Director of Fundraising and Regional Stakeholder Engagement in Fort Wayne, Indiana at NORTHEAST INDIANA FOUNDATION INC

The Director of Fundraising and Regional Stakeholder Engagement is responsible for driving sustainable revenue growth and building strategic, localized partnerships. This role bridges high-level philanthropic and member-investment strategy with community-level relationship management to expand, retain, and diversify the organization’s funding base.

As a highly external champion for the region, the Director plays a critical role in the ongoing development and implementation of regional economic initiatives, workplans, and public-private alignments across Northeast Indiana.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Fundraising & Revenue Generation

• Diversified Revenue Strategy: Design and execute a multi-channel regional fundraising and investment strategy targeting major corporate investors, foundations, and public-private partnerships.
• Fiscal Accountability: Support, monitor and provide accurate revenue forecasting and pipeline tracking to the CFO.
• Compliance & Ethics: Ensure all investment solicitation, corporate giving, and data management strictly comply with 501(c)(6) and 501(c)3 regulations, legal frameworks, and ethical fundraising standards.

External Stakeholder Mobilization & Advocacy

• Relationship Management: Build, nurture, and leverage deep relationships with regional business executives, elected officials, and community leaders to align regional priorities with organizational goals.
• Regional Ambassadorship: Serve as a primary public face and subject matter expert for the organization through public speaking, serving on external boards, and participating actively in regional forums.
• Regional Travel: Travel frequently (up to 30%) across Northeast Indiana counties to maintain a visible, proactive presence and cultivate regional stakeholder ecosystems.

Campaign & Board Engagement

• Campaign Execution: Spearhead capital campaigns, regional investor initiatives, and high-impact fundraising events, utilizing data-driven tracking to ensure a high return on investment (ROI).
• Board Engagement: Partner closely with the Board of Directors, staffing relevant revenue or development committees, to activate board networks and maximize major corporate investment opportunities.

Team & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Team Collaboration: Mentor, manage, and help scale a high-performing stakeholder development team, contributing to a culture of metrics-driven accountability and excellence.
• Narrative Alignment: Collaborate closely with marketing, communications, and internal program teams to translate regional economic data into compelling impact narratives for investors.

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in business administration, public policy, economics, or a related field required.

Experience: 5+ years of proven success in corporate fundraising, institutional advancement, or executive stakeholder engagement.

Sector Expertise: Strong knowledge or ability to learn economic development principles, regional planning, public-private partnerships, and the unique economic landscape of Northeast Indiana.

Skills: Exceptional negotiation, advocacy, and executive communication skills with an innate ability to influence a diverse range of stakeholders.

Technical Savvy: High analytical mindset with proficiency in data reporting and CRM systems (e.g., Bloomerang, HubSpot) for pipeline and stakeholder management.

Preferred Qualification: Certificate of Fundraising Management (CFR).

Behavioral Accountabilities

Achievement: Assesses risk intelligently and takes calculated strategic actions to achieve major revenue and organizational milestones.

Leadership: Gains instant credibility, inspires trust, and aligns diverse stakeholder groups around a unified regional vision.

Stakeholder Stewardship: Prioritizes the long-term economic interests, alignment, and satisfaction of regional members and partners.

Agility: Adapts quickly to shifting economic landscapes and drives proactive organizational change.

Effective Communication: Delivers high-impact messaging that persuades, motivates, and rallies external audiences.

Critical Thinking: Evaluates macro-economic trends and internal organizational capacity to draw accurate strategic conclusions.

Entrepreneurship: Evaluates present market realities and looks ahead to anticipate future regional risks and funding opportunities.

Professional Confidence: Confidently challenges assumptions, navigates complex political/business dynamics, and handles high-stakes negotiations.

Planning & Organization: Contributes meaningfully to macro business plans while maintaining meticulous organizational tracking systems.