Senior Director of Development, University Initiatives - Indiana University Foundation

Are you a high-performer who wants to contribute to a mission-driven and values-based organization? If you are motivated by doing impactful work and making a difference in people’s lives, then the Indiana University Foundation (IUF) is the place for you. At the IUF, we believe in making the dream of higher education attainable, providing support for life-changing research, and preparing the next generation of leaders.    

As a trailblazer among our peers, we provide fundraising leadership and endowment stewardship to support needs and initiatives across all of Indiana University’s campuses. As part of our team, you will help make IU donors' dreams last forever.   

At the IUF we work hard, celebrate achievements, and foster an environment where everyone’s contributions matter. We are nimble and innovative, and we want you to bring your ideas and energy to join forces with some of the best talent in our industry.  

In addition to being part of a meaningful mission as an IUF employee, you’ll find there are many ways to connect and collaborate. Our diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives ensure that our colleagues are celebrated for who they are and have a voice. Our FUNdation (see what we did there?) Committee helps us connect and unwind with food truck lunches, holiday gatherings, costume contests, free snacks, IU spirit-wear Fridays, and spontaneous gestures that surprise and delight. Our Wellness Committee ensures that the health and well-being of our employees is top of mind, offering yoga, a lunchtime walking group, meditation breaks, the Headspace app, and topical workshops. We encourage community leadership and service and make space for our staff to pursue their passions. Our total rewards philosophy ensures that we support employees financially, emotionally, and in their career growth.   

If the IUF sounds like a fit for you, we invite you to join us today. 

The salary range for this role is $100,000.00-$115,000.00 and is commensurate with experience.

This position is located on the IU Indianapolis Campus in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is a mobile role (requires primarily regional travel to meet with donors/friends of the University, while averaging 3 days in-office and 2 days of remote work per week when not traveling).

The Indiana University Foundation is seeking a skilled, strategic, and collaborative major gift officer to serve IU Indianapolis, Indiana University’s premier urban research campus.

This position, based in Indianapolis and reporting to the Vice President for Development, will concentrate on leading a team to secure philanthropic support for IU Indianapolis campus-wide initiatives, working to enhance and bolster such areas as student affairs, Enrollment Management, and Institutes that span the entire campus. The goal of the position is to develop and maintain relationships that maximize engagement and support, with an emphasis on major gifts. The position also manages the Associate Director of Development. The Sr. Director of Development plays an integral role in furthering Indiana University Indianapolis’ aim to help promising students from all backgrounds access an IU education as well as have a meaningful experience that supports and enhances success, lifelong learning, and personal growth. This role will also oversee and manage a portfolio of gift prospects and donors to secure private philanthropic support for IU Indianapolis campus-wide initiatives.

IUF looks for opportunities to help you level up through trainings, conferences, classes, and certifications that will directly improve your skillset. We want to invest in you! Grow your career and help further the mission of maximizing private support for Indiana University. Apply today!

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required; an advanced degree is highly preferred
• Minimum 7 years of experience in fundraising or relevant experience in a complex organization including proven success in major gift development work
• Previous supervisorial experience is strongly preferred
• Specific fundraising experience in areas of Student Affairs, Scholarships, Honors Programs are a plus
• Experience working in a high-volume, matrixed work environment preferred
• Combinations of related education and experience may be considered

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities: 

• Demonstrated fundraising success at the annual and major gift levels
• Strong ability to analyze information/situations and solve problems
• Prior experience in a large, complex, matrixed environment, including evidence of effective strategic planning and implementation of action plans
• Ability to handle multiple demands and/or manage complex and competing priorities
• Experience related to all aspects of planning and successfully executing large fundraising campaigns including working with academic leaders and preparing transformative and complex gift proposals
• Possess an ability to work comfortably within an academic environment that possesses many competing interests, priorities, and opinions
• Proven analytical skills – proficiency at framing and solving complex problems, proficiency in using large databases (e.g., standard fundraising data) to setting goals and identifying opportunities for improvement particularly as it relates to gift officer performance
• An understanding of the importance of, and demonstrated success in promoting engagement, inclusion and belonging among staff and volunteers
• Excellent knowledge of fundraising with a general knowledge of marketing, and communications, as well as demonstrated skills in major and planned gift solicitation and experience with major gift prospect management systems

Apply Now 

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis.  A cover letter further highlighting your interest in the role is encouraged. 

The IUF is committed to providing a safe, respectful and professional work environment that is free of Discrimination and Harassment. The IUF will not tolerate any form of Discrimination or Harassment based on the Individual’s race, ethnicity, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, genetic information, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, ancestry, marital status, protected veteran status, pregnancy, or any other basis prohibited by law.