Executive Director of Advancement & Community Relations

Ivy Tech Community College•Evansville, IN

1d•$100,000 - $120,000•Onsite

About The Position

Ivy Tech Community College Evansville is seeking a senior fundraising, marketing, and community relations leader to build visibility, strengthen regional partnerships, and grow philanthropic support across southwest Indiana. This role leads donor relations, major gift fundraising, public relations, marketing communications, alumni engagement, media relations, and community outreach for a campus serving students, employers, donors, and community partners. The Executive Director of Advancement & Community Relations works closely with campus leadership, the Ivy Tech Foundation, marketing teams, business partners, nonprofit partners, and individual donors. This position is ideal for an experienced development director, nonprofit fundraising leader, public relations executive, communications director, advancement officer, or community engagement leader who can connect strategy, storytelling, donor cultivation, and relationship building.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
Seven to ten years of progressive experience in fundraising, development, nonprofit leadership, marketing, communications, public relations, community relations, or a closely related field.
Experience leading fundraising, donor relations, marketing, communications, public relations, or community engagement strategies.
Working knowledge of philanthropy, annual giving, major gifts, donor stewardship, fundraising campaigns, special events, planned giving, marketing communications, media relations, and public relations.
Ability to build relationships with donors, business leaders, community partners, alumni, staff, and executive leadership.
Strong written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
Experience supervising staff, setting goals, managing priorities, evaluating performance, and leading teams.
Ability to manage confidential donor, student, employee, and institutional information with sound judgment and high ethical standards.
Ability to connect fundraising, marketing, communications, and community engagement into one coordinated strategy.
Commitment to creating a respectful, inclusive environment for students, employees, donors, alumni, and community partners.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in a related field.
Certified Fund Raising Executive credential, fundraising certification, or comparable professional certification.
Experience in higher education, nonprofit advancement, foundation relations, workforce development, public sector partnerships, or mission-driven organizations.
Experience managing major gift portfolios, capital campaigns, alumni engagement, corporate giving, foundation proposals, or planned giving.
Experience working with regional employers, civic leaders, media organizations, donors, alumni, and community stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Lead campus fundraising, marketing, communications, public relations, and community engagement strategies that support student success, enrollment, donor support, and regional visibility.
Build and manage fundraising plans focused on individual donors, corporations, foundations, alumni, and community partners.
Personally manage a portfolio of approximately 75 to 150 major gift and principal gift prospects, including donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
Develop and guide major campaigns, donor communications, brand positioning, public messaging, and visibility initiatives that support campus priorities.
Strengthen community partnerships with employers, civic organizations, nonprofit partners, alumni, donors, and regional leaders.
Lead campus storytelling that highlights student success, workforce impact, community partnerships, and the value of accessible education.
Manage public relations, media relations, crisis communications, reputation management, and executive messaging.
Advise campus leadership on communication strategy, community positioning, donor opportunities, and reputation-related issues.
Set priorities for advancement-related budgets, resources, staff work, donor engagement, and marketing efforts.
Supervise, coach, and support team members in fundraising, donor stewardship, communications, marketing, and community relations best practices.
Represent the campus in community, donor, alumni, employer, and public-facing settings.
Support cross-functional projects that advance campus goals and strengthen community awareness.
Perform other related responsibilities as assigned.
This is representation of the role and does not include all duties.

Benefits

Multiple medical plan options paired with a Health Savings Account with a generous employer contribution
Dental plan with no-cost preventive services and coverage for orthodontia
Vision plan with low-cost exams and allowances for glasses or contact lenses
Employee Assistance Program offering no-cost confidential counseling sessions, legal consultations, financial planning consultations, and other resources
Wellness program with opportunities to earn $250 in Wellness Rewards
Flexible Spending Accounts for healthcare (limited purpose) and dependent care
10% employer retirement contribution, fully vested after two years
Basic life insurance equal to annual salary paid by the College, with optional supplemental coverage
Short-term and long-term disability benefits
Fee remission for employees, spouses, and dependent children
Tuition assistance for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs
Paid professional development opportunities
Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, holidays, and winter recess
Flexible work arrangements where available
Paid childbirth recovery leave (8 weeks)
Paid parental leave (4 weeks)
Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness
Additional discounts on gym memberships, transportation, and various retail services