Associate Director, Prospect Development / Development Research Manager

Michigan State University; East Lansing (MI); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote-friendly work arrangement

Job summary

Michigan State University is seeking an Associate Director of Prospect Development to lead and supervise data-driven prospect research and analysis. This role partners with the Director to drive portfolio strategy, pipeline development, and solicitation plans for major fundraising units.

The successful candidate will manage a team, utilize prospect management systems, and coordinate with central advancement and regional offices to optimize donor engagement and impact.

Qualifications

• Experience in Prospect Development is strongly preferred.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal presentation skills with organizational ability and attention to detail.
• Ability to learn new software/databases quickly and possess high computer literacy; CRM experience a plus.

Responsibilities

• Oversee prospect management and research for assigned fundraising units.
• Coordinate portfolio compilation and stage migration with staff to ensure compliance with guidelines.
• Develop strategies and tactics to coordinate portfolios and solicitation plans.
• Lead meetings and conversations, providing insights from research and analysis.
• Build strong working relationships and lead or participate in team and cross-departmental initiatives.

Skills

Prospect development experience

Interpersonal skills

Oral and written communication

Organizational skills

Initiative

Attention to detail

Leadership experience

Education

Four-year college degree

Tools

CRM database

Job description

Working/Functional Title

Associate Director, Prospect Development

Position Summary

The mission of University Advancement is to secure support for Michigan State University in terms of money, talent, service, and advocacy, by delivering an integrated program of communications, marketing, and engagement. Our objective is to build deep and long-term relationships with alumni and other stakeholders and potential partners that will ensure increased support in the future.

BASIC FUNCTION

As a member of the Prospect Development Team, the Associate Director of Prospect Development works with the Director of Prospect Development to provide leadership, oversight, and strategy for assigned fundraising units regarding prospect management, research, and analysis. The Associate Director will supervise a team of data driven professionals responsible for managing the Advancement staff’s efforts to manage prospects and portfolios through leveraging systems, business processes, and interpersonal relationships. The position will develop a series of strategies and tactics to coordinate portfolios, solicitation plans, and specific prospects for Michigan State University’s fundraising units. The Associate Director serves as a partner to ensure excellence in service to fundraisers in pipeline and portfolio development.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Oversees all prospect management and research activity and staff for assigned fundraising units -

• Works closely with the Director of Prospect Development and the Regional, Alumni Office, and Central Advancement offices and staff, including the Director of Individual Giving, constituency portfolio managers, and executive directors to coordinate the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of MSU’s best prospects and donors.
• Partners with assigned units’ development staff to ensure portfolio compilation and stage migration comply with Advancement guidelines and policies. Conducts regularly scheduled portfolio reviews with development staff.
• Responsible for implementing prospect management strategies, business processes and protocols, specifically those activities focused on informing and motivating portfolio managers to move their prospects to give to MSU.
• Works with the Associate Director Business Analytics to provide potential prospects for the portfolios of fundraisers, with an emphasis on managing relationship details about prospects and donors in a timely fashion. Ability to perform complex analyses and organize information to identify philanthropic patterns, tendencies, and relationships primarily among individual donors and prospects. Ability to analyze and interpret complex financial documents for the purposes of wealth assessment (i.e. SEC filings, real property records, legal documents, etc.).
• Capable of, and comfortable with, leading meetings and conversations, offering insight based on research and analysis, and participating in prospect strategy discussions. Able to set and manage agendas and redirect conversation if necessary.

Works collaboratively with Directors of fundraising units for special projects and consultations on pipeline and fundraising activity -

• Implement prospect and lead pipeline strategies, business processes, and protocols in an effort to move suspects through the pipeline.
• Coordinate special projects across multiple departments within UA with the goal of building and maintaining the major-giving pipeline.

Effective Leadership and Supervision of Others -

• Coaches and provides strategic guidance to employees, provides regular feedback on performance.
• Manges time and attendance, performance evaluations, and other administrative duties of a manager.
• Establishes a positive working environment that encourages collaboration and open communication among team members and other colleagues.
• Builds strong working relationships and professional trust through a collaborative, collegial, and customer service focused approach. Strong interpersonal and diplomacy skills required.
• Leads and/or actively participates in team, unit, or cross-departmental meetings.
• Strong project management and problem-solving skills and demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced team environment.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and work with sensitive information.
• Ability to communicate effectively across all channels with all levels of University staff in order to collaborate, complete projects, and achieve goals.

COMMUNICATIONS/INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS INTERACTS WITH:

• Supervisor in order to receive direction and clarify assignments, procedures, and priorities.
• Central Advancement management and staff.
• Executive management and development officers to provide prospect identification.
• Prospect development peers to discuss methodology of research, evaluate procedures, share information, and assist in training.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WORK OF OTHERS

Will provide first level supervision over regular and student employees. Those positions responsible for the supervision of regular employees are identified with /S following the title.

RESPONSIBLE FOR HEALTH/SAFETY OF OTHERS

No assigned responsibility.

IMPACT ON PROGRAMS/SERVICES/OPERATIONS

Proper use of research skills enlarges the potential donor base, provides fundraising staff with critical information for decisions regarding cultivation and solicitation of prospects, and ultimately increases the total dollars raised through University Development’s fundraising efforts. Errors or omission of factual data can adversely affect donor relationships and results in financial loss and/or serious embarrassment and loss of goodwill for the University.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Standard office environment. The job requires very little physical effort.

Minimum Requirements

Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in Computer Programming, Management, Accounting, Library Science or a related field; one to three years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in data collection and analysis, library research, data entry and records operations management, staff training, and report writing and editing; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience in Prospect Development strongly preferred.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal presentation skills, organizational ability, initiative, and attention to detail. The ability to analyze and synthesize information, to prioritize work, and independently manage multiple, diverse, and competing priorities while meeting deadlines.
• Successful candidates will have excellent customer service, relationship and time management skills and an innate sense of curiosity. Previous leadership or supervisory experience preferred.
• The ideal candidate must have the ability and desire to learn new software/databases quickly and possess a high level of computer literacy. Experience using a CRM database or similar a plus.
• It is desirable that candidates understand wealth indicators, donor motivations for giving, knowledge of ethics statements by the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (APRA), Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and related organizations.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Application Materials

Resume and cover letter

Special Instructions

Interested in joining the team at Michigan State University? For questions about the position, please contact Patricia Karam, Director of Talent Acquisition, at [e-mail].

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Work Hours

STANDARD 8-5

Website

Advancement.msu.edu

Remote Work Statement

MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.

Bidding eligibility ends November 10, 2026, at 11:55 PM