Executive Director of Development, Scholarships & Student Experience

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 donors' 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 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 through outstanding benefits, mental health offerings, and activities. 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. 

Are you a strategic fundraiser who sees possibilities everywhere, embraces opportunity — and knows how to turn it into game-changing impact? Do you lead with clarity, thrive in complexity, and elevate the performance of those around you? Are you passionate about creating opportunities for students? Indiana University Foundation (IUF) is seeking a dynamic and collaborative Executive Director of Development to lead philanthropic efforts that directly shape student access, affordability, and success on the Bloomington campus. This is a high-impact senior leadership role focused squarely on major gifts and transformative philanthropy. 

The Executive Director of Development, Scholarships & Student Experience, leads fundraising strategy and results across several key campus units: Office of Enrollment Management, Office of Student Life, Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, Hutton Honors College, and the Wells Scholars Program. This position reports to the Associate Vice President of Development at the IU Foundation, with a dotted-line relationship to the Senior Executive Advisor to the Chancellor. You will lead and mentor a high-performing team of major gift officers while managing your own robust portfolio. This is a true major gifts leadership role — laser-focused on philanthropy. Stewardship, alumni engagement, and related activities are supported by central services, allowing you to concentrate on raising transformational support in coordination with IU Foundation teams. 

This role is ideal for a leader who: 

• Confidently manages and advances a major gift portfolio 
• Leads fundraisers with empathy, accountability, and high standards 
• Thrives in a matrixed environment and builds strong academic partnerships 
• Understands scholarship fundraising and aligns donor passions with institutional priorities 
• Balances competing priorities while maintaining long-term strategic focus 
• Delegates effectively and makes thoughtful, strategic decisions 
• Builds authentic relationships with donors, collegues, staff, and campus leadership 
• Unlocks donor potential by connecting passion with purpose 

You will navigate complexity with grace, keeping the philanthropic mission at the center of every decision. 

Key Responsibilities 

The role focuses on providing strategic fundraising leadership by developing and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies across assigned units, leading major gift efforts, and supporting annual giving and donor relations initiatives. It involves identifying and cultivating high-capacity prospects while creating innovative partnerships and collaborative fundraising opportunities. The position also requires strong team leadership, including managing, mentoring, and developing major gift officers, fostering a culture of accountability and excellence, and modeling the IU Foundation’s values of being mission-driven, collaborative, responsible, and service-oriented. Additionally, the role emphasizes building and sustaining meaningful relationships with donors, volunteers, and university partners, aligning fundraising priorities with campus leadership, and representing the Foundation with professionalism and strategic insight. Performance expectations include completing 14 major gift solicitations and closing 7 gifts annually, with an annual fundraising goal exceeding $2 million and opportunities for growth. 

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities 

• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build trust quickly  
• Comfort navigating ambiguity and bringing clarity to complex situations 
• Demonstrated initiative, ownership, and follow-through 
• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities  
• Ability to work effectively with stakeholders across disciplines and levels 
• Experience improving cross-functional processes 
• Interest in continuous improvement and practical use of technology 
• Adaptability in a fast-paced, evolving environment 

Education & Experience 

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred 
• 7+ years of fundraising or related experience within a complex organization 
• Demonstrated success in major gift fundraising 
• Experience supervising and developing fundraisers strongly preferred 
• Ability to work with academic leaders, boards, and senior stakeholders 
• Strong analytical skills and CRM proficiency 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills 
• Ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining strategic focus 
• Experience with scholarship or student life fundraising is a plus 
• Higher education experience welcomed but not required 

Compensation range: $120,000–$140,000 annually, commensurate with experience. We anticipate a strong candidate pool and will accept applications through April 12. If you are energized by shaping strategy, unlocking donor passion, and advancing student opportunity at scale, we encourage you to apply. 

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.