Confidential · Position Prospectus
Major and Transformational Giving Senior Director
“United Way of Central Indiana brings together the resources of philanthropy, government, corporations, the social sector, and neighborhoods to confront generational poverty and ensure a better future for our neighbors in need.”
A Pivotal Moment for Central Indiana’s Fight Against Poverty
United Way of Central Indiana (UWCI) brings together the resources of philanthropy, government, corporations, the social sector, and neighborhoods to confront generational poverty and ensure a better future for our neighbors in need. This is an ambitious time to join United Way as the organization advances a five year strategic plan focused on reducing the number of households experiencing poverty and financial instability.
UWCI partners to design, support, and grow systems that accelerate financial stability and upward mobility for individuals and families living in or near poverty and striving for a brighter future. Its vision is that Central Indiana will be a community where children, individuals, and families thrive, neighbors care for one another, and all residents can be proud of the quality of life in their community.
This is a confidential search for an accomplished major gifts fundraiser and leader to join UWCI’s Philanthropy team at a moment of real momentum: a bold strategic framework, a sharpened focus on the root causes of poverty, and a clear expectation to grow six- and seven-figure giving. The Senior Director will personally manage United Way’s most significant donor relationships and lead the team that builds the individual giving pipeline, from a donor’s first gift through leadership, major, transformational, and planned giving.
More Than a Century of Bringing People Together
United Way of Central Indiana’s roots trace back to 1918, when the community gathered at Monument Circle to drop coins and dollars into a massive War Chest, a show of unity that helped fund relief agencies during the flu pandemic and support the war effort. Over the decades, that spirit of collective giving grew into the modern United Way, mobilizing generosity through citywide campaigns and workplace giving across Central Indiana.
Today, UWCI carries that legacy forward with a sharpened focus on fighting poverty at its roots, investing in long-term solutions while responding to the immediate needs of neighbors across Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan, and Putnam counties. The organization partners with more than 100 community organizations and uses a two-generation (“2Gen”) model that supports both children and the adults in their lives.
UWCI measures hardship using the ALICE framework, an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. Many Central Indiana households earn above the federal poverty line but still cannot afford the basics of housing, childcare, food, transportation, and health care. In 2024, the minimum cost for a family of four to live and work in Indiana was $74,028, more than double the federal poverty level of $31,200.
UWCI’s Focus Areas
UWCI concentrates its investments on the top predictors of poverty:
Organizational Leadership
The Major and Transformational Giving Senior Director is part of United Way’s Growth & Engagement Division and reports to the Senior Vice President of Philanthropy. The Senior Director works closely with the Senior Vice President of Philanthropy, the Chief Revenue Officer, the CEO, Board members, committee leaders, and colleagues across United Way to connect donor interests with compelling opportunities to advance United Way’s mission and community impact priorities.
Fred Payne joined United Way of Central Indiana as President and CEO in July 2022. He previously led the Indiana Department of Workforce Development for more than four years and is a graduate of the Indiana University Maurer School of Law and Grambling State University. Under his leadership, UWCI has continued to sharpen its focus on the root causes of poverty and financial instability across the region.
The Senior Director leads the team responsible for major, leadership, individual, and planned giving and for donor stewardship. The role also partners with corporate philanthropy colleagues to identify and coordinate relationships that cross employer and individual donor portfolios.
Major and Transformational Giving Senior Director
The Major and Transformational Giving Senior Director leads United Way of Central Indiana’s strategy and execution for major, transformational, leadership, individual, and planned giving. Reporting to the Senior Vice President of Philanthropy, the Senior Director is a senior frontline fundraiser who manages a portfolio of United Way’s most significant donors and prospects while leading the team responsible for building and advancing a strong individual giving pipeline as well as overall donor engagement.
The Senior Director will strengthen donor acquisition, retention, upgrading, and lifetime value; grow six- and seven-figure opportunities; oversee the Tocqueville Society and other leadership donor strategies; and ensure high-quality stewardship and recognition. The role works closely with the Senior Vice President of Philanthropy, Chief Revenue Officer, CEO, Board members, Committee leaders, and colleagues across United Way to connect donor interests with compelling opportunities to advance United Way’s mission and community impact priorities.
The role has three parts. The Senior Director personally cultivates, solicits, and stewards a portfolio of high-capacity donors. The Senior Director sets the strategy for leadership, individual, and planned giving, including the Tocqueville Society. The Senior Director also leads, coaches, and develops the team that carries out this work every day.
What the Senior Director Will Lead
Major & Transformational Giving
- Develop and execute a comprehensive major and transformational giving plan aligned with United Way’s integrated philanthropy plan, enterprise revenue goals, and community impact priorities.
- Personally manage a portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospects through disciplined identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
- Build and advance a qualified pipeline of six- and seven-figure opportunities, including customized and multiyear commitments that align donor interests with United Way’s mission and priorities.
- Lead strategies to retain and grow Million Dollar Roundtable and Ten Million Dollar Roundtable relationships and other significant donor commitments.
- Partner with the Senior Vice President of Philanthropy, Chief Revenue Officer, CEO, Board members, and committee leaders on high-priority donor strategies, solicitations, and follow-up communication.
Leadership, Individual & Planned Giving
- Lead the strategy for the Tocqueville Society and other leadership and individual giving portfolios, establishing clear goals for acquisition, retention, upgrading, engagement, and revenue.
- Guide the development of a sustained pipeline that moves donors from initial engagement and annual giving toward leadership, major, transformational, and planned gifts.
- Oversee planned giving strategies and ensure they are integrated with major and transformational giving and long-term donor stewardship.
Donor Experience & Stewardship
- Ensure timely, personal, and consistent stewardship, recognition, reporting, and communications for major, transformational, leadership, and planned-giving donors.
- Work cross-functionally to develop compelling cases for support, proposals, donor reports, and experiences that demonstrate United Way’s community impact.
- Recruit, prepare, and support volunteer solicitors, Board members, campaign leaders, and other ambassadors who help cultivate and solicit individual donors.
- Represent United Way with donors, prospects, advisors, and community leaders and serve as an informed and compelling ambassador for the organization’s mission and work.
- Guide and direct efforts to define high-quality donor engagement and evaluate current donor engagement activities, ultimately determining needed adjustments to strengthen and create meaningful paths to increased giving.
Team Leadership & Performance Management
- Lead, coach, and develop team members responsible for major, leadership, individual, planned giving, and stewardship work; establish clear expectations and accountability for results and United Way’s values.
- Set coordinated portfolio and activity goals, conduct regular pipeline and moves-management reviews, and remove barriers that slow donor progress or weaken the donor experience.
- Partner with corporate philanthropy colleagues to identify and coordinate relationships that cross employer and individual donor portfolios.
- Oversee team hiring, onboarding, performance management, professional development, and succession planning.
Data, Planning & Organizational Partnership
- Maintain accurate and timely donor, portfolio, contact, proposal, and forecast information in United Way’s CRM and model strong data practices for the team.
- Use donor data and performance analytics to assess results, identify opportunities, forecast revenue, and recommend changes to strategy or resource allocation.
- Contribute to annual planning, budgeting, and revenue forecasting for the major and individual giving portfolio and provide clear progress reports to Revenue Division and organizational leadership.
- Coordinate donor strategies and relationship ownership with colleagues across the Growth & Engagement Division and United Way to ensure a unified approach and avoid duplicative outreach.
Candidate Profile
United Way of Central Indiana seeks a senior frontline fundraiser with a record of cultivating, soliciting, and closing significant gifts, who can also lead and develop a team, build a sustainable major-gift pipeline, and represent United Way with donors, advisors, and community leaders.
Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree required. Advanced degree and Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential preferred. Relevant experience may be considered in lieu of formal education where appropriate.
- Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible fundraising or development experience, with substantial experience in major gifts and at least three years leading staff, projects, or complex portfolios.
- Demonstrated success personally cultivating, soliciting, and closing significant gifts and building a sustainable major-gift pipeline.
- Experience with leadership annual giving, planned giving, donor stewardship, and volunteer-led fundraising preferred.
- Nonprofit or United Way experience preferred.
Knowledge & Technical Skills
- Deep knowledge of major-gift fundraising, moves management, donor qualification, solicitation strategy, stewardship, and portfolio management.
- Ability to listen for donor interests and translate complex community priorities into clear and compelling funding opportunities.
- Strong relationship-management skills and credibility with high-net-worth donors, corporate and community leaders, Board members, and professional advisors.
- Strong people leadership and coaching skills, including the ability to set expectations, create accountability, and develop fundraisers.
- Proficiency using a constituent relationship management system such as Salesforce to manage portfolios, document activity, forecast revenue, and analyze performance.
- Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and proposal-development skills.
- Highest level of integrity, discretion, sound judgment, and respect for donor intent and confidentiality.
- Ability to collaborate across teams, manage multiple priorities, and adapt in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
Position Facts
- Position Title
- Major and Transformational Giving Senior Director
- Division
- Growth & Engagement Division
- Position Leader
- Senior Vice President of Philanthropy
- Position Leads
- Major, leadership, individual, planned giving, and stewardship team members
- FLSA Status
- Exempt, Full-Time
- Salary Range
- Market
- Benefits
- Complete Benefits Package Available
- Created
- September 2026
Location & Compensation
The Major and Transformational Giving Senior Director is based at UWCI’s Indianapolis headquarters and works across the organization’s seven county service area:
Compensation
Salary is set at market, commensurate with the candidate’s experience, along with UWCI’s complete benefits package.
To Explore This Opportunity
United Way of Central Indiana welcomes inquiries from accomplished major gifts and development leaders who are ready to grow six- and seven-figure giving and lead a team that builds lasting relationships with the region’s most committed donors.
For consideration, please submit a résumé and cover letter responsive to UWCI’s mission and the priorities described in this prospectus.
Submit to laurie@woodhousesearch.comReview of applications begins immediately and continues until the position is filled.
United Way of Central Indiana is an Equal Opportunity Employer. UWCI is committed to creating an inclusive workplace and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. This prospectus is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed and is not an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, or qualifications. Employment with UWCI is at-will. UWCI reserves the right to modify, interpret, or apply the position description as needed and to assign additional duties as appropriate.
About Woodhouse Search
Woodhouse Search is an executive search firm specializing in senior leadership placements for nonprofit organizations, higher education institutions, and mission driven enterprises. We partner closely with clients to identify and recruit leaders whose experience and values align with the organization’s mission and moment.
We are proud to partner with United Way of Central Indiana on this search.