Are you a high-performer who wants to contribute to a mission-driven and values-based organization? If you are motivated by doing impactful work and making a difference in people’s lives, then the Indiana University Foundation (IUF) is the place for you. At the IUF, we believe in making the dream of higher education attainable, providing support for life-changing research, and preparing the next generation of leaders.    

As a trailblazer among our peers, we provide fundraising leadership and endowment stewardship to support needs and initiatives across all of Indiana University’s campuses. As part of our team, you will help make IU donors' dreams last forever.   

At the IUF we work hard, celebrate achievements, and foster an environment where everyone’s contributions matter. We are nimble and innovative, and we want you to bring your ideas and energy to join forces with some of the best talent in our industry.  

In addition to being part of a meaningful mission as an IUF employee, you’ll find there are many ways to connect and collaborate. Our diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives ensure that our colleagues are celebrated for who they are and have a voice. Our FUNdation (see what we did there?) Committee helps us connect and unwind with food truck lunches, holiday gatherings, costume contests, free snacks, IU spirit-wear Fridays, and spontaneous gestures that surprise and delight. Our Wellness Committee ensures that the health and well-being of our employees is top of mind, offering yoga, a lunchtime walking group, meditation breaks, the Headspace app, and topical workshops. We encourage community leadership and service and make space for our staff to pursue their passions. Our total rewards philosophy ensures that we support employees financially, emotionally, and in their career growth.   

If the IUF sounds like a fit for you, we invite you to join us today. 

The salary range for this role is $80,000-$100,000 and relocation is available if required.

This position is located in Bloomington, Indiana. It is a Hybrid role (3 Days In-Office, 2 Days Remote) with primarily regional travel required.

The Indiana University Foundation (IUF), in partnership with the IU School of Optometry (IUSO), seeks a collaborative and innovative leader and fundraiser to serve as Director of Development for the School of Optometry. Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Development, Bloomington with a dotted line to the Dean of the School of Optometry, the Director of Development plays an integral role in the philanthropic and outreach efforts, maximizing support and generating the momentum to reach the financial and programmatic goals for the school and its constituents.

In concert with the Dean, you will create and lead the strategic direction for a comprehensive and coordinated advancement program that includes all aspects of fundraising, including alumni engagement, annual fund, assistance in acquiring grants, planned giving, and major and principal gifts. You will cultivate, solicit, and steward major gifts through personal visits, phone calls, and other campaigns, and will personally conduct a minimum number of substantive contacts and solicitations each year. Collaboration is key, particularly with the Director of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships, as their work in corporate and foundation relations crosses over with your own donor and alumni engagement work.  While you will not have any direct reports initially, we hope to grow the Development team in the future as we hit and exceed the fundraising goals at IUSO.

IUF looks for opportunities to help you level up through trainings, conferences, classes, and certifications that will directly improve your skillset. We want to invest in you! Grow your career and help further the mission of maximizing private support for Indiana University. Apply now to lead development efforts at the only Optometry school in Indiana!

Education & Experience: 

• A bachelor’s degree is required; CFRE and/or Master’s degree preferred 
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in fundraising or relevant experience in complex organization including proven success in major gift development work
• Combinations of related education and experience may be considered

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities Preferred:

• Prior experience in a large, complex, matrixed environment, including evidence of effective strategic planning and implementation of action plans
• Experience successfully interacting with support staff, academic faculty, and administrative leaders
• Experience related to all aspects of planning and successfully executing large fundraising campaigns including working with academic leaders and preparing complex gift proposals
• Possess an ability to work comfortably within an academic environment that possesses 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) for setting goals and identifying opportunities for improvement
• An understanding of the importance of, and demonstrated success in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion among staff, donors, and volunteers
• Excellent knowledge of fundraising, as well as demonstrated skills in major and planned gift solicitation and experience with major gift prospect management systems
• Success in developing authentic relationships with a wide array of internal and external stakeholders
• 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

Apply Now 

Applications will be accepted through Friday, February 29th and screening will begin immediately for qualified applicants. A cover letter is recommended for your application to be considered.

The IUF is committed to providing a safe, respectful and professional work environment that is free of Discrimination and Harassment. The IUF will not tolerate any form of Discrimination or Harassment based on the Individual’s race, ethnicity, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, genetic information, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, ancestry, marital status, protected veteran status, pregnancy, or any other basis prohibited by law.