Prospect Research and Development Specialist

Cal Poly Humboldt; California (MO); On-site; USD 59,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

Cal Poly Humboldt is seeking an Advancement Professional II, Prospect Research and Development Specialist to identify new prospects and provide research to support Directors of Development. You will help engage, cultivate, and solicit gifts from donors while maintaining CRM data integrity.

The role also handles administrative duties within Development and the broader Advancement Team, ensuring accurate research and timely reports for fundraising campaigns and events.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field and two years of relevant experience.
• Advanced degree may substitute for required experience.
• Experience with a CRM database and Lexis Nexis preferred.

Responsibilities

• Identify new prospects and provide research to support Directors of Development in engaging, cultivating, and soliciting gifts.
• Maintain donor research in the CRM and ensure data integrity.
• Prepare research briefings for fundraisers and campus leadership.
• Assist with administrative and clerical duties within Development and Advancement Team.

Skills

Research

Analytical

Communication

Leadership

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Tools

CRM database

Donor management software

Lexis Nexis

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Job description

Development

Job # 559813

Close Date: October 6, 2026

At Cal Poly Humboldt, bold hearts and open minds shape the future.

Founded in 1913, Cal Poly Humboldt began as a small college for teachers. Today Humboldt has grown into a comprehensive university with rigorous science and liberal arts programs. Designated a polytechnic in 2022, Cal Poly Humboldt provides hands-on, impactful educational opportunities that lead to meaningful, measurable outcomes for the individual, for the state, and the world.

Cal Poly Humboldt is proud to have more than 6,000 students of all backgrounds spread across 61 majors, 13 graduate programs, and 4 credential programs — all of whom contribute passion and creativity within their fields and set the stage for a future grounded in equity and sustainability. Hands-on learning, inspired teaching, ground-breaking research, and thought-provoking creative activity happen daily at Humboldt.

Finding a better future is a task for the bold and open, the down-to- earth and visionary. Cal Poly Humboldt strives to cultivate these qualities in leaders, innovators, and scholars in every field. As part of the California State University (CSU) system, Cal Poly Humboldt is part of one of the nation’s largest and most impactful public university systems, where education, innovation, and service create meaningful change for California and beyond. See what it’s like to work at the CSU - watch our video and imagine your future at Cal Poly Humboldt.

(Job #559813) Advancement Professional II, Prospect Research and Development Specialist, CSU Classification Salary Range: $5,274-$7,684 per month (Step 1-Step 20), Anticipated Hiring Salary: $5,274 per month (Step 1). Final salary placement is commensurate with experience, internal equity, and budget considerations.

This is a full-time, benefited, exempt, 12-month pay plan, permanent position with a one-year probationary period in the Department of Development. This position comes with a premium benefits package that includes outstanding vacation, medical, dental, and vision plans, life insurance, voluntary pre-tax health and dependent care reimbursement accounts, a fee waiver education program, membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), and 15 paid holidays per year. Additional benefits information can be found at https://www.humboldt.edu/hr/employee-benefits .

Position Summary

Under the general supervision of the Associate Vice President of Development, the Prospect Research and Development Specialist identifies new prospects and provides research to support Directors of Development to make informed decisions to engage, cultivate, and solicit gifts from prospects and existing donors.

The Prospect Research and Development Specialist is also responsible for administrative and communication duties within Development and the greater Advancement Team, including being a part of the division’s Administrative Team.

Key Responsibilities

Donor prospect research and database integrity (45%)

• Researching wealth capacity and inclination to give to the University for identified donors and prospective donors using publicly available information.
• Using the database to craft and maintain a prospective pool of likely individual donors for major gifts, annual gifts, and planned gifts.
• Conducting foundation and corporate prospect research to identify, evaluate, and qualify potential funding partners, analyzing philanthropic priorities, giving capacity, grant histories, and alignment with institutional fundraising priorities.
• Creating research briefings for fundraisers and campus leadership when they meet with donors and donor prospects.
• Guiding Directors of Development through tracking activities to progress donors through the “giving pipeline.”
• Generating philanthropy reports from the CRM database.

Administrative and clerical support for University Advancement (50%)

• Preparing and composing correspondence, reviewing and proofing various Word documents, PowerPoints, Adobe documents, and other materials as needed for fundraising proposals and documentation.
• Generally assisting with overall day-to-day department coordination in a team environment.

Other Duties as Assigned (5%)

As Listed In Classification Standards

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Associated with this Position Include:

• Working knowledge and understanding of advancement principles and current best practices.
• Demonstrates competence in independently applying judgment to resolve non-standard problems and issues. Includes interpretation of applicable regulations, standards, and guidelines.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills to plan, organize, prioritize, and ensure the successful completion of fundraising campaigns or events within time and budget constraints.
• Strong communications and interpersonal skills to effectively coordinate multiple stakeholder relationships and guide the development of appropriate fundraising and promotional materials.
• Ability to effectively lead and train others.
• Proficiency in using advancement or donor management software and financial systems.

As Related To Major Responsibilities

• Working knowledge of general practices, industry trends and best practices, including topics relating to sensitivity to cross-cultural perspectives and experiences.
• Ability to learn, interpret, and apply a wide variety of policies and procedures relating to and impacting the applicable program, organizational unit, and/or administrative specialty.
• Knowledge of basic methods and procedures for research and analysis and the ability to apply them.
• Ability to organize and plan work and projects including handling multiple priorities.
• Ability to make independent decisions and exercise sound judgment.
• Ability to compile, write, and present reports related to program or administrative specialty.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within and outside the work group and serve as a liaison for the organizational unit.
• Ability to prepare concise, logical and grammatically correct analytical reports.
• Ability to prioritize assignments and achieve work results under rigid deadlines in an environment with competing work demands.
• Ability to gather, analyze and synthesize data and information from various sources, select pertinent information and integrate the information into reports providing conclusions and recommendations.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with community members and donors.
• Ability to prioritize assignments and achieve work results under rigid deadlines in an environment with competing work demands.

Minimum Qualifications

• Equivalent to a bachelor's degree in a related field and two years of relevant experience. Additional experience which demonstrates acquired and successfully applied knowledge and abilities shown above may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis. An advanced degree in a related field may be substituted for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Preferred experience working in in a non-profit or higher education.
• Experience working on a fundraising team.
• Experience with a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) database.
• Experience with a research database like Lexis Nexis.

Application Deadline

The deadline to submit application materials is 11:55 p.m. on October 6, 2026.

Any inquiries about this recruitment can be directed to [e-mail] or Cal Poly Humboldt's Human Resources Office at [phone].

We acknowledge that Cal Poly Humboldt is located on the unceded lands of the Wiyot people, where they have resided from time immemorial. We encourage all to gain a deeper understanding of their history and thriving culture. As an expression of our gratitude, we are genuinely committed to developing trusting, reciprocal, and long-lasting partnerships with the Wiyot people as well as all of our neighboring tribes. Cal Poly Humboldt was the first campus in the California State University system to offer a stand- alone major in Native American Studies.

Cal Poly Humboldt is committed to enriching its educational environment and its culture through the diversity of its staff, faculty, and administration. Persons with interest and experience in helping organizations set and achieve goals relative to diversity and inclusion are especially encouraged to apply.

Working in the state of California is a condition of employment for this position. Even if part or all of an employee's assignment can be performed remotely, the employee must maintain a permanent residence in the state of California. The employee must be able to accept on-campus work assignment, as assigned, and come to campus when needed.

CSU strongly recommends that all individuals who access any in-person program or activity (on- or off- campus) operated or controlled by the University follow COVID-19 vaccine recommendations adopted by the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) applicable to their age, medical condition, and other relevant indications and comply with other safety measure established by each campus. The systemwide policy can be found at CSU Vaccination Policy and any questions you have may be submitted to [e-mail] .

Cal Poly Humboldt hires only individuals lawfully authorized to work in the United States. This position may be considered a "Campus Security Authority", pursuant to the Clery Act, and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1107 a condition of employment.

CAL POLY HUMBOLDT IS NOT A SPONSORING AGENCY FOR STAFF OR MANAGEMENT POSITIONS (e.g. H1-B VISAS)

Evidence of required degree(s), certification(s), or license(s) is required prior to the appointment date. Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check, employment verification, and education verification) is required for employment. Cal Poly Humboldt will issue a contingent offer of employment to the selected candidate, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or if it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Certain positions may also require a credit check, motor vehicle report, and/or fingerprinting through Live Scan service. Failure to satisfactorily complete or adverse findings from a background check may affect the employment status of candidates or continued employment of current CSU employees who are being considered for the position.

All university programs and activities are open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, the Cal Poly Humboldt provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Cal Poly Humboldt complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices. Cal Poly Humboldt is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At Cal Poly Humboldt, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.

Additionally, all CSU staff and faculty receive training annually on their obligations in responding to and reporting incidents of sexual harassment and sexual violence. You will be notified by email when you are required to take this mandated training.

Class Code: 0512

Publication Date: September 22, 2026