audits and overhauls, fundraising campaigns, transformational gifts, alumni and community engagement, strategic plan development and implementation, milestone celebrations, institutional mergers, crisis communications and issues management, team building and optimization, cross-disciplinary leadership, client-agency relationships, and more.​

In 2017, I left agency life to pursue my passion for higher education further, joining Drexel University—a global, R1 research institution with over 180,000 living alumni. There, as first Executive Director and then Assistant Vice President, I led an integrated, multifunctional marketing, communications, and stewardship team within its Office of Institutional Advancement. On an expedited timeline, I architected, launched, and helped drive an award-winning comprehensive campaign that surpassed fundraising and alumni engagement goals six months early, ultimately concluding in June 2022 with $806 million raised. Additionally, I served on several university-wide strategic task forces and leadership teams, providing guidance for implementation of the Drexel 2030: Designing the Future strategic plan, the Drexel University-Salus University merger, and crisis communications. These roles reinforced my ability to collaborate across diverse institutional priorities and achieve mission-critical goals.​​

​

In November 2024, I transitioned to full-time independent consulting, building on my two decades of experience to partner exclusively with education and nonprofit leaders. My consulting practice focuses on delivering strategic assessments, actionable insights, and forward-looking strategies to help organizations unlock growth, enhance their brand, and deepen engagement with key stakeholders.

​​

Industry-Recognized Thought Leadership

 

I’ve had the privilege of speaking at leading conferences for:

​

  • The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)

  • The AMA Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education (AMA)

  • The University & College Designers Association (UCDA)

 

My work has been recognized in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Chronicle of Higher Education, Associated Press, NPR, and other prestigious media outlets.

​

Additionally, I’ve been a guest on podcasts such as Education Marketing Leader and am hosting a five-episode Pulse Check series in partnership with Enrollify, set to debut in February and March 2025.​

ENDORSEMENTS

Rachel Semigran headshot
"My colleagues and I are very happy with the process and results from working with DJG Marketing on a website audit. We received thorough, data-driven recommendations and felt like Dan and his partner Patrick were true members of our team. What I appreciated most was that the final deliverable was tailored to our institution—not a copy/paste exercise. Throughout, Dan was communicative, supportive, and excited by the work. His experience from the agency world and in-house at higher ed institutions gave us the best of both worlds for insights and industry best practices."

Rachel Semigran

Director of Enrollment Marketing,

Swarthmore College

FAQs

"What's the size of your firm?"​

​

It's just me at the core, which means you'll get a truly personal and tailored experience. I dive into your organization to really understand your needs, acting like an extension of your team. That said, I've built a strong network of trusted partners and specialists over the years. So, if there's ever a need for extra hands or specific expertise, I can call on them—and often at preferred rates. It's the best of both worlds: boutique-level attention with access to a broader team when needed. 

bottom of page