Associate Director of Advancement (Development Officer)

About the role

The Associate Director of Advancement serves as a key member of the Indiana University East Advancement team and is responsible for designing and implementing strategies that strengthen alumni engagement, donor cultivation, volunteer leadership, and philanthropic support for the campus.

Responsibilities

• Develops and maintains meaningful relationships with alumni, donors, community leaders, and volunteers while managing a portfolio of prospects and donors.
• Collaborates closely with university leadership, faculty, staff, the Indiana University Foundation, and the IU Alumni Association to advance institutional priorities and create lifelong pathways of engagement and philanthropy.
• Supports annual giving initiatives, alumni engagement programs, donor stewardship efforts, volunteer leadership development, and special events while helping build a sustainable pipeline of future donors and advocates for Indiana University East.
• Manages an active portfolio of alumni, donors, and prospective donors through identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities.
• Develops and executes annual giving strategies and targeted fundraising campaigns designed to increase donor participation and philanthropic support.
• Conducts personal visits, virtual meetings, phone outreach, and written communications with prospects and donors.
• Collaborates with university leadership and advancement colleagues to align donor interests with institutional priorities and funding opportunities.
• Assists in developing donor proposals, stewardship plans, and impact communications.
• Identifies and helps cultivate major gift prospects for future fundraising opportunities.
• Maintains accurate donor records and activity reports within the university's constituent relationship management system.
• Designs and implements comprehensive alumni engagement programs that foster lifelong relationships with Indiana University East.
• Develops engagement pathways that connect students, alumni, volunteers, and donors through meaningful experiences and opportunities.
• Recruits, trains, supports, and stewards alumni volunteers, advisory board members, and event leaders.
• Serves as the primary staff liaison to the Indiana University East Board of Advisors and the Indiana University Alumni Association East Region Board; supports board activities, meetings, and engagement initiatives.
• Collaborates with campus partners to create programs that connect alumni with students through mentoring, networking, career development, and volunteer opportunities.
• Develops strategies to re-engage alumni and donors through targeted communications, programs, and outreach efforts.
• Plans, coordinates, and executes alumni, donor, and community engagement events that advance campus fundraising and engagement goals.
• Serves as a key advancement leader for signature donor and alumni engagement events.
• Coordinates stewardship and recognition activities that demonstrate the impact of donor support and strengthen long-term relationships.
• Develops meaningful opportunities for alumni and donors to engage with university leadership, faculty, staff, and students.
• Supports annual campaigns, giving day initiatives, donor recognition programs, and special fundraising events.
• Collaborates on alumni and donor communications, including email campaigns, social media content, web content, newsletters, and advancement publications.
• Monitors and analyzes fundraising and engagement metrics to evaluate program effectiveness and identify opportunities for growth.
• Prepares reports and presentations related to donor activity, campaign performance, alumni engagement, and advancement outcomes.
• Utilizes data-driven strategies to improve constituent engagement and fundraising results.
• Partners with the Indiana University Foundation, IU Alumni Association, campus leadership, faculty, and staff to advance university priorities.
• Ensures compliance with university, foundation, and alumni association policies and procedures.
• Assists with budget planning and management for advancement initiatives and programs.
• Stays informed on emerging trends and best practices in advancement, fundraising, alumni engagement, and higher education philanthropy.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• 2 years of experience in fundraising/development, sales, communications, public relations, a higher education foundation, or a related field.

Skills

• Proficient written and verbal communication skills.
• Maintains a high degree of professionalism.
• Demonstrates time management and priority setting skills.
• Demonstrates a high commitment to quality.
• Ability to build strong customer relationships.
• Possesses flexibility to work in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment.
• Seeks to acquire knowledge in area of specialty.
• Highly thorough and dependable.
• Demonstrates a high level of accuracy, even under pressure.
• Ability to analyze data and use metrics to inform strategy and decision‑making.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to effectively communicate and to