Director of Development, Herron School of Art + Design

Indiana University Foundation•Indianapolis, IN

About The Position

Herron School of Art + Design at Indiana University Indianapolis is seeking a Director of Development to advance its mission. This role offers a unique opportunity to inherit existing donor relationships while building the next phase of philanthropy for a distinctive creative institution. The Director will be responsible for telling Herron's broader story and inviting donors to support its future. The position involves deepening relationships with current supporters, identifying untapped potential, and cultivating new donors whose interests align with Herron's diverse offerings, including studio art, design, music technology, music therapy, and interdisciplinary community-engaged work. Key responsibilities include leading major and principal gift strategy, managing the Development Coordinator, shaping donor cultivation and stewardship, partnering with faculty and academic leaders, and collaborating with the Dean’s Advisory Board. The ideal candidate will be a relationship builder, strategist, and forward-thinker, comfortable navigating change and ambiguity while providing consistency and earning trust. A genuine curiosity about creative work and the ability to translate it into compelling donor opportunities are essential. The role offers the autonomy to assess, question, experiment, and build, in partnership with leaders who value strategic development expertise and results.

Requirements

Ability to handle multiple demands and/or manage complex and competing priorities.
Experience related to executing large fundraising campaigns including working with academic leaders and preparing transformative and complex gift proposals.
Ability to work comfortably within an academic environment that holds 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 diversity, equity, and inclusion 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.
Demonstrated commitment to fostering collaboration across advancement disciplines.
Success in developing authentic relationships with a wide array of internal and external stakeholders.
Apply critical thinking to analyze and interpret information and/or data.
Use discretion and maintain privacy, confidentiality, or anonymity.
Proficient with Microsoft Office suite.
Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills (able to tailor communications to multiple audiences such as the Dean, major donors, advisory board, and university leadership). Precision, timeliness, clarity, and accuracy in written communication are vital.
A bachelor’s degree is required.
Five years’ experience in fundraising or relevant experience in complex organization including proven success in major gift development work.
Two years’ progressive management experience required.
Combination of related education and experience will be considered.

Nice To Haves

CFRE and/or an advanced degree is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead major and principal gift strategy.
Manage the Development Coordinator role.
Shape donor cultivation and stewardship.
Partner with faculty and academic leaders.
Work closely with the Dean’s Advisory Board.
Bring fresh thinking to how Herron engages its philanthropic community.
Assess what exists, ask new questions, experiment thoughtfully and build.
Set strategy and turn it into results.
Expand who sees themselves in Herron’s story.
Grow philanthropic investment.
Create opportunities that will shape the next generation of artists, designers, musicians and creative thinkers.