Associate Director of Development, Scholarships & Student Experience — IU Indianapolis

Indiana University Foundation • Indianapolis, IN

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About The Position

The Associate Director of Development, Scholarships & Student Experience serves as a frontline fundraiser supporting IU Indianapolis. The role manages a portfolio of approximately 40–50 major gift prospects and leadership-level donors and works with Enrollment Management, Student Affairs, Undergraduate Education, Educational Success Programs, and the Groups Scholars Program. The position connects donor interests with opportunities that expand educational access, strengthen the student experience, and advance university priorities.

The Associate Director builds on existing campus relationships, develops partnerships across a complex university, identifies philanthropic opportunities, and renews and grows scholarship support. The role also explores emerging opportunities related to student experience and reviews the donor pipeline—including annual and leadership annual giving—to identify individuals with the interest and capacity to deepen their investment in IU. Success requires strategic thinking, comfort with data, relationship-building, collaboration across teams, and the ability to cultivate, solicit, and steward significant donor relationships. The position may suit a leadership annual giving or individual giving fundraiser seeking to expand into major gifts. Student Affairs, scholarship, honors program, career services, or other student-centered experience is an advantage.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; combinations of related education and experience will be considered.
• At least 3 years of experience in fundraising, development, major gifts, annual giving, alumni relations, community engagement, or other relevant experience within a complex organization.
• Experience with major gift fundraising or demonstrated exposure to major gift development work.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising, major gifts, annual giving, relationship management, or business development.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, including the ability to engage a wide variety of internal and external constituents.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.
• Ability to analyze information, solve problems, exercise sound judgment, and think strategically.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, matrixed organizational environment and with colleagues across IUF and IU Indianapolis.
• Experience managing donor, client, or customer relationships and using CRM or prospect management systems.
• General knowledge of fundraising principles, donor stewardship, and philanthropic best practices.
• Demonstrated initiative, professionalism, discretion, and ability to manage confidential information.
• Willingness and ability to travel locally, regionally, and occasionally nationally, with flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in a complex, highly collaborative, or matrixed organization.
• Fundraising experience supporting Student Affairs, scholarships, honors programs, career services, or other student-centered initiatives.
• Experience in Student Affairs or Student Affairs fundraising.
• A strong leadership annual giving background and readiness to grow further into major gifts.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 40–50 major gift prospects and leadership-level donors.
• Partner with Enrollment Management, Student Affairs, Undergraduate Education, Educational Success Programs, and the Groups Scholars Program.
• Connect donor interests with opportunities that advance educational access, affordability, student success, and the student experience.
• Build on existing campus relationships and deepen partnerships across IU Indianapolis and the Indiana University Foundation.
• Identify new philanthropic opportunities and renew and grow scholarship support.
• Explore emerging opportunities connected to the student experience.
• Review annual and leadership annual giving pipelines to identify prospective donors who may deepen their investment in IU.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward significant donor relationships.
• Travel locally, regionally, and occasionally nationally, and work evenings and weekends as needed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level