Associate Director of Development, Scholarships & Student Experience — IU Indianapolis

About the role

The Indiana University Foundation (IUF) advances the mission of Indiana University by inspiring philanthropy that fuels student success, pioneering research, and transformational impact across Indiana and beyond. At IUF, we connect donors to the causes they care about most—turning passion into purpose and generosity into lasting impact. Our team values collaboration, innovation, data‑informed strategy, and meaningful relationships, all within a culture that supports professional growth and mission‑driven work. The Associate Director of Development, Scholarships & Student Experience will help unlock philanthropic potential across IU Indianapolis by managing a portfolio of major gift prospects, partnering with campus units, and connecting donor passions with opportunities that expand educational access and strengthen the student experience.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 40–50 major gift prospects and leadership‑level donors.
• Partner across Enrollment Management, Student Affairs, Undergraduate Education, Educational Success Programs, and the Groups Scholars Program.
• Connect donors’ passions with opportunities that expand educational access, strengthen the student experience, and advance IU Indianapolis’s highest priorities.
• Deepen partnerships across a complex university.
• Uncover new philanthropic possibilities.
• Renew and grow meaningful scholarship support.
• Explore emerging opportunities connected to the student experience.
• Look across the donor pipeline, including annual and leadership annual giving, to identify individuals with the interest and capacity to deepen their investment in IU.

Qualifications

Knowledge & Skills:

• Demonstrated success in fundraising, major gifts, annual giving, relationship management, or business development.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship‑building skills with the ability to engage a wide variety of internal and external constituents.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.
• Ability to analyze information, solve problems, exercise sound judgment, and think strategically.
• Ability to work effectively within a collaborative, matrixed organizational environment.
• Experience managing donor, client, or customer relationships and utilizing CRM or prospect management systems.
• General knowledge of fundraising principles, donor stewardship, and philanthropic best practices.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues across the Indiana University Foundation and IU Indianapolis.
• Demonstrated initiative, professionalism, discretion, and the ability to manage confidential information.
• Willingness and ability to travel locally, regionally, and occasionally nationally, with flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required; combinations of related education and experience will be considered.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in fundraising, development, major gifts, annual giving, alumni relations, community engagement, or other relevant experience within a complex organization.
• Experience with major gift fundraising or demonstrated exposure to major gift development work required.
• Candidates with a strong leadership annual giving background who are ready to grow further into major gifts are encouraged to apply.
• Experience working in a complex, highly collaborative, or matrixed organization preferred.
• Fundraising experience supporting Student Affairs, scholarships, honors programs, career services, or other student‑centered initiatives is a plus.
• Experience in Student Affairs or Student Affairs fundraising is especially welcomed.