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 donor’s 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.

This position offers a work-from-home schedule after an in-person onboarding, with periodic on-site team meetings and all-staff events. Candidate must reside in the state of Indiana or be willing to relocate by first day of employment.

The salary range for this role is $48,000-$52,000.

The Indiana University Foundation is seeking a Research Associate to support the Prospect Management and Research team. In this role, you will be at the forefront of identifying and evaluating major gift prospects, monitoring news for key IU constituents, and ensuring critical donor data is accurate and up to date. You will be responsible for tracking the news, identifying achievements, and sharing insights that can drive IU’s philanthropic efforts. Your work will have a direct impact by uncovering valuable connections and enhancing fundraising strategies.

As the first point of contact for news monitoring, you’ll be responsible for reading, analyzing, and sharing findings through email alerts and internal tracking systems. You’ll also use a variety of tools and research platforms to track, interpret, and share relevant insights. You will work in our CRM to ensure that donor and prospect data remains clean, accurate, and up to date. You’ll work independently on research-focused projects, including identifying donors with greater giving capacity, filling in contact details, and maintaining organized records of key prospects.

You'll thrive in this role if you enjoy asking insightful questions, refining processes, and finding ways to make work more efficient and effective. If this sounds like you, we encourage you to apply today!

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required; equivalent experience may be considered.
• 4 years of work experience in research, data management, or related fields preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Possess a curiosity-driven mindset with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrate excellent time management and the ability to work independently.
• Experience in analyzing large datasets and identifying key insights.
• Continuously seeking opportunities to improve processes and increase efficiency.
• Proficient in Excel, including functions such as VLOOKUP, pivot tables, and data organization.
• Familiar with news monitoring tools, such as Meltwater, Google Alerts, and similar platforms.
• Detail-oriented with a strong focus on accuracy in data management and record-keeping.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for effectively conveying findings and insights.
• Proactive in seeking clarification and collaborating to ensure accuracy and efficiency.

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis. A cover letter is strongly recommended for consideration.

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.