Major Gifts Officer

About the role

The Indianapolis Foundation is one of the nation’s first community foundations, established in 1916. It received its first gift in 1920 and made its first grant in 1924. For more than a century, The Indianapolis Foundation has served as a catalyst for lasting community impact—mobilizing people, ideas, and investments to create a city where all residents have equitable opportunity to reach their full potential – no matter place, race or identity.

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.

Qualifications

• 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.

Skills

• Demonstrated record of cultivating, soliciting, and closing significant gifts and investments.
• Experience working with individuals and professional advisors.
• Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation is a plus.

Benefits

• $75,000-$105,000 salary plus generous benefits, including:
• Employer-provided health, dental, vision
• 7% percent employer discretionary 403b contribution
• 10.5 paid holidays, including MLK Day and Juneteenth
• Flexible, hybrid work arrangement
• Homebase–Downtown, Indianapolis
• An opportunity to do meaningful, results-driven work with a passionate, diverse team, supporting organizations that are committed to building and maintaining a strong, equitable and supportive culture for our team of changemakers.

Pay

$75,000-$105,000 salary

Schedule

Flexible, hybrid work arrangement

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Indianapolis Foundation is an equal opportunity employers that seeks to recruit people of diverse backgrounds and to support their retention and advancement. We are committed to fostering a workplace culture inclusive of people with respect to their race, ethnicity, national origin, gender/gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, veteran status, marital status, age, disabilities, political affiliation, religious beliefs or any other characteristic. Our commitment to diversity also means providing a work environment that is welcoming, respectful, and engaging.