Job Description

Are you a high-performer who wants to contribute to a mission-driven and values-based organization? If you are motivated by doing impactful work and making a difference in people’s lives, then the Indiana University Foundation (IUF) is the place for you. At the IUF, we believe in making the dream of higher education attainable, providing support for life-changing research, and preparing the next generation of leaders.  

As a trailblazer among our peers, we provide fundraising leadership and endowment stewardship to support needs and initiatives across all of Indiana University’s campuses. As part of our team, you will help make IU donors' dreams last forever.

At the IUF we work hard, celebrate achievements, and foster an environment where everyone’s contributions matter. We are nimble and innovative, and we want you to bring your ideas and energy to join forces with some of the best talent in our industry. 

In addition to being part of a meaningful mission as an IUF employee, you’ll find there are many ways to connect and collaborate.  Our FUNdation (see what we did there?) Committee helps us connect and unwind with food truck lunches, holiday gatherings, costume contests, free snacks, IU spirit-wear Fridays, and spontaneous gestures that surprise and delight. Our Wellness Committee ensures that the health and well-being of our employees is top of mind through outstanding benefits, mental health offerings, and activities. We encourage community leadership and service and make space for our staff to pursue their passions. Our total rewards philosophy ensures that we support employees financially, emotionally, and in their career growth.  

If the IUF sounds like a fit for you, we invite you to join us today. 

Job Description

If you’re energized by the thrill of early-stage ideas, the hustle of startup building, and the transformative power of networks, Indiana University has created a first-of-its-kind role just for you. IU Innovates has been building on the rich entrepreneurial ecosystem and strengthening what engagement looks like at a major research university—and we’re searching for a Director of Alumni & Student Entrepreneur Engagement to help architect the future. This is your chance to ignite the next generation of IU founders by activating the time, talent, and treasure of our 805,000-strong alumni community. You’ll serve as the ultimate connector: the person who knows which alum has exactly the insight, introduction, or investment mindset a student founder needs—and who can bring them to the same table at the exact right moment. Compelling, right?

In this role, you’ll operate like an entrepreneur yourself. You’ll build systems from the ground up, pilot creative engagement models, and iterate toward scalable pathways that link student innovation with alumni expertise. You’ll coach student founders to pitch their challenges with clarity, facilitate high-impact mentor matches, and cultivate a thriving network of alumni entrepreneurs, operators, investors, and champions. And because this role sits at the intersection of innovation and philanthropy, you’ll also be a fundraiser—identifying alumni whose generosity, mentorship, or investment potential can accelerate IU’s innovation ecosystem. Your work will directly fuel programs, scholarships, venture pipelines, and opportunities that power IU’s boldest entrepreneurial dreams.

You’ll collaborate across IU Innovates, IU Ventures, the IU Foundation, the IU Alumni Association, and schools and programs university-wide—bridging communities and further expanding the entrepreneurial reach of IU. You’ll represent IU at events and conferences, amplify success stories, and help shape a culture where alumni and students build together.

If you are a natural connector, a relationship-builder, a storyteller, a strategist, and someone who sees philanthropy and entrepreneurship as two sides of the same opportunity-driven coin, this is your chance to make a generational impact. Join us.

Qualifications

Knowledge & Skills:

• Proven ability or demonstrated interest in navigating start up, investor, and entrepreneur communities
• Interpersonal, facilitation, and communication skills
• Ability to work autonomously, manage a budget, and exercise independent judgment
• Strong organizational and data management skills
• Passion for mentoring students and advancing innovation through relationships and philanthropy

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required, advanced degree in business, entrepreneurship, communications, or related field preferred
• 5 years’ experience in entrepreneurship, venture development, alumni engagement, fundraising, or corporate partnerships required.
• Experience with CRM systems preferred

Additional Information

Apply now! Applications will be accepted through January 18th, 2026. Please include a cover letter that tells us why you are the entrepreneurial thinker, master connector, and fundraiser for the job. The compensation range for this role is $95,000- $105,000 annually. Regular onsite presence in our Bloomington and Indianapolis offices are expected as is national travel.

The IUF is committed to providing a safe, respectful and professional work environment that is free of Discrimination and Harassment. The IUF will not tolerate any form of Discrimination or Harassment based on the Individual’s race, ethnicity, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, genetic information, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, ancestry, marital status, protected veteran status, pregnancy, or any other basis prohibited by law.

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