Job Description

Prospect Research Analyst

Williamsburg, Virginia, United States

University Advancement - Prospect Management & Research

William & Mary

Job Requisition: JR101968 Prospect Research Analyst (Open)

Job Posting Title: Prospect Research Analyst

Department: CC00264 WM001 | WMUA | Prospect Management & Research

Job Family: Staff - Stewardship & Donor Relations

Worker Sub-Type: Regular (benefited)

Primary Job Posting Location: Posting Location - William & Mary

Job Description Summary:

University Advancement creates the conditions for opportunity – human, financial, & experiential – by garnering and stewarding the resources that advance William & Mary. Reporting to the Associate Director of Prospect Research, the Prospect Research Analyst provides full scale prospect research, identification and development services throughout the prospect life cycle. Using the account management model, the Analyst supports several fundraising teams and individual fundraisers. Collaborating with advancement leadership, front-line development officers, and volunteers on prospect management and activity, proactive and reactive prospect research and identification projects, wealth and propensity reviews, and other prospect development related projects. The research analyst utilizes advanced research and analytical methodologies to identify, qualify, and rank a viable pool of highly qualified prospective donors and volunteers in support of the University's strategic fundraising activities, including the annual, planned, major, and leadership gifts fundraising programs. Collects, synthesizes, analyzes, and interprets biographical and financial data to produce briefings and reports that inform decision-making; these reports include calculated wealth estimates and capacity ratings that indicate the ability and propensity of individuals, corporations and foundations to make philanthropic contributions to and serve in volunteer capacities for the university. Advises advancement leadership and gift officers on prospect strategy and comprehensive portfolio management, routinely reviewing fundraising benchmarks with emphasis on strategic movement of prospects through the fundraising cycle (e.g., cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship). The Prospect Research Analyst will help foster a culture of belonging that embraces all people and perspectives. This is a hybrid position based in Williamsburg, VA, that offers a flexible work environment. This position is classified as professional, meaning it is salaried and exempt from overtime. For benefits and leave purposes, this role falls under the "12‑month Professionals & Faculty" classification on the HR website.

Job Description:

For full consideration, submit application materials by the review date, August 31, 2026. Applications received after the review date will be considered if needed. A resume and cover letter are required for this position.

Salary: $50,000-$55,000, commensurate with experience and internal alignment.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree with coursework in research principles, library science, history, business, writing, communications, or a related field or equivalent education, experience, and training.
• Strong analytical skills: ability to interpret financial information, manipulate, analyze, and synthesize data and present findings that are clear and actionable to a variety of Advancement professionals.
• Knowledge of a broad range of research techniques, web-based research, as well as database operation and usage.
• Possess a strong aptitude for logical thinking and intellectual curiosity. Strong problem solving, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Ability to adapt to shifting priorities and manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to work effectively with a diverse audience, with the ability to translate analysis into an accessible format when interacting with non-technical audiences. Proficiency in delivering information clearly to others in both oral and written forms.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills necessary to interface with a diverse group of colleagues and constituents as well as the ability to lead and build consensus among colleagues.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain strict confidentiality; handle sensitive information and material in a discretionary manner.
• Knowledge and understanding of current trends in philanthropy as well as fundraising principles (typically 1-3 years).
• Knowledge and understanding of the fundraising process and business intelligence concepts to include the ability to understand business financial concepts.
• Knowledge of web-based and online research databases and techniques (typically 1-3 years).
• Knowledge of standard research methodology and prospect portfolio development and management, evaluating donor prospects for capacity, inclination, readiness, and recommending relationship development strategies.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Business, information studies, public administration, or related field.
• Experience in prospect research and management within an academic, nonprofit, corporate, or consulting environment.
• Experience analyzing, interpreting, and evaluating wealth data, gift vehicles, and their application in solicitation strategy.
• Experience incorporating common prospect tracking data in a relationship management system, such as prospect ratings, staff assignments, solicitation goals, strategies, moves, contact reports, proposals, and stages.
• Experience with Blackbaud CRM and industry tools leveraged in prospect research and management activities.

Conditions of Employment:

• Long hours may be required to meet deadlines.
• Highest standard of professional ethics and agreement to abide by ethical and confidentiality precepts as set forth by the Commonwealth of Virginia, the university, CASE, and APRA.

Job Duties:

50% - Prospect Identification and Research:

• Provide full scale research and prospect management services to a group of assigned fundraising teams, focusing on both individual fundraiser and team prospect needs.
• Conduct prospect research including the conceptualization and implementation of search strategies. Synthesize and analyze information. Interpret historical, biographical, and financial data. Present the research in strategic and relevant ways. Create actionable recommendations for prospect strategies in support of the University's strategic priorities.
• Leverage wealth screening tools and comprehensive research methods to identify prospects and develop comprehensive prospect research profiles and recommendations.
• Collaborate with fundraisers or other interested parties in establishing appropriate ask amounts for an annual, leadership, and/or planned gifts based on prospect ratings or other key indicators.
• Apply prospect analysis results to a variety of projects. Inform team-level decisions for long-term planning to set campaign goals, define fundraising priorities, event planning, and regional initiatives.
• Proactively and independently plan and execute creative strategies to identify sources of major gift support using creative research techniques and electronic searching methodologies of internal and external data to ensure that campus wide fundraising initiatives, regional fundraising pools, and individual fundraiser portfolios have sufficient appropriate prospects to meet fundraising goals.
• Curate event bios, prospect summaries, and full prospect profiles to inform gift officers and advancement and university leadership with meaningful and actionable information.
• Provide analysis for future fundraising progress based on capacity, penetration, and activity of the prospect pool. Identify data that is critical to inform fundraisers in order to arrive at successful strategy next steps and outcomes.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

40% - Prospect Strategy:

• Provide prospect strategy and support portfolio management for fundraisers with a focus on providing optimal portfolio balance and ability to achieve fundraiser performance metrics as well as team goals. Provide insight, analysis, and movement for key prospects individual gift officers and team managers to inform decision-making.
• Support / troubleshoot avenues for fundraisers to capture moves data (workflows / in-person strategies).
• Collaborate with Portfolio Management team in prospect strategy and portfolio management meetings with Advancement leadership and gift officers. Review prospects with senior leadership and front-line fundraisers. Develop strategies related to fundraising readiness. Develop and execute proactive alert strategies for a core group of prospects and maintain an active awareness of the important news and events involving them.
• Create and communicate actionable recommendations for prospect strategies in support of the University's strategic priorities.
• Review prospects with senior leadership and front-line fundraisers and develop strategies related to fundraising readiness.
• Develop and execute strategies to ensure that newly identified prospects are presented and assigned to appropriate campus fundraisers in a timely manner.

10% - Prospect Development Consulting and Other Projects:

• Collaborate and consult with diverse campus contacts including fundraisers, fundraising leadership, and other campus partners on matters related to portfolio development, solicitation strategy formulation, and information gathering through peer screenings.
• Interpret results and provide direction on the segmentation and management of large groups of prospects and donors identified through the electronic screening process.
• Provide consultative services and orientation sessions on research methodologies and resources to fundraisers, faculty, and other key campus partners involved in fundraising.
• Design and implement other

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