Foundation Director jobs in Indianapolis, IN

Description

Director/Senior Director, Communications and Community Engagement- is a newly created position that leads planning and implementation for communications and message strategy, building brand awareness, community engagement and outreach, stakeholder communications, digital (web and social) content strategies, mainstream media relations and internal communications for The Indianapolis Foundation (TIF).

 We are Central Indiana Community Foundation, The Indianapolis Foundation, Hamilton County Community Foundation and Women’s Fund of Central Indiana–a $1 billion collective of philanthropic organizations committed to making Central Indiana a community where all individuals have equitable opportunity to reach their full potential – no matter place, race or identity. 

Scope of Position: 

The Director/Senior Director of Communications and Community Engagement is a newly created position that leads planning and implementation for communications and message strategy, building brand awareness, community engagement and outreach, stakeholder communications, digital (web and social) content strategies, mainstream media relations and internal communications for The Indianapolis Foundation (TIF). This individual will also provide input and coordination for events and initiatives where TIF has a significant presence. Additionally, in this role, you will provide hands-on development, implementation, and leadership for creative and comprehensive communications campaigns that engage TIF’s target audiences. 

Requirements:

This role offers an exciting opportunity to make impactful contributions to the positioning, awareness and recognition of The Indianapolis Foundation’s mission, goals, work and impact. 

Reporting to the President of The Indianapolis Foundation, the Director/Senior Director will be a strategic advisor and a trusted partner in creating engaging, accessible, inclusive, and creative communications and events that inform, engage and inspire community members and leaders, nonprofits, civic and corporate partners, donors, and other key stakeholders and collaborators. 

Create and deliver engaging strategic communications campaign plans 

• Lead the development of strategic communications and community engagement plans to raise awareness, engage, and activate target audiences 
• Cultivate a deep understanding of the Indianapolis region and the needs of its residents in order to create effective messages and content, especially through storytelling, that demonstrate the impact of the Foundation’s work and amplify learnings from grantmaking and community leadership strategy 
• Collaboratively draft communications strategies and materials to support donor relations 
• Lead the development and production of digital strategies and assets, including website and social media content, video assets, and photography, that reflect and amplify The Indianapolis Foundation’s mission and work. 
• Coordinate internal communications strategies, content and training to ensure that TIF employees are informed, confident and empowered to serve as ambassadors of the Foundation in their work and community. 

Lead projects and initiatives to increase The Indianapolis Foundation’s presence and recognition 

• Create a thought leadership program that includes speaking engagements, presentations, contributed opinion pieces, community/grantee visits and convenings hosted by the TIF President to showcase the priorities identified in the Foundation’s strategic plan and its work to advance racial equity and economic opportunity 
• Grow TIF’s brand awareness by identifying and supporting strategic relationships with community, nonprofit, corporate, civic and media partners, grantees, donors and other key audiences 
• Develop strong relationships with reporters, editors and producers at local, regional and state media outlets, identify and pitch compelling stories of action and impact, pursue editorial coverage that aligns with the President’s thought leadership strategy, and prepare TIF leaders and key staff members to serve as subject-matter experts for media interviews and/or community events 
• Inform and plan for continuous engagement and outreach to increase TIF’s reach and awareness 
• Develop and maintain an editorial calendar of campaigns, initiatives and community events throughout the year (including grantmaking deadlines, announcements and event promotions), as well as program-specific email campaign lists and web pages 
• Support the continuing refinement of TIF’s quarterly community newsletter, including efforts to leverage Salesforce and other outreach/audience development initiatives to build and enhance a database of contacts 
• Identify and analyze metrics to determine campaign success through tools like Google Analytics, resource downloads, event registrations, etc.

Requirements

For applicants who believe they can meet the overall expectations of the position, we encourage you to apply. 

• A track record of success in leading local or regional communications campaigns around public policy/quality of life issues that matter to people and communities, such as health equity, affordable housing and homelessness, education/workforce development, racial equity and economic opportunity. 
• Knowledge of Marion County and the Indianapolis region, including the needs and interests of various stakeholders within the area 
• Strong project management skills, including the ability to develop and meet timelines and budgets 
• Deep understanding of inclusive and accessible communications and marketing practices in language, visuals, social media, and strategies 
• Good judgment and clear analytical thinking when gathering data and useful information to inform strategy and decision-making 
• Familiarity with and practical application of tools to evaluate and track campaign metrics, such as Google Analytics 
• Demonstrated ability to build positive relationships, strengthen collaboration and expand the circle of those who lead and participate. This includes encouraging and supporting colleagues, community members, partners, donors and other stakeholders who share their lived experiences and expertise. 
• Commitment to inclusive leadership, to working effectively with colleagues from a diverse range of backgrounds, and to ensure that decisions, teams, and processes value and respect individual differences 
• Willingness to steward The Indianapolis Foundation’s values, practices and core values and focus on racial equity and economic opportunity. 
• The successful candidate may fill this role as the Director or Sr. Director level, contingent upon experience and background. 

Working Conditions: Flexible hybrid office environment (in office three days a week). Home base–English Foundation Building in downtown Indianapolis 

What You Get:

$90,000 salary plus generous benefits, including:

• Employer-provided health, dental, vision 
• 7 percent employer discretionary 403b contribution
• Potential for an annual bonus based on organizational and individual performance
• 10.5 paid holidays, including MLK Day and Juneteenth
• 20 PTO Days
•  Flexible hybrid office environment (in office three days a week). Home base–English Foundation Building in 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 EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT:  

Central Indiana Community Foundation, The Indianapolis Foundation, Hamilton County Community Foundation and Women’s Fund of Central Indiana are equal opportunity employers that seek to recruit persons of diverse backgrounds and to support their retention and advancement. Justice is one of our core values, and 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 justice and diversity also means providing a work environment that is welcoming, respectful, and engaging. 

Our mission is to mobilize people, ideas and investments to make Central Indiana a community where all individuals have equitable opportunity to reach their full potential—no matter place, race or identity. 

Racism deeply impacts the well-being of our communities, compounding existing disparities and creating intersectional barriers. We strive to name and address these barriers through community engagement and assessment, relevant and effective policy creation, and organizational accountability methods. We support initiatives that address all forms of oppression, however, maintaining an explicit focus on race is essential to advancing equity across our communities. Improving outcomes for people of color will improve outcomes for everyone.