Paula J. Jenkins, CFRE
Paula Jenkins serves as the vice president of principal gifts for the Indiana University Foundation where she provides active, strategic engagement and management of principal gift prospects capable of making principal and transformational gifts to Indiana University. She initiates, coordinates, and drives unique engagement strategies for principal and transformational gift prospects in alignment with institutional priorities to help donors realize their most meaningful and aspirational gifts and goals through philanthropy.
She previously served as the vice president for development, Bloomington for
the Indiana University Foundation where she provided concierge services and strategic, active leadership for centralized advancement services and constituency-based development programs in the individual schools and units of the Indiana University, Bloomington campus. Prior to that, she served as vice president of development for regional campuses at Indiana University where she distinguished herself as a superb fundraiser, strategist, and leader working
closely with the chancellors, senior academic leadership, and advancement professionals to develop and implement a robust advancement model for regional campuses with the outcome of greater philanthropic support.
As assistant dean for development and external relations at the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology at IUPUI she gained considerable experience in all areas of development, including building comprehensive fundraising programs, corporate and foundation relations, and community/alumni relations.
She serves the nonprofit sector as a mentor and coach to young professional fundraisers, and those pursuing the CFRE designation. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona and is pursuing a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP) designation. She is a past board member of the International Board of Directors for the Association of Fundraising Professionals and currently serves on the board of Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Indiana Chapter and as the CFRE Certification Chair. She holds the Certified Fund Raising Executive professional designation and serves on the faculty of The Fund Raising School (IUPUI).