Prospect Research Coordinator

Position Summary

The University of Dayton is a top-tier Catholic research university with academic offerings from the undergraduate to the doctoral levels. Our mission is to educate the whole person and link learning and scholarship with leadership and service. University Advancement promotes a culture of philanthropy, volunteer engagement, and lifelong relationships in support of the University’s mission. As we are currently in a comprehensive fundraising campaign, we are growing our exceptional team of passionate, mission-driven Advancement professionals looking for a career as a Prospect Research Coordinator.

We are seeking candidates with either direct experience in Prospect Research or applicable transferable skills. We welcome applicants who are eager to learn and commit to the field of Prospect Research.

This role is perfect for creative and strategic thinkers who would enjoy conducting in-depth research on potential donor prospects. As a Prospect Researcher, you will utilize various internal and external research tools to identify and share your results on essential elements such as financial capacity, philanthropic interests, university affinity, and key relationships.

Your work will be critical in developing strong portfolios and enhancing the strength of our prospect pipeline. If you’re passionate about connecting the dots, sharing your insights and making an impact, we’d love to hear from you!

In addition, after an onboarding period, the position is eligible to be considered for UD’s hybrid remote work program. This is not a fully remote position.

The Prospect Research team conducts strategic research on individuals, corporations, and foundations. In addition, the team identifies potential prospects to advance fundraising efforts. Researchers also make recommendations to front-line fundraisers on a donors giving capacity, and evaluate engagement and interests. The successful candidate is responsible for providing in-depth or project-based Prospect Research on current and potential philanthropic donors for the University of Dayton.

Reporting to the Assistant Director of Prospect Research, the successful candidate will be part of a highly collaborative team responsible for researching public information and assets (real estate, securities, business valuation) for individuals, companies, and foundations and then package relevant information into well-written prospect profiles and leads. The candidate will also provide guidance to fundraisers with recommendations on prospect identification and general portfolio maintenance. The candidate will be required to use public and subscription databases for research, be comfortable learning and using a constituent management database, and be highly proficient in Microsoft Excel. The ideal candidate must thrive in a fast-paced environment and be comfortable turning around a high volume of tasks rapidly and accurately.

Ideal Candidates Will Have

• Work experience in fundraising, business research, legal research, writing, teaching, or library sciences will be beneficial.
• Strong creative, analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
• A passion for research and a keen attention to detail.
• Candidates with associated degrees or relevant coursework are encouraged to apply.
  
  

In addition, after an appropriate on-boarding period, this position can be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement up to two remote days per week at the discretion of the department. New employees may begin a hybrid schedule upon approval from the supervisor, successful completion of an orientation period and completing the remote work checklist.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Adhere to the ethical and confidentiality standards of the University and the profession of Prospect Research.
• Research public information databases for real estate, securities, public and private business information on individuals, companies, and foundations to determine a suitable capacity range and summarize the data into well-written profiles for executive administration.
• Analyze and synthesize large blocks of information into succinct documents and disseminate actionable information to divisional partners to support the development of engagement, cultivation and solicitation strategies
• Uncover trends within large data sets and apply findings to identify constituents showing a readiness to engage and have interests aligned with university priorities to guide segmentation and outreach strategies.
• Collaborate and communicate with front-line fundraisers on Leads, prospect identification and portfolio maintenance
• Use public and subscription databases for prospect research
• Determine capacity and assign ratings based on publicly available information, including but not limited to insider holdings, real estate, vendor screenings, and ratings
• Proactively record, improve and maintain the accuracy and breadth of information available on constituents within the university’s system of record.
• Remain knowledgeable of current industry best practices, ethical standards, and prospect research trends through participation with Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (APRA), Ohio Prospect Research Network (OPRN) or other related professional development opportunities
• Participate in supporting staffing needs during select Advancement-sponsored events, specifically - the Campaign, 1Day1Dayton, and Reunion Weekend.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate degree
• Two years of professional work experience
• Proficiency in online databases and software tools, including Microsoft Office
• Strong written communication, analytical, organizational, and creative problem-solving skills
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

While not everyone may possess all of the preferred qualifications, the ideal candidate will bring many of the following:

• Preference given to those with specific experience in Prospect Research
• Understanding of the principals of fundraising and philanthropy, particularly in a higher education setting
• Self-starter who can work independently and communicate and collaborate effectively in a team setting
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, set priorities, and consistently meet or exceed deadlines
• Demonstrated experience indicating a high degree of organization, judgment and initiative
• Keen attention to detail
• Knowledge of Campaigns
• Knowledge of capacity rating systems and experience in providing wealth capacity estimates
• Experience/ knowledge of current proactive prospecting methodologies, including experience with electronic research tools and techniques
• CRM experience, specifically Salesforce Affinaquest
• Proficiency in data management software
• Preference for University of Dayton graduate
• Knowledge of and sensitivity to the Catholic Marianist work environment
  
  

Special Instructions To Applicants

To apply please submit a cover letter addressing each minimum qualification and any applicable preferred qualifications that you meet.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. The University does not provide work visa sponsorship for this position.

Closing Statement

Informed by its Catholic and Marianist mission, the University is committed to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Informed by this commitment, we seek to increase diversity, achieve equitable outcomes, and model inclusion across our campus community. As an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer, we will not discriminate against minorities, women, protected veterans, individuals with disabilities, or on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity.