Major Gifts Officer

Indiana University School of Medicine is a national leader in medical research and education. With more than 60 academic
departments and specialty divisions across 9 campuses statewide and strong clinical partnerships with Indiana’s most advanced hospitals and physician networks, the school is continuously advancing its mission to prepare healers and transform health in Indiana and throughout the world.

Indiana University School of Medicine needs room to grow and to innovate. We’re embarking on the largest construction project in our history—a new home for medical education in Indianapolis with space to uncover answers to some of medicine’s most challenging problems. In the next 2 years we will build an 11-story medical education and research building featuring 3-stories of academic space and an 8-story research tower.

The Office of Gift Development exists to secure philanthropic support necessary for the Indiana University School of Medicine to excel in its mission to teach, heal and discover. We create meaningful opportunities for alumni, grateful patients, corporations, foundations and friends to alleviate suffering and expand knowledge through their giving. As a result of this vital partnership with donors, we move closer to our shared goal of improving the human condition.

This position will fundraise for our new building. In addition to this responsibility, this role will also assist with fundraising for the Neurosciences, a key priority area for the IU School of Medicine.

General Responsibilities

• Plans and participates in solicitation efforts for major, planned, and/or principal gifts from alumni, parents, friends, faculty, staff, and other constituents and supporters of the university. Solicitation efforts are primarily in person through repeated contact, but may vary to include email, direct mail, social media, and phone communications. Fundraising outreach may be focused on programming, capital campaigns, named faculty chairs, or funds/needs of a particularly large school or spanning multiple schools or departments.

• Cultivates donor relationships through regular communications and outreach events; updates, maintains, and forwards prospective and current donor files and information to other development officers as necessary.

• Regularly solicits and closes gifts of various sizes with the goal of increasing gifts of $250,000 - $1,000,000.

• Ability to help raise donor sights, encouraging annual giving, multi-year commitments, and estate planning.

• Sets annual funds targets, contacts, and timelines by campaign for self; may participate in goal-setting for lower-level development staff, as well. Tracks progress toward goals, reporting or presenting figures on a regular basis to manager, team, and/or department/school representatives. Progress may be monitored via an incentive plan.

• Creates and distributes compelling print and digital fundraising materials for each campaign; tracks cost, funds received, and metrics such as return on investment for solicitation and pledge to donation yield.

• Researches, compiles, and provides metrics, facts, and general operations information about IU and its schools and departments to donors. Regularly collaborates with colleagues in relevant departments and schools and conveys donor questions/concerns related to their willingness to contribute.

• Provides an excellent donor experience through customer service, active listening, inclusive language, and thoughtful and persuasive discussion, consistently upholding the integrity and mission of Indiana University.

• Regularly takes on complex special projects, such as re-engaging lapsed donors, performing outreach to engage donors in volunteer leadership opportunities, or developing and executing targeted events for potential donors.

• May participate in committees or strategy teams with department, school, campus, and/or Indiana University Foundation representatives and assist with setting short- and long-term annual giving strategy.

• May delegate administrative tasks, such as preparing and sending digital and direct mail solicitations and closing communications, to other staff.

 

Education Required

• Bachelor's degree in a related field

Work Experience Required

• 5 years in fundraising, sales, a higher education foundation, or a related field

Combinations of related education and experience may be considered

Skills Required

• Proficient communication skills

• Maintains a high degree of professionalism

• Demonstrated time management and priority setting skills

• Demonstrates a high commitment to quality

• 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

• Possesses a high degree of initiative

• Ability to influence internal and/or external constituents