Executive Director of Advancement & Community Relations

Ivy Tech Community College Evansville is seeking a senior fundraising, marketing, and community relations leader to build visibility, strengthen regional partnerships, and grow philanthropic support across southwest Indiana. This role leads donor relations, major gift fundraising, public relations, marketing communications, alumni engagement, media relations, and community outreach for a campus serving students, employers, donors, and community partners.
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 H​ours

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 credential, fundraising certification, or comparable professional certification.

• Experience in higher education, nonprofit advancement, foundation relations, workforce development, public sector partnerships, or mission-driven organizations.

• Experience managing major gift portfolios, capital campaigns, alumni engagement, corporate giving, foundation proposals, or planned giving.

• Experience working with regional employers, civic leaders, media organizations, donors, alumni, and community stakeholders.

Ivy Tech is committed to supporting the well-being, growth, and financial security of our full-time faculty and staff. Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

Health & Wellness

• Multiple medical plan options paired with a Health Savings Account with a generous employer contribution

• Dental plan with no-cost preventive services and coverage for orthodontia

• Vision plan with low-cost exams and allowances for glasses or contact lenses

• Employee Assistance Program offering no-cost confidential counseling sessions, legal consultations, financial planning consultations, and other resources

• Wellness program with opportunities to earn $250 in Wellness Rewards

• Flexible Spending Accounts for healthcare (limited purpose) and dependent care

Retirement & Financial Security

• 10% employer retirement contribution, fully vested after two years

• Basic life insurance equal to annual salary paid by the College, with optional supplemental coverage

• Short-term and long-term disability benefits

Educational Benefits

• Fee remission for employees, spouses, and dependent children

• Tuition assistance for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs

• Paid professional development opportunities

Work‑Life Balance

• Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, holidays, and winter recess

• Flexible work arrangements where available

• Paid childbirth recovery leave (8 weeks)

• Paid parental leave (4 weeks)

Additional Perks

• Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness

• Additional discounts on gym memberships, transportation, and various retail services

Ivy Tech is proud to offer benefits that support your health, your family, and your future—because when our employees thrive, our students and communities thrive too. For more information on Ivy Tech Benefits, visit https://careers.ivytech.edu/benefits.

Note: Employees who re-hire with the College within 180 days of leaving a full-time position with the College may be eligible for additional benefits depending on their bridged seniority date.

Ivy Tech Community College is an accredited, equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, marital status, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age or veteran status. As required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Ivy Tech Community College does not discriminate on the basis of sex, including sexual harassment in its educational programs and activities, including employment and admissions. Questions specific to Title IX may be referred to the College’s Title IX Coordinator or to the US Department of Education Office of Civil Rights.