Assistant/Associate Director, Principal Gift Qualification and Research

Position Title & Department:

Assistant/Associate Director, Principal Gift Qualification and Research; University Advancement Posting #

5433

Department Description:

Giving is paramount in the University of San Diego's ability to support the many needs of the university and its students across the campus and around the world. Development is, by definition, the process of creating and enhancing relationships with (potential) donors to ensure current and future funding. It is incredibly exciting and inspiring to be working at a university that fosters a university-wide ecosystem that strengthens the collective capacity of our students, faculty, staff, and community partners to address humanity’s most urgent challenges through meaningful, sustainable, and innovative collaborations to advance USD’s mission. Members of the university development team are uniquely positioned to be a part of changemaking every day as they work with numerous constituencies within the university community as well as our engaged alumni, parents, and friends.

University Description:

The University of San Diego, an engaged and contemporary Catholic institution, was founded by the Diocese of San Diego and the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1949. Governed by an independent board of trustees since 1972, USD remains committed to a liberal arts education grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. Inspired by this centuries old tradition of Catholic higher education, the University welcomes people of all faith traditions and any, or no, religious background. The future success of USD relies on the contributions of those who seek to foster the development of engaged global citizens and an earnest confrontation of humanity’s urgent challenges.

Detailed Description:

The assistant/associate director for principal gift qualification and research is responsible for proactively identifying and qualifying emerging principal and major gift prospective donors to support the university’s fundraising goals. Reporting to the senior director of principal gifts, this position works closely with the associate vice president (AVP) for Development, frontline fundraisers, and other advancement leaders to maintain a robust pool of qualified prospective donors for all approved fundraising priorities for USD with added focus on pipeline development.

The assistant/associate director will generate high-level prospective donor intelligence, align donor interests with institutional priorities, and recommend tailored cultivation and solicitation strategies, ensuring a consistent and tactical flow of newly qualified prospects into active portfolios. This position will engage prospective donors in-person, through correspondence, telephone outreach, and/or Zoom. This role requires a strategic mindset, initiative, and expertise to produce actionable results that enhance engagement and increase the likelihood of transformational gifts.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Qualification and Discovery 

• Identify and qualify new prospective donors with the capacity and inclination to make six- and seven-figure gifts within 18–24 months in support of approved fundraising priorities for USD with added focus on pipeline development.
• Serve as the critical link between prospect identification and advancement leadership and/or frontline fundraisers ensuring a consistent and strategic flow of newly qualified prospects into active portfolios.
• In collaboration with the advancement research team, analyze data to uncover prospective donors based on wealth indicators, philanthropic history, engagement, inclination, life stage, and other key characteristics.
• Conduct in-depth research and evaluate key qualification indicators to surface new and under-engaged prospective donors capable of principal or major gifts.
• Synthesize complex data into meaningful donor insights and strategic recommendations for major gift officers, the senior director, campaign director, AVP, and senior leadership.
• Fully comply with the university’s prospect