Director of Research and Prospect Management

POSITION TITLE:  Director of Research and Prospect Management

COMPENSATION RANGE: 70,000.00 - 80,000.00 USD per year

EMPLOYMENT CLASSIFICATION: Professional Administrative

DEPARTMENT: Office of Development

TARGET HIRE DATE: 6/1/2026

BENEFITS: UNC’s Career Hub

Candidates must have valid U.S. work authorization at the time of application; UNC cannot provide H-1B sponsorship at this time.

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 04/20/2026.

Position Summary:

The Director of Research and Prospect Management is a key fundraising strategist responsible for developing and implementing proactive prospect development strategies to build and sustain a strong pipeline of leadership annual giving, major gift, and planned gift prospects for the development team at the University of Northern Colorado. Reporting to the Senior Director of Advancement Services, this position leads prospect identification, research, analytics, and portfolio strategy to support the successful identification and movement of prospects through the major gift pipeline.

Working closely with the AVP for Development and the VP for Advancement, the Director partners with development staff to plan and support research-driven strategies that strengthen the university’s major gift program and advance fundraising priorities.

The Director serves as a strategic advisor to advancement leadership, providing data-informed insights that guide the evolution of prospect strategy, portfolio management, and fundraising priorities. The role operates with a high degree of independence while maintaining regular communication and alignment with advancement leadership.

Job Duties:

Portfolio Strategy and Prospect Management (37.5%)
Support the frontline fundraising team in building and managing strategic and productive portfolios.

Assign and manage prospect portfolios to maintain balance and maximize fundraising effectiveness.

Lead regular portfolio review sessions to support appropriate prospect movement and engagement, providing analysis and insights to inform development team decision-making.

Recommend and implement improvements to prospect management processes and moves management practices.

Leverage prospect research and data tools (e.g., mapping and geographic analysis) to support travel planning, prospect identification, and efficient portfolio management.

Train development staff on prospect tracking, proposal management, and data standards within the Raiser’s Edge NXT.

Develop, refine, and evolve best practice research policies and procedures that support consistent and effective prospect development practices.

Maintain proactive communication with development staff regarding prospect movement, assignments, and research outcomes.

Prospect Identification and Research (37.5%)
Identify and qualify new major gift, corporate and foundation, leadership annual giving, and planned giving prospects to maintain a strong pipeline aligned with institutional priorities.

Conduct research and analyze wealth indicators, philanthropic activity, and engagement data using internal and external resources.

Synthesize complex information into clear, actionable insights for development staff and university leadership.

Produce research briefings, prospect profiles, and strategic reports that support cultivation and solicitation efforts.

Ensure accuracy, consistency, and appropriate documentation of prospect data and research findings within advancement systems.

In partnership with Advancement Services, maintain and enhance the quality and accuracy of prospect information within the advancement database.

Lead data analysis initiatives to proactively identify emerging prospects aligned with current and future fundraising goals

Strategy, Data, and Process Improvement (25%)
Partner with Advancement Services and leadership to refine prospect tracking systems, data practices, and reporting tools that support development team strategy and fundraising outcomes.

Continuously evaluate and recommend research methodologies, tools, and emerging technologies (including AI-assisted research and predictive analytics) to strengthen prospect development efforts.

Monitor and evaluate emerging technologies and data tools that enhance prospect identification, research synthesis, and strategic insight.

Professional Standards and Collaboration
Maintain knowledge of the national best practices in prospect research and prospect