Major Gifts Officer (MGO):

The Major Gifts Officer (MGO) is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual, family, and institutional donors capable of making significant philanthropic investments in the Indianapolis Foundation's mission and strategic priorities.

About us: 

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. 

What we're looking for:

The Major Gifts Officer (MGO) is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual, family, and institutional donors capable of making significant philanthropic investments in the Indianapolis Foundation's mission and strategic priorities. Reporting to the Chief Development and Partnerships Officer (CDPO), the MGO will play a critical role in advancing the Foundation's Equity Imperative 2030, securing philanthropic support for GIFT IX, and other community leadership initiatives. 

The MGO manages a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors, serving as a trusted philanthropic advisor, connecting donor interests with opportunities to create meaningful community impact. This position requires a relationship-centered fundraiser who can effectively engage donors, volunteers, professional advisors, and community leaders while communicating the Foundation's vision for a more equitable Indianapolis. 

Essential Functions and Responsibilities: 

The following are the essential responsibilities and requirements necessary for a person to do this job: 

Major Gift Fundraising and Portfolio Management 

• 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.  

GIFT IX and Equity Imperative 2030 Fundraising 

• 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. 

Prospect Identification and Strategy 

• 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.  

Donor Stewardship and Relationship Building 

• 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.  

Collaboration and Community Engagement 

• 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.  

Data Management and Accountability 

• 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.  

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• 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. 
• 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.  

Education and Expereince

• Bachelor's degree required.  
• Minimum of 5 years of successful fundraising, development, sales, relationship management, or comparable experience preferred.
• 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.  

Success Measures 

The Major Gifts Officer will be evaluated on: 

• Achievement of annual fundraising and pipeline goals.  
• Growth and movement of prospects through the donor cycle.  
• Number and quality of donor engagements and solicitations.  
• Philanthropic commitments secured in support of GIFT IX and Equity Imperative 2030 priorities.  
• Donor retention, stewardship, and satisfaction.  
• Quality of Salesforce documentation and portfolio management.  
• Collaboration with colleagues and contribution to a high-performing development team.  

Why This Role Matters 

The Indianapolis Foundation believes that all people deserve equitable opportunity to reach their full potential, regardless of race, place, or identity. The Major Gifts Officer will help secure the philanthropic investments necessary to advance this vision, mobilizing people, ideas, and resources to address Indianapolis's most pressing challenges and create lasting community impact. 

**Candiates who apply MUST submit a cover letter to be considered for this position.**

Working Conditions

Essential functions are regularly performed in an office setting without exposure to adverse environmental conditions.

Physical Conditions

1. Sitting at a desk the majority of the day.

2. Some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (5-10)pounds.

3. Tasks may involve extended periods of time at keyboard or workstation

3. Tasks may involve extended periods of time at keyboard or workstation.cues or signals..

5. Tasks require the ability to communicate orally.

What You Get: 

• $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. 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT: 

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.