Assistant Director, Prospect Research

The Research Foundation for The State University of New York at Stony Brook; Stony Brook (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Research Foundation for The State University of New York at Stony Brook seeks an Assistant Director, Prospect Research to bolster fundraising priorities through timely, strategic prospect intelligence and scalable research workflows. The role leads the research function and supports staff development.

You will partner with Development and gift officers, research vendors, and cross-functional teams to translate financial and corporate information into actionable insights, conduct prospect

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent.
• Three (3) years of full-time experience in prospect research, prospect management, prospect development, or related field.
• Experience in higher education, non-profit, government, or municipal environments, large healthcare systems, or related fields.
• Working knowledge of prospect research products and systems (e.g. LexisNexis, WealthEngine, iWave, DonorSearch).

Responsibilities

• Support Advancement's day-to-day Prospect Research operations and contribute to staff development.
• Lead the Prospect Research team leadership, help implement workflows, priorities, and best practices.
• Translate complex financial, legal, and corporate information into clear, actionable intelligence for cultivation and fundraising strategies.
• Assist in developing and delivering research deliverables such as confidential profiles, briefings, and project summaries.
• Manage prospect research projects, including identification and evaluation of major gift prospects, wealth screening, data mining, and pipeline development.
• Support data integrity policies and ethical, compliant research practices across the division.
• Stay updated on prospect research trends and incorporate new methodologies into the team’s work.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Prospect research experience

Higher education/non-profit context

Ethical research practices

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

LexisNexis

WealthEngine

iWave

DonorSearch

Raiser's Edge

Salesforce

Job description

Job Description – Assistant Director, Prospect Research (2603900)

Required Qualifications (as evidenced by an attached resume):

Bachelor's degree (foreign equivalent or higher). Three (3) years of full-time experience in prospect research, prospect management, prospect development, and/or a related field. Experience working in higher education, non-profit, government or municipal environments, large healthcare systems, and/or related fields. Working knowledge of prospect research products and systems (e.g. LexisNexis, WealthEngine, iWave, DonorSearch).

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience with data analysis, wealth screenings, and/or prospect research during a capital campaign. Familiarity with Raiser's Edge, Salesforce, or similar fundraising software.

Brief Description of Duties:

The Assistant Director, Prospect Research supports Advancement's mission by assisting with the day‑time operations of the Prospect Research function, contributing to staff development and the delivery of timely, high‑quality prospect intelligence in support of fundraising priorities. The Assistant Director will support the leadership of the Prospect Research team, help implement workflows, priorities, and best practices, and contribute to building a more strategic and scalable research function.

• Relationship Management: Support and strengthen relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including Development and gift officers, Advancement colleagues, research vendors, and cross‑functional committees, through regular communication and meetings. Serve as a knowledgeable resource on prospect intelligence across the division. Assist in facilitating prospect review sessions, respond to internal research requests in support of cultivation, solicitation, and campaign strategy, and collaborate with cross‑functional and data teams to support data integrity policies.
• Leadership: Uphold standards for data integrity, confidentiality, and ethical, compliant research practices (e.g., APRA, CASE, and GDPR guidelines). Contribute to strategic initiatives and cross‑functional analysis under the direction of the Associate Director, Prospect Research. Participate in leadership training and professional development opportunities.
• Communication: Assist in the development and delivery of research deliverables, including in‑depth confidential biographical and financial prospect profiles, briefings, and project summaries tailored to specific audiences. Help translate complex financial, legal, and corporate information into clear, actionable intelligence, and communicate key insights that support cultivation and solicitation strategies while adhering to University standards of discretion and confidentiality. Assist in educating development staff and fundraising colleagues about current research practices and trends.
• Project Management: Support the development and execution of prospect research and identification projects, including identification and evaluation of major gift prospects; analysis of financial capacity, philanthropic tendencies, giving propensity, and campus linkages; electronic and wealth screening; data mining; peer screenings; and pipeline development across prospect pools. Monitor news alerts and SEC filings (e.g., IPO registrations) to surface new and existing prospects. Assist in managing vendor support contracts and related budgets, evaluating tools for accuracy, cost‑effectiveness, and value, and support the Prospect Research function's participation in division‑wide strategic initiatives.
• Growth/Development: Stay updated on prospect research trends, tools, and best practices by attending conferences, participating in professional associations, and pursuing workshops, webinars, and other training opportunities, and help incorporate new methodologies into the team's work.
• Other duties as assigned.

Special Notes:

The Research Foundation of SUNY is a private educational corporation. Employment is subject to the Research Foundation policies and procedures, sponsor guidelines and the availability of funding. This is a full‑time appointment. FLSA Exempt position, not eligible for the overtime provisions of the FLSA. Minimum salary threshold must be met to maintain FLSA exemption.

For this position, we are unable to sponsor candidates for work visas.

Resume/CV and cover letter should be included with the online application.

Stony Brook University is committed to excellence in the creation of an inclusive learning and working environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status and all other protected classes under federal or state laws.

Stony Brook University is dedicated to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants, including individuals with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application, interview, or hiring process, please request one by contacting [e-mail]. We will consider accommodation requests in compliance with applicable laws. This process is independent and does not require any voluntary self‑identification of disability status. Please include the position title and position number (if known) in your message.

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The starting salary range (or hiring range) to be offered for this position is noted below, it represents SBU’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Job Number:

2603900

Official Job Title :

Administrative Staff Assistant III

Job Field

Administrative & Professional (non‑Clinical)

Primary Location

Department/Hiring Area : Advancement

Schedule

Full‑time

Shift

Day Shift Shift Hours : 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Posting Start Date

Oct 30, 2026

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Grade

E3

SBU Area

The Research Foundation for The State University of New York at Stony Brook