Prospect Development Advisor

Hillsdale College; Hillsdale (MI); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Hillsdale College seeks a highly motivated Prospect Development Advisor to support fundraising through strategic research, data analysis, and portfolio management. The Advisor will collaborate with the Executive Director and Prospect Development team to enhance donor engagement and align fundraising strategies with the College’s mission and values.

The role offers remote or hybrid work, with travel up to 20% for conferences, campus visits, and donor events.

Qualifications

• Minimum 4 years in prospect development and donor analytics.
• Experience with Blackbaud CRM and Power BI preferred.
• Ability to research individuals, corporations, and foundations.
• Strong analytical and data visualization skills.

Responsibilities

• Conduct proactive and reactive research on prospects using listed tools.
• Prepare donor profiles assessing capacity and engagement history.
• Maintain accurate CRM records in Blackbaud.
• Support portfolio strategy and optimization with development officers.
• Lead portfolio reviews and track prospect stages.
• Ensure research aligns with Hillsdale College’s mission.

Skills

Prospect development

Portfolio management

Donor analytics

Analytical thinking

Tools

Power BI

Excel

Blackbaud CRM

iWave

WealthPoint

DonorScape

LexisNexis

Candid

Job description

Hillsdale College is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Prospect Development Advisor to support our fundraising efforts through strategic prospect research, data analysis, and portfolio management. The Advisor will collaborate closely with the Executive Director and the Prospect Development team to enhance donor engagement, optimize prospect portfolios, and align fundraising strategies with Hillsdale College’s mission and values.

This pivotal role directly contributes to Hillsdale College’s commitment to academic excellence, the promotion of virtue, and the preservation of a classical liberal arts education. By providing actionable insights, comprehensive research, and data-driven strategies, the Advisor will empower our front-line fundraisers to effectively build long-term relationships with donors.

This position offers the flexibility of remote or hybrid work. The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker who thrives in a values-driven, collaborative environment. This position requires a distraction-free home workspace and a reliable internet connection. The Prospect Development Advisor will be expected to travel up to 20% for conferences, campus visits, and donor events.

Essential Job Functions

• Conduct proactive and reactive research on individuals, corporations, and foundations using tools such as iWave, WealthPoint, DonorScape, LexisNexis, and Candid.
• Prepare detailed donor profiles assessing giving capacity, philanthropic interests, affiliations, and engagement history.
• Monitor news and activity related to high-level prospects and maintain accurate records in the College’s CRM (Blackbaud).
• Partner with development officers to support portfolio strategy, hygiene, and optimization.
• Lead portfolio reviews, track engagement and prospect stages, and recommend strategies to enhance donor movement.
• Collaborate with development officers and leadership to support key campaigns, regional events, and donor initiatives.
• Provide prospect identification and strategy recommendations for campaign planning, travel briefings, and solicitation preparation.
• Ensure research strategies align with Hillsdale’s mission and institutional goals.

Data & Metrics Analysis

• Use Blackbaud CRM , Excel, and Power BI to develop custom reports and dashboards that track donor trends and fundraising performance.
• Analyze prospect screening results and behavior patterns to prioritize outreach and inform strategies.
• Contribute to the development of performance metrics and analytics tools to evaluate team effectiveness.

Donor Relationship Management

• Provide research and insights to inform donor engagement strategies.
• Maintain and update biographical, financial, and relational information in the College’s database.

Training & Process Improvement

• Support the training of staff on research tools, ethical standards, and best practices in prospect development.
• Contribute to the refinement of internal processes, documentation, and team efficiency.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and data-informed decision-making.

Special Projects & Additional Responsibilities

• Support special programs and projects as assigned.
• Perform other duties as required to contribute to the success of the fundraising and development teams.
• Maintain confidentiality and accuracy in handling sensitive donor and candidate information.

Required Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty mentioned. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Education & Experience

• Required: Minimum 4 years of experience in prospect development, portfolio management, and donor analytics
• Preferred: Experience with Blackbaud CRM , Power BI, and in a higher education or nonprofit setting

Technical Skills

• Proficiency with research tools such as iWave, DonorScape, WealthPoint, Candid, and LexisNexis.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to synthesize large datasets
• Experience with Excel and Power BI for reporting and data visualization

Core Competencies

• Strategic and analytical thinking with strong attention to detail
• Excellent communication, organizational, and project management skills
• Professionalism and discretion in handling sensitive data
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in both remote and in-person settings

Code of Commitment

Be a good representative of Hillsdale College to promote the liberal arts, the College’s original Articles of Association and operating principles stated in the Staff Code of Commitment. The Mission Statement should be considered in all aspects of the position. The teaching of Christian faith shall remain a conspicuous aim of the College.