Executive Director of Advancement & Community Relations
Ivy TechAbout the role
The Executive Director of Advancement & Community Relations works closely with campus leadership, the Ivy Tech Foundation, marketing teams, business partners, nonprofit partners, and individual donors. This position is ideal for an experienced development director, nonprofit fundraising leader, public relations executive, communications director, advancement officer, or community engagement leader who can connect strategy, storytelling, donor cultivation, and relationship building.
Essential Responsibilities
Lead campus fundraising, marketing, communications, public relations, and community engagement strategies that support student success, enrollment, donor support, and regional visibility.
Build and manage fundraising plans focused on individual donors, corporations, foundations, alumni, and community partners.
Personally manage a portfolio of approximately 75 to 150 major gift and principal gift prospects, including donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
Develop and guide major campaigns, donor communications, brand positioning, public messaging, and visibility initiatives that support campus priorities.
Strengthen community partnerships with employers, civic organizations, nonprofit partners, alumni, donors, and regional leaders.
Lead campus storytelling that highlights student success, workforce impact, community partnerships, and the value of accessible education.
Manage public relations, media relations, crisis communications, reputation management, and executive messaging.
Advise campus leadership on communication strategy, community positioning, donor opportunities, and reputation-related issues.
Set priorities for advancement-related budgets, resources, staff work, donor engagement, and marketing efforts.
Supervise, coach, and support team members in fundraising, donor stewardship, communications, marketing, and community relations best practices.
Represent the campus in community, donor, alumni, employer, and public-facing settings.
Support cross-functional projects that advance campus goals and strengthen community awareness.
Perform other related responsibilities as assigned.
This is representation of the role and does not include all duties.
Hiring Pay Range
$100,000 to $120,000 annually. Final salary will depend on experience, qualifications, internal compensation practices, and budget approval.
Work Hours
This is a full-time, salaried position. The role requires the ability to travel and attend some evening and weekend events for donor meetings, community events, media activities, alumni engagement, and fundraising functions.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
Seven to ten years of progressive experience in fundraising, development, nonprofit leadership, marketing, communications, public relations, community relations, or a closely related field.
Experience leading fundraising, donor relations, marketing, communications, public relations, or community engagement strategies.
Working knowledge of philanthropy, annual giving, major gifts, donor stewardship, fundraising campaigns, special events, planned giving, marketing communications, media relations, and public relations.
Ability to build relationships with donors, business leaders, community partners, alumni, staff, and executive leadership.
Strong written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
Experience supervising staff, setting goals, managing priorities, evaluating performance, and leading teams.
Ability to manage confidential donor, student, employee, and institutional information with sound judgment and high ethical standards.
Ability to connect fundraising, marketing, communications, and community engagement into one coordinated strategy.
Commitment to creating a respectful, inclusive environment for students, employees, donors, alumni, and community partners.
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree in a related field.
Certified Fund Raising Executive cr
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