Indy Reads is Seeking a Vice President of Advancement

The Opportunity

Indy Reads seeks a strategic Vice President of Advancement to lead and grow a comprehensive fund development program encompassing grants, individual giving, corporate support, board engagement, and visibility—during a pivotal period of organizational growth. With more than 40 years of impact in adult literacy education, and community building, Indy Reads is poised to strengthen its philanthropic foundation, expand its visibility, and deepen its influence across central Indiana.,

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and serving as a key member of the Leadership Team, the VP of Advancement will shape and execute a comprehensive development and communications strategy that advances Indy Reads’ mission and supports long-term sustainability. This leader will grow fundraising across individual, corporate, foundation, government, and event-based revenue streams while overseeing brand, marketing, and the organization’s public presence.

Key strategic priorities include:

• Building a consistent and diversified base of contributed revenue
• Deepening relationships with individual donors, partners, and foundations
• Leveraging impact data and donor analysis to guide strategy
• Increasing visibility and understanding of Indy Reads’ impact across the community
• Aligning fundraising and communications with Indy Reads’ theory of action and programming to reinforce mission and outcomes

This is an exceptional opportunity for a skilled and strategic advancement professional who is energized by driving fund development with quality, rigor, and complete follow-through—building systems, managing the full arc of fundraising activity across grants, individual giving, corporate support, board engagement, and more, and partnering with leadership to advance a mission-driven organization committed to equity, access, and opportunity.

About Indy Reads

Based in Indianapolis and serving central Indiana, Indy Reads builds the literacy, English language, and job readiness skills to empower adults and families to reach their full potential. Since 1984, Indy Reads has been a trusted anchor in the region’s adult education landscape—uniquely positioned as the only adult education organization in central Indiana that formally serves beginning-level learners.

Mission, Vision & Values

“Our mission is to build the literacy, English language, and job readiness skills to empower adults and their families to reach their full potential.”

Vision: 100% literacy for all.

Core Values:

• Student-Centered: Curriculum is adapted to meet the needs of individual students so they can envision their own paths forward.
• Innovative: Forward-thinking and flexible, modeling best practices in adult education and nonprofit management.
• Inclusive: Welcoming environments where students, volunteers, and supporters from diverse backgrounds gather.
• Literacy-Focused: Programs help people develop foundational literacy skills and apply them across all aspects of their lives.

Programs

Indy Reads delivers a comprehensive suite of educational programs through its Community Classrooms and Community Bookstore:

• Literacy Foundations – supporting the 1 in 6 native English-speaking adults in central Indiana who read below a 5th grade level
• Pathway to Literacy (ELL Foundations) – serving adult English language learners with limited formal schooling
• English Language Learning (ELL) – classes at all levels, including Conversation Circles open to the public
• High School Equivalency (HSE) – preparing students to earn their High School Equivalency diploma, across all HiSET/GED exam subjects
• Customer Service & Paraprofessional Certifications – industry-recognized credentials for today’s job market
• Workforce Literacy Program (WLP) – a newly launched pillar delivering customized, contextualized literacy education for employers and workforce training providers
• Family Literacy – supporting learning together as a family, uplifting parents as their child’s first teacher and advocate
• Literacy in Action – a literacy hub for community dialogue and developing specific civics, health, media, and other literacies in the classroom and in our community events to activate learning into action
• Community Bookstore – an independent bookstore in Fountain Square offering nearly 250 free and pay-what-you-can events annually

Impact at a Glance – Program Year 2024–25

Students represent 47 countries of origin and 41 primary languages. Indy Reads’ student body is 87% immigrants, 67% people of color, and 71% living at or below 200% of the poverty level—reflecting the organization’s deep commitment to equity and access.

Strategic Context

Indy Reads is executing its 2023–26 Strategic Plan, organized around four goals: Our People & Culture, Our Programs & Impact, Our Visibility, and Our Sustainability. The VP of Advancement will play a central role in advancing the Sustainability and Visibility goals in particular.

Goal 3: Our Visibility

• Increase awareness of Indy Reads’ brand, mission, programs, and impact within stakeholder communities
• Contribute to the growth of the adult education and English Language Learner sector
• Elevate marginalized voices through bookstore programming and student leadership

Goal 4: Our Sustainability

• Establish a culture of philanthropy that advances diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility throughout the organization
• Develop and deepen diversified revenue streams—with emphasis on broad-based individual giving, corporate sponsorships, and innovative grants
• Achieve consistent fiscal year surpluses to build a strategic cash reserve representing six months of operating expenses
• Explore planned giving and endowment strategies
• Create a 3-year budget with staffing and program forecasts to inform development strategy

Leadership & Governance

Chief Executive Officer – Ruba Marshood

Ruba Marshood oversees Indy Reads’ strategy, programming, brand, and growth to advance the organization’s vision of literacy for all. A social justice leader, Ruba came to adult literacy after a decade of international community development work across Kenya, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea, and beyond. She returned to the U.S. with a focus on local impact, launching the Destination Workforce program at the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia (now EEC) before joining Indy Reads in 2022. Under her leadership, Ruba has established Indy Reads as the only organization in the state that provides holistic English literacy education to adults and their families across the full spectrum of learning levels to reach their goals and thrive.

An alumna of the Princeton AlumniCorps’ Emerging Leaders program, Ruba holds a B.S. from the University of Maryland and a Master of Environmental Management and International Development from Duke University. She is fluent in Arabic and a published photographer. Ruba is passionate about the transformative and liberative power of literacy to uplift individual expression, build community, advance opportunities, and enrich society and is inspired daily by the team she leads.

Board of Directors

Indy Reads is governed by an engaged fourteen-member Board of Directors that plays an active role in fundraising, ambassadorship, and organizational strategy. The board is led by Chair William Turner, Jr. The Board Development Committee is an active partner to the VP of Advancement in expanding Indy Reads’ philanthropic reach.

Position Description

The VP of Advancement provides strategic leadership for all fundraising, marketing, and outreach efforts at Indy Reads. They oversee development strategy and execution, supervise communications and marketing, and serve as a key external ambassador for the organization.

The VP carries a personal portfolio of donors while supporting and facilitating donor relationships managed by other staff and board members. Limited hybrid work options are available.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Fund Development Leadership

• Develop and implement a comprehensive development plan growing individual, corporate, foundation, government, and fee-for-service revenue
• Leverage recent giving analysis and strategic development planning to elevate a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization
• Utilize qualitative and quantitative data to build the case for support and strengthen messaging around Indy Reads’ impact and potential impact with increased funding
• Lead grant strategy and oversee the preparation, submission, and stewardship of all grants, including reports
• Monitor progress toward fundraising goals and report regularly to the CEO and Board
• Apply best practices across the full donor cycle: identification, cultivation, solicitation, acknowledgment, and stewardship in line with Indy Reads’ equity values

Board & Executive Partnership

• Partner with the CEO and Board Development Committee to strengthen board fundraising engagement
• Support identification and cultivation of prospective board members
• Prepare materials, briefings, and data to support board and executive fundraising efforts

Special Events & Community Engagement

• Plan and lead 1–2 annual fundraising events that generate revenue, attract new donors, and increase community awareness
• Secure event sponsorships and manage event budgets, timelines, and performance metrics
• Collaborate with staff, board members, and volunteers to ensure successful execution

Communications, Marketing & Brand Leadership

• Oversee all external communications, including digital, print, social media, press, and promotional materials
• Ensure consistent application of branding standards across the organization
• Position the CEO as a visible spokesperson through speaking engagements, panels, and public events
• Represent Indy Reads at key community tables to expand awareness and partnerships

Organizational Leadership

• Lead and develop the development and communications function, fostering collaboration, accountability, and growth
• Supervise and mentor a full-time Development Assistant
• Design, in partnership with the CEO and Leadership Team, recruit, supervise, and support a Communications Coordinator in telling the Indy Reads story with clarity, consistency, and creativity
• Serve as an active member of the Leadership Team, contributing to organizational strategy, culture, and operational planning
• Collaborate with program leadership to align revenue strategies with mission delivery and to position Indy Reads as an expert and leader in learning and literacy
• Serve as a strategic advisor and thought partner to the CEO

Qualifications

Professional Experience

• 7+ years of progressively responsible nonprofit experience with demonstrated success in development
• Proven ability to build and strengthen a high-performing development program
• Experience managing donor relationships and closing gifts across multiple revenue streams
• Familiarity with donor databases (e.g., Salesforce) preferred; Indy Reads is actively expanding its Salesforce capabilities

Skills & Attributes

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strategic thinker with the ability to execute tactically
• Collaborative, adaptable leader who enjoys mentoring and team building
• Facility with qualitative and quantitative data-based analysis and storytelling
• High degree of initiative, organization, and attention to detail
• Ability to manage multiple priorities with limited oversight
• High energy, integrity, and passion for Indy Reads’ mission
• A sense of humor and appreciation for working in a mission-driven environment

Compensation & Benefits

This is an outstanding opportunity for a highly motivated individual to assume a pivotal role in advancing Indy Reads’ mission. Indy Reads offers a very attractive compensation package, including a competitive base salary ($80,000-$100,000) as well as health, 401(k), and generous PTO/days off benefits with 2 Weeks of Wellness, 11 Company Holidays, and 20 days PTO.

Application Process

To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter to:

[email protected]

Subject line: VP of Advancement – Indy Reads

Indy Reads strongly encourages people of color, people from marginalized backgrounds, and people with immigrant experience to apply for positions at our organization. Indy Reads is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Studies have shown that people from marginalized communities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. If you are excited about this opportunity and believe you have skills to contribute to the role, please apply. We seek employees from all backgrounds to join our team and encourage them to bring their authentic and best selves to work. 

We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. Indy Reads makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to use his/her hands to feel objects, tools or controls. The employee is regularly required to stand, walk and sit. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required for this position include close vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.

Download a copy of this job opportunity as a PDF.