Director External Communications Jobs in Indiana

About the Organization

Horizons at St. Richard’s is a community-centered, out-of-school time education program supporting students in Indianapolis. Horizons builds long-term partnerships with students, families, and the community to create experiences outside of school that inspire the joy of learning. The main component of Horizons is a six-week summer program located on the campus of St. Richard’s Epicopal School. Students participate in academic, cultural, and enrichment activities, including life-saving swim instruction. The six-week program is supplemented by a growing school-year program with educational, community-centered, and celebratory events. Horizons at St. Richard’s operates a proven model and is part of an affiliated network with over 70 Horizons sites serving students across the country.

Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Horizons at St. Richard’s strives to create an inclusive, affirming, and welcoming environment that allows all team members to thrive.

As an organization whose central purpose is to mitigate inequities in education, Horizons is strongly committed to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EDIB) in all forms, and we strongly denounce racism, sexism, and discrimination of any kind. We actively engage in diverse and inclusive partnerships; provide robust professional development opportunities; evaluate internal and external communications with an asset-based lens; and facilitate conversations to ensure that all voices are heard and represented. The ideal candidate for this role must be comfortable engaging in discussions, be self-reflective, and be willing to challenge themselves and others to learn and grow continuously.

About the Position

Horizons at St. Richard’s is seeking an enthusiastic professional to serve in the role of Development Director. Working closely with the Executive Director, this role will provide leadership and implementation of key tasks with the goals of increasing and diversifying our donor base and financial sustainability. The ideal candidate should have experience in fundraising, graphic design, social media, and working with databases. The ideal candidate works well in a fast-paced environment and is flexible, collaborative, and open to feedback. The ideal candidate possesses a personal commitment to social justice and a strong desire to make a difference in the lives of students and families impacted by education inequity.

Key Responsibilities

●      Design and implement the annual fundraising plan with goals, benchmarks, and donor targets based on solicitations, that align with the strategic plan and in collaboration with the Executive Director and Board Development Committee.

●      Steward relationships with donors through meetings, calls, written communication, and events.

●      Optimize donor engagement by effectively utilizing the CRM and donor management systems.

●      Ensure accurate gift processing and donor stewardship documentation.

●      Produce and coordinate donor communications, such as compelling appeal letters, impact reports, newsletters, and acknowledgment letters.

●      Support major gift efforts and institutional fundraising through prospect research, proposal preparation, and direct solicitations.

●      Oversee planning and executing fundraising events, including our Horizons Giving Day initiative.

●      Assist in key marketing initiatives, including social media presence and content (events, brochures, videos, and press releases).

●      Develop and track grant proposals and reports for all foundations, corporations, and government entities in conjunction with the grant writing team.

●      Research, identify, cultivate, and acquire new donor prospects and corporate partnerships.

●      Communicate and collaborate with the St. Richard’s Episcopal School’s Development Office and St. Richard’s Director of Development.

●      Develop detailed reports for our lead partners and the Horizons at St. Richard’s Board that communicate key objectives, results, and impact.

●      Lead annual revenue forecasting and long-term planning, identifying opportunities for growth and innovation.

Skills and Qualifications

●      Minimum of three years of experience working in nonprofit fundraising

●      Advanced fundraising certificate, preferred

●      Passionate about Horizons at St. Richard’s mission and vision

●      Reliable, collaborative, and flexible

●      Excellent interpersonal skills, including patience, good judgment, and sense of humor

●      Demonstrated excellence in time management, organizational skills, and attention to detail, including proofreading

●      Ability to learn from feedback, handle multiple projects, work independently, and produce quality results on schedule

●      Demonstrated ability with Microsoft Office and Google Suite

●      Experience with social media content creation that effectively and ethically tells a story

●      Experience with CRM systems and donor management systems

●      Comfortable with making fundraising asks

●      Demonstrated commitment to understanding how systems impact Horizons families and communities we work with, personal biases, and societal systems