Foundation Development Specialist

Ascension Health; Evansville (IN); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Ascension Health's Ascension St. Vincent Foundation in Evansville, IN seeks a fundraising professional to advance philanthropic priorities and drive donor engagement.

You will manage donor portfolios, develop major gift strategies, lead annual giving campaigns, coordinate signature events, and partner with hospital leadership to tell impact stories.

Qualifications

• Certification in fundraising preferred.
• Bachelor's degree required.
• Excellent relationship-building and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Portfolio Management: manage a donor portfolio and cultivate, solicit, steward, renew, and upgrade donors.
• Major Gift Pipeline Development: identify annual giving donors with major gift potential and develop cultivation strategies.
• Annual Giving & Donor Engagement: develop annual giving strategies and lead the local Associate Giving Campaign.
• Fundraising Events & Community Partnerships: coordinate signature fundraising events and cultivate community partnerships.
• Operations & Performance Management: maintain donor records in the CRM, monitor budgets and key performance metrics.

Skills

Relationship building

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Your future role at a glance

Location: Evansville, IN

Facility: Ascension St. Vincent

Department/Specialty: Ascension St. Vincent Foundation

Schedule: Full Time Days | Monday through Friday | 8:00am to 5:00pm

Life at Ascension: Where purpose meets opportunity

Ascension is a leading nonprofit Catholic health system with a culture and associate experience grounded in service, growth, care and connection. We empower our 97,000+ associates to bring their skills and expertise every day to reimagining healthcare, together. Recognized as one of the Best 150+ Places to Work in Healthcare and a Military-Friendly Gold Employer, you’ll find an inclusive and supportive environment where your contributions truly matter.

Benefits that help you thrive

• Comprehensive health coverage: medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage and HSA/FSA options

• Financial security & retirement: employer-matched 403(b), planning and hardship resources, disability and life insurance

• Time to recharge: pro-rated paid time off (PTO) and holidays

• Career growth: Ascension-paid tuition (Vocare), reimbursement, ongoing professional development and online learning

• Emotional well-being: Employee Assistance Program, counseling and peer support, spiritual care and stress management resources

• Family support: parental leave, adoption assistance and family benefits

• Other benefits: optional legal and pet insurance, transportation savings and more

How you’ll make an impact in this role

Participate/implement strategies in fund-raising campaigns, grant administration, major gift and/or charitable development programs for the Ascension St. Vincent Foundation in Evansville, IN.

Responsibilities:

Portfolio Management & Fundraising

• Portfolio Management: Manage an active portfolio of 75–100 individual, corporate, associate, and grateful patient donors through strategic cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, renewal, and upgrade activities to achieve annual fundraising goals.
• Corporate Partnerships & Sponsorships: Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward corporate sponsors and community partners to secure philanthropic support and strengthen long-term partnerships.
• Major Gift Pipeline Development: Identify annual giving donors with major gift potential and partner with the Foundation Director to develop and implement individualized cultivation strategies.
• Grateful Patient Fundraising: Collaborate with Foundation colleagues, hospital leadership, physicians, and clinical staff to expand grateful patient philanthropy through meaningful outreach, recognition, and donor engagement.
• Philanthropic Awareness: Promote a culture of philanthropy by educating associates, physicians, and hospital leaders about grateful patient giving opportunities and the impact of charitable support.

Annual Giving & Donor Engagement

• Annual Giving Strategy: In collaboration with Foundation colleagues, develop and implement annual giving strategies to acquire new donors, retain and upgrade existing supporters, re-engage lapsed donors, and increase philanthropic participation through direct mail, digital communications, personal outreach, and other fundraising initiatives.
• Associate Giving Campaign: Lead the local Annual Associate Giving Campaign, including strategy, communications, volunteer engagement, recognition, and reporting to increase associate participation.
• Donor Communications & Impact Stories: Collaborate with Foundation and hospital colleagues to identify and share compelling patient and program impact stories that inspire giving, demonstrate philanthropic outcomes, and strengthen donor stewardship.

Fundraising Events & Community Partnerships

• Signature Fundraising Events: Coordinate Foundation signature fundraising events from planning through execution, including timelines, logistics, committee support, volunteer coordination, sponsorship fulfillment, donor recognition, and post-event stewardship to achieve fundraising objectives.
• Community Fundraising Partnerships: Cultivate relationships with third-party event organizers and community partners to expand fundraising opportunities that benefit the Foundation.

Operations & Performance Management

• CRM & Data Management: Maintain accurate donor records, gift activity, contact reports, and moves management within the Foundation CRM to ensure data integrity and effective fundraising management.
• Performance Metrics & Budget Oversight: Monitor fundraising goals, campaign and event budgets, project timelines, and key performance metrics, preparing reports that evaluate progress and support strategic decision-making.
• Team Collaboration: Collaborate with Foundation leadership and colleagues to advance philanthropic priorities and perform other duties that support the Foundation's fundraising mission.

What minimum requirements you’ll need

Licensure / Certification / Registration:

• Certification specializing in Fund Raising preferred.

Education:

• High School diploma equivalency with 2 years of cumulative experience OR Associate's degree/Bachelor's degree OR 4 years of applicable cumulative job specific experience required.

What additional preferences we're seeking

Bachelors degree required.

Must have excellent relationship building skills.

Prefer a minimum of 3 years previous or current foundation development experience.

Position will require strong project management experience.

Prefer some event planning experience.

Some evening and weekend commitments required during fundraising events.

Equal employment opportunity employer

Ascension provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all associates and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, lactation, breastfeeding, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, all as defined by applicable law, and any other legally protected status or characteristic in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. For further information, view the EEO Know Your Rights (English) (https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12.pdf) poster or EEO Know Your Rights (Spanish) (https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRightsSp6.12.pdf) poster.