Associate Director of Advancement (Development Officer)

Indiana University East values a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and intellectual perspectives among its faculty, staff, and students. The campus is dedicated to being a strong partner in enhancing the educational, cultural, and economic development of the region it serves through community and civic engagement. Learn more about IU East .

Job Summary

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.

Department-Specific 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.

General Responsibilities

• Identifies new prospects, cultivates relationships, and manages a portfolio and/or region of donors building a pipeline for solicitation.
• Executes plans and designs campaigns to sustain and increase donations.
• Collaborates with development colleagues university-wide to align prospects/donors' interests with university funding needs and opportunities.
• Maintains meaningful and consistent contact with potential donors to communicate university goals and solicit their support.
• Introduces campus/school fundraisers to appropriate gift prospects for cultivation.
• Documents communications, analyzes data, evaluates success and makes recommendations for change to campaign strategy.

Qualifications

Combinations of related education and experience may be considered. Education beyond the minimum required may be substituted for work experience. Work experience beyond the minimum required may be substituted for education.

EDUCATION

Required

• Bachelor's degree in related field.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Required

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

SKILLS

Required

• 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.

Preferred

• Ability to analyze data and use metrics to inform strategy and decision-making.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Working Conditions / Demands

This role requires the ability to effectively communicate and to operate a computer and other standard office productivity equipment. The position involves sedentary work as well as periods of time moving around an office environment and the campus. The person in this role must be able to perform the essential functions with or without an accommodation.

Work Location

IU East Campus

Richmond, Indiana

This is an in-person position.

Advertised Salary

$65,000-$75,000 per year

Benefits Overview

For full-time staff employees, Indiana University offers a wide array of benefits including:

• Comprehensive medical and dental insurance
• Health savings account with generous IU contributions
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Basic group life insurance paid by IU
• Voluntary supplemental life, long-term disability, critical illness, and supplemental accidental death & dismemberment insurance
• Base retirement plan with generous IU contributions, subject to vesting
• Voluntary supplemental retirement plan options
• Tuition subsidy for employees and family members taking IU courses
• 10 paid holidays plus a paid winter break each year
• Generous paid time off plans
• Paid leave for new parents and IU-sponsored volunteer events
• Employee assistance program (EAP)

Learn more about our benefits by reviewing the IU Benefit Programs Brochure.

Job Classification

Career Level: Career

FLSA: Exempt

Job Function: Development & Advancement

Job Family: General Development

Click here to learn more about Indiana University's Job Framework.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and provider of ADA services and prohibits discrimination in hiring. See Indiana University Notice of Non-Discrimination here which includes contact information.

Contact Us

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Telephone: 812-856-1234