Director of Prospect Research

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Position Details

Position Summary

The Director of Prospect Research manages the University's prospect research function by providing philanthropic intelligence that supports fundraising, campaign planning, portfolio management, and donor engagement. Reporting to the Senior Director of Advancement Services, this position identifies, researches, analyzes, and qualifies prospective donors while delivering timely, accurate, and actionable intelligence to development officers, Advancement leadership, and the President. Working collaboratively with Advancement Services and frontline fundraisers, the Director develops proactive prospect identification strategies, prepares executive briefing materials, supports portfolio management initiatives, and leverages research and analytics to strengthen the University's fundraising pipeline. The position also provides research and analytical support for presidential fundraising activities by preparing briefing materials, identifying strategic background information, and assisting with prospect intelligence for selected presidential engagements. The position exercises independent judgment in evaluating prospect information, determining appropriate research methodologies, assessing philanthropic capacity and inclination, and developing research recommendations, while operating within the strategic priorities and direction established by the Senior Director of Advancement Services.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and implement prospect research methodologies, standards, and best practices that support the University's fundraising priorities.
• Lead proactive prospect identification and qualification initiatives to expand the University's pipeline of major, principal, planned, corporate, and foundation gift prospects.
• Prepare comprehensive prospect profiles, confidential research reports, executive briefings, and presidential briefing materials for development officers, senior leadership, volunteers, and trustees.
• Analyze philanthropic capacity, charitable inclination, institutional affinity, business interests, foundation activity, SEC filings, executive compensation, real estate holdings, and other indicators of giving potential.
• Partner with development officers by providing research, analysis, and recommendations that inform cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and portfolio management decisions.
• Develop dashboards and analytical reports that monitor portfolio health, qualification activity, solicitation progress, fundraising performance, and pipeline opportunities.
• Monitor news and external developments affecting key prospects and provide timely intelligence to fundraising staff.
• Collaborate with Advancement Services to maintain CRM integrity, document research findings, support data governance, and assist with database cleanup and gift processing as operational needs require.
• Provide prospect research and analytical support for campaign planning, institutional fundraising initiatives, and selected presidential fundraising activities by preparing briefing materials, conducting prospect research, and identifying relevant philanthropic intelligence for presidential engagements.
• Ensure compliance with APRA and CASE ethical standards while maintaining the highest level of confidentiality regarding donor and prospect information.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
• Three to five years of progressively responsible experience in prospect research, prospect development, advancement services, fundraising analytics, or a related field; higher education experience preferred.
• Experience with CRM systems and prospect research resources such as Raiser's Edge, ResearchPoint, iWave, DonorAtlas, or similar platforms.
• Strong analytical, research, writing, organizational, and project management skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with frontline fundraisers and Advancement leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree.
• Experience supporting comprehensive fundraising campaigns.
• Experience with business intelligence, data visualization, and reporting tools.
• Familiarity with APRA.

Core Competencies

• Analytical Excellence
• Strategic Thinking
• Collaboration
• Communication
• Integrity and Confidentiality
• Customer Service
• Continuous Improvement

Position Impact

The Director of Prospect Research serves as the University's primary prospect research professional, providing the research, analysis, and donor intelligence that support successful fundraising. By identifying and qualifying prospective donors, preparing executive briefing materials, supporting portfolio management, and maintaining high-quality prospect information, this position enables development officers and Advancement leadership to make informed fundraising decisions and strengthen the University's philanthropic pipeline.

Work Schedule

On-Campus position

Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Summer:  Monday-Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Occasional evenings and weekends may be required.

The University of Tampa offers great benefits, including:

• Free Tuition
• Generous paid leave
• Wellness initiatives
• 100% Employer-Funded Health Reimbursement Account
• 100% Employer-Paid Short & Long Term Disability Insurance
• 100% Employer-Funded Employee Assistance Program
• Discounted On-Campus Dining Meal Plans
• Free On-Campus Parking
• Access to Campus Amenities (pool, library, campus events, and more)
• Fitness Center
• Pet Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• And more

Submission Guidelines

To receive full consideration for employment with The University of Tampa, please be sure to submit/upload required documents for this position at time of application submission.  Required documents should be submitted in the attachment box at the bottom of the "My Experience" page of the application before continuing through the application.

Background Check Requirements

Finalists may be required to submit to a criminal background check. Some positions may also require a motor vehicle report and/or a credit report.

Additional Information

This description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not to determine specific duties and responsibilities for any particular position. Essential functions and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific task assigned to the position.