Associate Director, Prospect Research and Strategy

Title: Associate Director, Prospect Research and Strategy
Division Name: University Advancement
Department: Advancement & Foundation Operations

Job Summary

This position is a key partner in developing strategies that inform cultivation and solicitation of major and principal gift prospects. Responsible for leading a comprehensive development research service for University Advancement, including managing prospect research initiatives identifying, acquiring, qualifying, rating, and tracking donors to determine capacity, interests, and likelihood to make philanthropic contributions. Independently uses resources to identify potential major gift support using creative research techniques, data analytics and electronic searching methodologies including qualifying, screening, and rating tools to ensure that fundraising initiatives have sufficient prospects to meet fundraising goals. Identifies new ways to secure the latest biographical and financial information of current and potential major gift donors from public resources and assisting in the maintenance of this information in the constituent donor database. In conjunction with the Director, facilitates prospect development and assignments, reviews all portfolios ensuring each Major Gift Officer has a balanced and viable collection of prospects, and analyzes team and division prospect trends and capacity. Assists with principal prospect research profiles and provide in-depth gift capacity analysis for the President and senior staff as needed. This position is an integral part of the development and execution of research policies and procedures requiring a solid knowledge of giving trends, data analytics, predictive modeling, and data mining to help drive fundraising strategies.

Additional Information

Prospect Development at Illinois State University is a part of Advancement Operations, one of four departments managed by University Advancement (UA). Prospect Development’s mission is to enhance Illinois State’s philanthropic endeavors by partnering with fundraisers to deliver timely information, moves management and data and prospect analysis. In doing so, we maximize the opportunity for private funding that benefits students, faculty, and the university’s strategic priorities.

University Benefit Highlights:

- Insurance benefits, including health, dental, vision, and life
- Retirement and supplemental retirement planning options
- Tuition waiver benefits available to staff as well as their eligible dependents
- Paid holiday/administrative closures during Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks
- Paid benefit time

Additional University Benefit information, including information regarding eligibility to participate in the State Universities Retirement System and the State of Illinois Group Insurance program, can be reviewed here: https://hr.illinoisstate.edu/benefits/

Salary Rate / Pay Rate

$67,000 annual

Required Qualifications

1. Bachelor's degree.
2. Three (3) years of professional experience in prospect research, marketing/business research, higher education fundraising and development, foundation operations, annual giving, project management, or related field.
3. Valid Driver's License

Preferred Qualifications

1. Understanding of advancement operations as a functional area.
2. Experience with advancement database systems.
3. Experience with prospect management work such as pipeline reviews and portfolio balancing.

Work Hours

Core work hours are 8:00am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday.

Functional Expectations

Must be able to complete the following with or without a reasonable accommodation:

1. Remain at a workstation for extended periods
2. Move about in various locations across campus as needed to complete day-to-day work.
3. Effectively communicate on a daily basis.

Proposed Starting Date

September 2026

Required Applicant Documents

Resume

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Optional Applicant Documents

Transcripts - See Special Instructions section for additional options
Certification of Retirement Annuity

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