Major Gifts Officer

Indianapolis Foundation•Indianapolis, IN

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Major Gifts Officer (MGO) is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual, family, and institutional donors capable of making significant philanthropic investments in the Indianapolis Foundation's mission and strategic priorities. The MGO will play a critical role in advancing the Foundation's Equity Imperative 2030, securing philanthropic support for GIFT IX, and other community leadership initiatives. The MGO manages a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors, serving as a trusted philanthropic advisor, connecting donor interests with opportunities to create meaningful community impact. This position requires a relationship-centered fundraiser who can effectively engage donors, volunteers, professional advisors, and community leaders while communicating the Foundation's vision for a more equitable Indianapolis.

Requirements

Demonstrated success in major gift fundraising, relationship management, or a related field.
Ability to secure and steward four- and five-figure gifts from individuals and families.
Strong understanding of philanthropic trends, donor motivation, and charitable giving vehicles.
Exceptional interpersonal, communication and presentation skills.
Ability to build trust and credibility with diverse donors, volunteers, community leaders, and colleagues.
Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
Experience using CRM systems.
Commitment to the Indianapolis Foundation's mission, values, and commitment to equity.
Ability to communicate effectively about complex community issues and systemic inequities in a manner that inspires donor action.
Bachelor's degree required.
Minimum of 5 years of successful fundraising, development, sales, relationship management, or comparable experience preferred.
Demonstrated record of cultivating, soliciting, and closing significant gifts and investments.
Experience working with individuals and professional advisors.

Nice To Haves

Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation is a plus.

Responsibilities

Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors, with a focus on securing commitments to IF’s unrestricted endowment and programs and project in the Equity Imperative.
Develop and implement individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies – with a team-based staff/volunteer strategic approach (e.g. “Moves Management”) – designed to deepen donor engagement and increase philanthropic investment – working closely with leadership to establish meaningful engagement for new and long-term donors.
Develop and maintain strategic and sequential comprehensive cultivation and solicitation plans for assigned prospects.
Conduct regular donor visits and meaningful interactions, maintaining a high level of activity and accountability.
Prepare gift proposals, donor presentations, and stewardship reports.
Collaborate with the CDPO and IF leadership to identify transformational gift opportunities and planned giving prospects.
Cultivate philanthropic investments that advance the IF’s strategic priorities, including housing, economic mobility, health equity, environmental equity, youth opportunity, and community leadership.
Translate complex community challenges and Foundation strategies into compelling donor engagement opportunities.
Help donors understand how their philanthropic investments can address systemic inequities and create lasting community impact, with a focus on IF’s unrestricted endowment.
Identify, research, qualify, and prioritize prospective donors through data analysis, relationship mapping, community engagement, and collaborative prospecting.
Assess donor capacity, inclination, and readiness for solicitation.
Develop and maintain comprehensive cultivation and solicitation plans for assigned prospects.
Track prospect networks, interests, community affiliations, and connections to Foundation initiatives.
Ensure donors receive meaningful stewardship and engagement opportunities that reflect the impact of their giving and within the Foundation’s larger organizational structure.
Coordinate donor recognition, reporting, and stewardship activities.
Build long-term relationships that encourage increased giving, legacy commitments, and deeper engagement with the Foundation.
Serve as a knowledgeable ambassador for the Indianapolis Foundation within the community.
Partner closely with the CDPO, IF leaders, and colleagues across the Foundation to advance fundraising priorities.
Support and participate in donor cultivation, educational, and community engagement events ranging from intimate gatherings to large-scale public events.
Collaborate with programmatic staff to understand community needs, grantmaking priorities, and impact outcomes.
Work effectively across the Indianapolis Foundation to align donor interests with organizational priorities.
Maintain accurate and timely records in Salesforce, including donor interactions, cultivation strategies, proposal activity, and stewardship efforts.
Monitor portfolio performance and provide regular reports on fundraising activity, pipeline development, and progress toward goals.
Utilize data and analytics to inform donor strategy and portfolio management.