Major Gifts Officer

American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana•Indianapolis, IN

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The ACLU of Indiana is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to protecting and expanding civil liberties and civil rights across the state. Through integrated legal, policy, advocacy, communications, and operational strategies, we work to dismantle systemic inequities and uphold constitutional protections—centering communities most impacted by injustice and advancing lasting, structural change. The Major Gifts Officer is responsible for securing significant individual contributions in support of the ACLU of Indiana’s mission by building, managing, and stewarding a portfolio of major donors and prospects. This is a relationship-driven, field-based role requiring frequent travel, in-person meetings, and sustained donor engagement across an assigned region of the state, potentially north of Indianapolis. Reporting to the Director of Philanthropy, the Major Gifts Officer works independently while partnering closely with the Director of Philanthropy and administrative staff. The role requires strong follow-through, responsiveness to current events, and the ability to translate national and local threats to civil liberties into timely, values-based donor engagement and long-term philanthropic support.

Requirements

Five or more years of proven success in soliciting and closing significant individual gifts.
Strong relationship-building skills and demonstrated comfort making direct, values-based fundraising asks.
Proven ability to manage a donor portfolio, set and secure meetings, follow through, and meet fundraising goals.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to work independently in a field-based role with frequent statewide travel.
Commitment to the mission, values, and nonpartisan work of the ACLU.

Nice To Haves

Deep relationships within and demonstrated credibility with Black and Latino communities; Spanish-language fluency is a strong plus.
Comfort using donor databases and fundraising systems; Salesforce and Blackbaud experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Work to secure major gifts ($1,000+) to support our mission work.
Build, manage, and grow a portfolio of major donors and prospects, with responsibility for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
Strategically prioritize direct engagement with donors, including in-person meetings, proposals, and follow-up.
Work with support staff to ensure accurate and up-to-date donor records and to track engagement, revenue, and next steps.
Partner with the Director of Philanthropy, Executive Director, and board members to advance donor relationships.
Maintain working knowledge of and commitment to advancing programmatic priorities and issues.
Lead the design, implementation, evaluation, and refinement of an individual giving society and related multi-year giving strategies.
Seek meaningful opportunities to connect donors with the ACLU of Indiana’s legal, advocacy, and policy work in collaboration with Communications and Advocacy teams.
Perform other development-related duties as assigned.
Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion, and belonging with a deep commitment to justice.
Collaborate with staff and other affiliates to stay abreast of and to introduce best practices.