Director of Philanthropy and Strategic Partnerships

Grade: 16
Salary Range: $92,300 - $110,700

Location: Indianapolis, Indiana (Hybrid)

Reports to: Executive Director

Supervises: Development Staff

Travel: Significant Statewide

Organizational Overview

The ACLU of Indiana is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to protecting and expanding civil liberties and civil rights across the state. Through integrated advocacy, policy, legal, communications, and operational strategies, we work to defend constitutional rights, dismantle systemic barriers, and advance lasting structural change. As our advocacy and public engagement efforts continue to expand, philanthropy plays a critical role in mobilizing the resources, partnerships, and statewide support necessary to advance our mission.

Position Summary

The Director of Philanthropy and Strategic Partnerships serves as the organization's senior fundraising strategist and relationship builder, leading efforts to secure the philanthropic investments necessary to advance the ACLU of Indiana's advocacy, litigation, public education, and organizational priorities.

Working as a strategic partner to the Executive Director, this leader develops and executes a comprehensive fundraising strategy while cultivating meaningful relationships with major donors, foundations, business leaders, and influential stakeholders throughout Indiana. The Director of Philanthropy helps translate emerging civil liberties issues and organizational priorities into compelling philanthropic investment opportunities that strengthen the organization's statewide impact.

This position requires an experienced development executive who possesses deep knowledge of Indiana's philanthropic, civic, political, and community landscape and can build authentic relationships across diverse constituencies throughout both urban and rural communities.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy aligned with organizational priorities, advocacy initiatives, and long-term growth objectives.
• Partner with the Executive Director to establish multi-year fundraising strategies that support the organization's evolving advocacy and public engagement priorities.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with philanthropic leaders, foundations, business executives, community organizations, and civic partners throughout Indiana to expand the organization's visibility, influence, and fundraising capacity.
• Lead all major-gift, foundation, corporate, and planned giving strategies, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding high-capacity donors and institutional funders.
• Identify emerging philanthropic opportunities by monitoring statewide political, legislative, demographic, and community trends and translating those opportunities into sustainable revenue strategies.
• Collaborate closely with Legal and Public Engagement staff to develop compelling donor engagement strategies that connect supporters to the organization's impact and long-term vision.
• Partner with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to cultivate donor relationships, strengthen philanthropic engagement, and advance a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization.
• Expand the organization's statewide philanthropic presence by cultivating new supporters, strengthening regional partnerships, and increasing engagement outside Central Indiana.
• Oversee donor communications, stewardship strategies, and acknowledgment processes that build long-term donor loyalty and investment.
• Supervise, support, and grow Development staff while fostering a high-performing, collaborative, and innovative fundraising culture.
• Oversee fundraising systems, prospect research, donor analytics, and reporting to ensure strategic decision-making and effective portfolio management.
• Track fundraising performance, evaluate key performance indicators, analyze trends, and develop strategic revenue projections in partnership with the Senior Director of Finance to inform budgeting, long-range financial planning, and recommendations to executive leadership and the Board of Directors.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Ten or more years of progressively responsible leadership experience in nonprofit fundraising, philanthropy, institutional advancement, or related executive leadership roles.
• Demonstrated success in securing major gifts, foundation grants, and institutional partnerships resulting in significant organizational growth.
• Extensive knowledge of Indiana's philanthropic, civic, political, and nonprofit landscape, with demonstrated experience cultivating relationships throughout both urban and rural communities.
• Demonstrated ability to engage senior executives, elected officials, community leaders, board members, foundations, and high-capacity donors around complex public policy or mission-driven initiatives.
• Experience developing long-term fundraising strategies that align philanthropic investment with organizational priorities and measurable impact.
• Proven ability to build strategic partnerships across diverse sectors, including business, philanthropy, government, healthcare, higher education, and community organizations.
• Strong strategic planning, organizational leadership, and project management skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex information, exercise sound judgment, and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Commitment to the mission, values, and nonpartisan work of the ACLU.
• Demonstrated commitment to working collaboratively with individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
• Candidates must have a valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and be available to travel as needed.

The ACLU of Indiana is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Consistent with our nonpartisan mission, we encourage qualified candidates from historically underrepresented communities to apply.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities during the application and interview process, as well as upon employment.