Department: Resource Development
Reports To: Director of Operations
Works Closely With: Executive Director
Location: Archaeological Research Institute (ARI), 126 W. High St., Lawrenceburg, IN 47025
FLSA Status: Exempt
Compensation: $60,000+(Depending Upon Experience) annually plus performance-based bonus opportunity
Position Summary
The Director of Resource Development leads the Archaeological Research Institute’s philanthropic strategy and revenue generation efforts. This role is responsible for cultivating diverse funding sources including individual donors, foundations, corporate sponsors, grants, and fundraising events.
Reporting to the Director of Operations and working closely with the Executive Director, the Director of Resource Development helps strengthen ARI’s financial sustainability while advancing its mission:
To educate current and future generations about past cultures through the investigation, identification, and preservation of native and non-native sites.As ARI continues to grow, this role plays an important part in helping the organization transition from its startup phase into a mature nonprofit institution with a diversified funding base and long-term financial sustainability.
A key long-term goal of this position is helping grow ARI’s endowment and developing philanthropic strategies that allow major supporters to gradually transition their contributions from annual operational support toward long-term endowment investment, ensuring ARI’s work can be sustained for generations.
ARI’s work is guided by four core pillars:
Explore • Preserve • Research • Educate
Organizational Growth & Institutional Development
The Director of Resource Development will help strengthen ARI’s long-term financial structure by developing philanthropic relationships, expanding funding sources, and building systems that support sustainable growth.
Responsibilities include:
- Developing strategies that diversify ARI’s funding sources across grants, donors, corporate sponsorships, and philanthropic partnerships.
- Supporting leadership and the Board in growing ARI’s endowment and long-term financial stability.
- Helping transition the organization from a startup nonprofit model to a mature institution with sustainable philanthropic support.
- Building systems and processes that ensure continuity and professionalism in ARI’s resource development efforts.
Fundraising Strategy & Leadership
- Develop and implement annual and multi-year fundraising strategies aligned with ARI’s strategic goals.
- Establish annual fundraising targets across grants, sponsorships, donations, and philanthropic partnerships.
- Build and manage a structured donor pipeline that includes identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
- Monitor fundraising performance and adjust strategies to meet revenue goals.
- Provide regular fundraising reports and revenue forecasts to the Director of Operations and Executive Director.
Major Gifts & Donor Relations
- Cultivate relationships with individual donors, philanthropic partners, and foundations.
- Develop personalized engagement strategies for major donors and prospective supporters.
- Work closely with the Executive Director on major donor meetings and philanthropic partnerships.
- Ensure consistent donor stewardship, recognition, and engagement practices.
- Maintain accurate donor records and engagement history in ARI’s CRM system.
Corporate Sponsorships & Institutional Partnerships
- Identify and cultivate corporate partners and community businesses interested in supporting ARI’s mission.
- Develop sponsorship opportunities tied to events, programs, research initiatives, and institutional projects.
- Create sponsorship packages that align with ARI’s brand, mission, and public presence.
- Build long-term relationships with corporate sponsors and philanthropic partners.
Donor Cultivation & Engagement
A core function of this role is introducing potential supporters to ARI’s work and helping them connect with the organization’s mission.
Responsibilities include:
- Identifying prospective donors, sponsors, and philanthropic partners.
- Developing strategies that bring potential supporters into ARI’s spaces and programs so they can experience the organization’s work firsthand.
- Organizing donor visits, tours, and engagement opportunities that highlight ARI’s research, preservation work, and educational programs.
- Working with the Executive Director and Board members to cultivate long-term donor relationships.
Grant Strategy & Coordination
The Director of Resource Development provides strategic oversight of ARI’s grant portfolio and works closely with departments to align funding opportunities with program needs.
Responsibilities include:
- Serving as the internal lead for grant opportunities under $25,000.
- Evaluating smaller grants and determining whether departments should apply internally or whether the Director of Resource Development should manage the submission.
- Collaborating with ARI’s external grant writer on opportunities over $25,000.
- Maintaining grant boilerplate language including organizational history, mission, research priorities, and impact metrics.
- Assisting departments in identifying grant opportunities that support their work.
Department Funding Alignment
- Work closely with each ARI department to understand program goals, research initiatives, and funding needs.
- Identify opportunities for grants, foundations, sponsorships, and philanthropic support.
- Help departments articulate clear cases for funding that align with ARI’s strategic priorities.
Fundraising Event Strategy & Leadership
The Director of Resource Development provides strategic leadership for ARI’s fundraising events while working collaboratively with board committees, staff, volunteers, and professional event coordinators.
Responsibilities include:
- Establishing fundraising goals and sponsorship targets for major events.
- Leading board-led fundraising event committees and supporting volunteers in achieving event fundraising goals.
- Collaborating with event coordinators and operations staff responsible for event logistics and execution.
- Ensuring events introduce new audiences to ARI and create meaningful donor engagement opportunities.
- Evaluating event outcomes and reporting results to leadership and the Board.
Board & Committee Engagement
- Meet regularly with the Board-led Resource Development Committee to review fundraising strategies, donor pipelines, and funding opportunities.
- Provide updates to the committee on fundraising metrics, donor cultivation plans, grant activity, and sponsorship opportunities.
- Prepare and present development updates for Board of Directors meetings.
Marketing & Communications Alignment
- Attend Marketing and Communications Committee meetings with the Board.
- Work closely with the Engagement and Marketing Department to ensure donor communications and fundraising campaigns align with ARI’s messaging and storytelling.
- Support donor stewardship communications, fundraising campaigns, sponsorship recognition, and impact reporting.
Executive Director Partnership
- Work closely with the Executive Director to prepare for donor meetings and philanthropic engagement opportunities.
- Assist in identifying prospective donors, corporate sponsors, and philanthropic partners.
- Prepare background information and engagement strategies for donor cultivation meetings.
Development Systems & Infrastructure
- Develop and maintain structured systems for donor tracking, stewardship, and reporting within ARI’s CRM platform.
- Establish clear processes for gift acknowledgment, donor recognition, and coordination with financial reporting.
- Maintain organized documentation for fundraising strategies, donor engagement plans, and grant submissions.
- Provide leadership with clear reporting on fundraising performance and donor engagement activity.
Annual Campaigns & Giving Initiatives
- Develop and manage annual fundraising initiatives including year-end giving campaigns and targeted appeals.
- Work with the Engagement and Marketing Department to coordinate campaign messaging and outreach.
- Evaluate campaign performance and refine strategies to increase donor participation and revenue.
- Develop Impact Reports & Annual reports within the Donor Communications plans
Mission Immersion & Program Engagement
To effectively communicate ARI’s mission, the Director of Resource Development is encouraged to actively engage with the organization’s research and educational work.
- Spend time alongside ARI staff in the field, laboratory, and educational programs.
- Develop firsthand knowledge of ARI’s archaeological research, preservation initiatives, and public programming.
- Use this experience to authentically communicate ARI’s mission and impact to donors and sponsors.
Skills & Qualifications
- Minimum five years of experience in nonprofit fundraising or development leadership.
- Demonstrated success securing major gifts, grants, and sponsorships.
- Strong relationship-building and communication skills.
- Experience working with nonprofit boards and volunteer committees.
- Strategic planning and financial forecasting experience.
- Experience with CRM systems and donor management platforms.
Core Competencies & Professional Attributes
ARI values team members who demonstrate thoughtful leadership, creativity, and collaboration.
Organized
Maintains strong organizational systems that support complex fundraising efforts and ensure clear documentation and accountability.
Problem Solver
Approaches challenges with solutions and thoughtful recommendations rather than presenting problems without potential resolutions.
Collaborative Team Player
Enjoys working alongside ARI’s team of archaeologists, researchers, educators, and staff and values interdisciplinary collaboration.
Big Picture Thinker
Connects fundraising strategy with ARI’s long-term institutional goals and mission.
Innovative
Comfortable thinking creatively and exploring new approaches to philanthropy, partnerships, and donor engagement.
Performance Expectations
Success in this position will be measured through:
- Growth in annual fundraising revenue
- Expansion of ARI’s donor and sponsor pipeline
- Successful grant submissions and funding secured
- Growth in corporate sponsorship partnerships
- Strong donor stewardship and engagement
- Increased philanthropic investment in ARI’s long-term sustainability and endowment
Work Environment
This position is based at ARI’s headquarters in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Occasional evening and weekend attendance at fundraising events may be required. Some travel for donor meetings or conferences may occur. Work in the field and lab alongside ARI archaeologists and land stewards is expected.
Benefits
Paid Time Off
- Four weeks vacation annually
- Four paid holidays
- One week off at Thanksgiving
- One week off at Christmas
- Five personal days
- Five sick days
Retirement
- IRA contributions with 3% company match
Health Insurance
- 80/20 health insurance coverage
Application Process
Please submit a resume, cover letter, and three professional references to:
HumanResources@ExploreARI.org
