Director, Prospect Development

The Director plays a pivotal role in prospect research and analytics. By leveraging data, trend analysis, and prospect research knowledge, they serve as a fundraising partner—identifying, researching, and analyzing both new prospects and existing donors. Their responsibilities include collaborating with colleagues in philanthropy and engagement to optimize college resources, implementing prospect research activities, and ensuring effective integration of Blackbaud (the college’s constituent database). Additionally, the Director manages the prospect research program, providing structure and vision to fundraising efforts through strategic analysis of donor pools and pipelines. This position is critical for the success of comprehensive fundraising campaigns and aligns prospect research with college fundraising goals. 

Job Responsibilities:

Direct Prospect Research Initiatives 

• Oversee the production of high-quality research deliverables for senior college leadership and fundraising staff.  Research responses include extensive financial and biographical research by identifying and analyzing wealth indicators, such as real estate holdings, equity holdings, compensation, family foundation assets, and philanthropic activity. 
• Compose detailed research materials that provide analysis and interpretation of prospects that support development officer work and fundraising objectives.
• Cultivate culture and create analytical solutions for proactive research aligned with portfolio development, prospect pools, and campaign priorities. 
• Lead efforts in prospect identification through the purchase and integration of electronic screening and social media data. 
• Design, implement and manage a system for prospect identification by capitalizing on the existing and developing landscape of software resources and platforms. 
• Drive effective communication of research ROI to advance partnerships with staff and colleagues and opportunities for strategic utilization of research throughout all levels of the College.

Information Architecture and Analytics Leadership

• Lead initiatives for data integrity and information architecture to ensure effective data governance for all prospect research information in RE
• Capitalize on enriched data by way of informed scoring systems and modeling.
• Establish strategies and implementation plans for the maintenance, use and support of the database. Translate high level business requirements into functional specifications for systems that will directly benefit P&E users and programs.
• Share information about managed prospects to build understanding of fundraising performance and to provide information that supports active management of prospects through the development cycle.
• Develop required data analytics for organizational tasks and integrate data analytics and processing applications into organization workflow to enable nimble decision making.

Prospect Management 

• Educate P&E staff on prospect management policies and procedures.
• Assist fundraisers through knowledge of the College’s top prospects to develop appropriate cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies; referencing and representing that information at meetings and in discussions, as needed.
• Review campus-wide prospect information for appropriate inclusion on the prospect management and tracking system. Ensure the data integrity for effective prospect tracking and management.

Other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s Degree required, Master’s Degree preferred
• At least three years of experience in higher education development research or related field. 
• Proficiency in conceptualizing and developing proactive prospecting methodologies using such tools as constituent list segmentation, data mining and electronic and peer screenings.
• Understanding of wealth indicators and ability to translate such information into prospect ratings and gift estimates.
• Advances the latest trends in prospect research and identifies new research tools and resources.
• Progressive experience in data analytics, comprehensive biographical or genealogical research, and/or financial analysis. Experience leveraging predictive modeling preferred.
• Ability to manipulate, analyze and synthesize data using data warehousing and mining tools.
• Ability to foster a collaborative, customer-oriented working environment.
• Skill in developing and implementing new strategies and procedures.
• Ability to implement short and long-term goals while managing multiple projects, tasks, and deadlines.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. 

Application Instructions:

Interested applicants must apply online and attach a resume, cover letter, and list of three professional references. Questions about online applications should be directed to the Office of Human Resources at (607) 274-8000 or humanresources@ithaca.edu.

Ithaca College is committed to building a diverse academic community and encourages members of underrepresented groups to apply. Experience that contributes to the diversity of the college is appreciated.

Visa sponsorship is not provided for this position. 

Hiring Range:

$87,000 to $90,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience.  We pride ourselves on providing our benefit-eligible employees with comprehensive benefits, including work/life balance, generous paid time off policies, career-enhancing trainings, educational benefits, and opportunities to give back to the community. Beyond benefits, you’ll enjoy the kind of uniquely rewarding work environment that can only be found in a vibrant college community.  For an overview of our benefit offerings, please visit https://www.ithaca.edu/human-resources/employee-benefits-wellness