Executive Director of Advancement

Iowa Central Community College; Fort Dodge (IA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Iowa Central Community College Foundation is seeking a senior fundraising leader to guide donor relations, major gift campaigns, and strategic engagement with alumni, businesses, and community partners. The role reports to College leadership and focuses on long-term impact and giving priorities.

The position emphasizes relationship building, donor stewardship, event leadership, and collaboration across campus to advance scholarships, campaigns, and annual giving.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree; demonstrated fundraising success, including experience securing major gifts through relationship building; strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to work independently, maintain confidentiality, manage priorities, and collaborate with donors, volunteers, colleagues, and community leaders.
• Master’s degree preferred for advanced leadership and strategy responsibilities

Responsibilities

• Lead the Foundation’s daily operations and supervise its full-time support position.
• Oversee donor records, gift acknowledgments, and the use of donated funds in keeping with donor wishes and College priorities.
• Develop and manage the Foundation’s budget, review financial reports, prepare for Foundation Board meetings, and serve on college shared governance committees as needed.
• Coordinate the annual audit and tax preparation, and share the Foundation’s impact through newsletters, the annual report, gift announcements, and campaign materials.
• Build relationships with alumni, donors, businesses, and communities; lead events (including the Hall of Fame); develop fundraising campaigns and major gift opportunities; and coordinate estate gifts.

Skills

Fundraising

Major gifts

Relationship building

Communication

Event planning

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Job description

Lead the Iowa Central Community College Foundation

Build lasting relationships that support students and strengthen Iowa Central’s future.

Lead the Iowa Central Community College Foundation by building lasting relationships with alumni, donors, businesses, and communities throughout the College’s service area. Reporting to the Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, you will help people stay connected to Iowa Central, understand what matters to them, and find meaningful ways for them to support students and the College. You will work closely with Foundation and College leadership to guide the Foundation’s priorities and strengthen its long-term impact.

How You’ll Make an Impact

Build relationships and share Iowa Central’s story

• Build and maintain relationships with alumni, families, donors, businesses, and friends of Iowa Central through regular conversations, visits, and events.
• Share stories about Iowa Central’s students, programs, and priorities, and help people see the impact they can make.
• Meet new people and deepen existing relationships by attending community events, speaking with local organizations, and connecting with alumni and supporters across Iowa Central’s service area and beyond.
• Learn about supporters’ interests and, when the time is right, discuss opportunities for gifts that align with their goals and the College’s needs.

Bring people together to support the College

• Work with the Foundation Board, College leadership, employees, and volunteers to strengthen connections across campus and throughout the community.
• Lead events, including the annual Hall of Fame, bring people together and celebrate their connection to Iowa Central.
• Develop fundraising campaigns and major gift opportunities with College and Foundation leadership.
• Work with families and professional advisers to carry out estate gifts.

Support students through scholarships

• Guide the Foundation’s scholarship program, including working with donors to establish criteria and administering more than 200 awards each year.

Lead the Foundation’s work

• Lead the Foundation’s daily operations and supervise its full-time support position
• Oversee donor records, gift acknowledgments, and the use of donated funds in keeping with donor wishes and College priorities.
• Develop and manage the Foundation’s budget, review financial reports, prepare for Foundation Board meetings, and serve on the college shared governance committees as needed
• Coordinate the annual audit and tax preparation, and share the Foundation’s impact through newsletters, the annual report, gift announcements, and campaign materials

What We’re Looking For

A successful candidate will be a trusted and visible representative of Iowa Central. This role calls for someone who listens well, follows through, builds genuine connections, and brings people together around the College’s mission. Strong communication, sound judgment, organization, and the ability to manage confidential information are essential. Fundraising results matter, but they begin with relationships built over time.

This is a full-time position, but part-time may be considered for the right candidate with an adjusted salary.

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree; demonstrated fundraising success, including experience securing major gifts through relationship building; strong written and verbal communication skills; and the ability to work independently, maintain confidentiality, manage priorities, and collaborate with donors, volunteers, colleagues, and community leaders.

Preferred Qualifications: Master’s degree; at least two years of fundraising experience across multiple areas of development, including experience in higher education; and experience bringing colleagues and volunteers together to advance major fundraising priorities.

About Iowa Central Community College

Iowa Central Community College serves more than 5,000 credit‑seeking students and nearly 9,000 noncredit students each year across a nine‑county region in north‑central Iowa. With its main campus in Fort Dodge and additional locations in Webster City and Storm Lake, Iowa Central offers career and technical training, health sciences, agriculture, and transfer programs, with a mission centered on helping students complete their degree or certification in the shortest time possible and with the least amount of debt. Under President Dr. Jesse Ulrich, the college continues to grow its program offerings and community partnerships, making it a vital economic and educational engine for the region.

Supplemental Information

General Physical Activities, With or Without Reasonable Accommodation: This position involves constant (67–100%) speaking and listening by phone and in person, using a computer, and reading or viewing a screen; frequent (34–66%) sitting and traveling to locations on and off campus, including businesses and personal homes; and occasional (10–33%) stooping, kneeling, carrying, reaching, standing, walking, pulling, grasping, and lifting up to 25 pounds.