Chief Development Officer

Ready to make a lasting impact on a thriving region?  Our client is in search of Chief Development Officer that will lead high-level fundraising, investor engagement, and strategic partnerships that fuel the vision and growth of the Indy Chamber. Join a mission-driven organization where your leadership can shape the future of the Indy region.

The Chief Development Officer (CDO) leads Indy Chamber’s unified approach to investor partnerships and top investor revenue. Historically, funding has come through separate streams—including sponsorships, grants, corporate contributions, and political contributions—each managed on its own. The CDO will complete the transition to an integrated account model in which each top investor has one coordinated relationship with the Chamber regardless of how they invest.

The CDO is responsible for the multi-year investor revenue strategy, with a plan to accelerate top investor revenue over the next three years and build toward $17–18 million by 2030. The CDO leads the TIPS/Partnerships team, owns the revenue forecast, and serves as executive sponsor for the development function’s CRM and digital transformation. This role requires a leader who can grow senior relationships while installing the operating discipline, account planning, data, and forecasting practices necessary to scale.

Accountable for Indy Chamber’s enterprise investor-development strategy and top investor revenue. Leads the TIPS/Partnerships team and integrated account model across sponsorships, grants, corporate contributions, and while coordinating with Advocacy to integrate political contribution opportunities into broader investor strategies; owns revenue forecasting and development systems; and partners with the CEO and CSO/COS to align investor strategy with Accelerate Indy 2030 and broader enterprise priorities.

• Set the multi-year investor revenue strategy aligned to Accelerate Indy 2030, with annual targets and a credible plan to build toward $17–18 million by 2030.
• Design and implement the integrated account model, including portfolio assignments, account plans, coordinated executive engagement, and a single point of contact for each top investor.
• Own the revenue forecast for sponsorships, grants, corporate contributions, and political contributions; report progress, pipeline, renewal risk, and forecast variance to the President & CEO, Executive Leadership Team, and Board as appropriate.
• Shape the Chamber’s investment offering—including tiers, recognition, proposals, and impact reporting—so investors understand how their dollars advance regional outcomes.
• Manage a portfolio of the Chamber’s highest-level investors and engage the President & CEO and CSO/COS strategically where executive participation advances a relationship, major investment, or broader Chamber priority.
• Coordinate account strategy with the Membership team where investors also hold memberships; Membership revenue remains accountable to the Chief Membership Officer.
• Coordinate with Advocacy team to incorporate political contribution opportunities into investor account strategies and proposals. Political contribution strategy and PAC/BAC activity remain under the leadership of the CSO/COS and Advocacy team.
• Engage Board members and senior corporate, civic, and philanthropic leaders in securing funding and lead proposals and pitches for major multi-year investments.
• Lead, coach, and develop the TIPS team as it moves from stream-based roles to portfolio management; establish clear roles, goals, performance measures, and accountability.
• Serve as executive sponsor for revenue tracking and forecasting in the Chamber’s CRM and digital transformation; define requirements, workflows, data standards, and adoption expectations for the development function.
• Establish pipeline stages, forecasting cadence, reporting standards, and account-planning disciplines that apply across investment types.
• Use data to prioritize accounts, identify growth opportunities, flag renewal risk early, and improve forecast accuracy.
• Serve on the Executive Leadership Team and contribute to organization-wide strategy, budgeting, planning, culture, and cross-functional execution.
• Partner with the CSO/COS to align investor strategy and development priorities with enterprise strategy; partner with Marketing and Communications to align investor messaging with the Chamber’s brand and positioning.
• Represent Indy Chamber with regional business, civic, and philanthropic leaders.

What Success Looks Like

• The TIPS team operates with defined portfolios, account plans, shared goals, and clear ownership.
• A monthly revenue forecast is in place, accurate, and trusted by executive leadership and the Board.
• Development requirements are built into the new CRM, and the team uses the system consistently.
• Top investors experience one coordinated relationship with the Chamber.
• Revenue is on track for annual targets, with a credible multi-year plan to reach $17–18 million by 2030.
• The President & CEO and CSO/COS are engaged selectively and strategically in major investor relationships rather than in routine development operations.

Preferred Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in development, partnerships, business development, or related fields, including 7+ years leading teams.
• Track record of securing and growing six- and seven-figure investments from corporations, foundations, or public funders.
• Experience owning a multimillion-dollar revenue target and forecasting it accurately.
• Experience leading a team through organizational or process change, including new systems or CRM implementation.
• Credibility with C-suite executives, Board members, and civic and elected leaders.
• Strong business acumen, including budgeting, pipeline analysis, account strategy, and data-informed decision making.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience. 

Our client is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our client does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.