Prospect Research Director: Strategy & Pipeline Growth

Reed College; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 82,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Reed College seeks a Director of Prospect Research to provide strategic leadership for prospect development, research, portfolio management, and fundraising analytics, partnering with Advancement leadership to expand the donor pipeline and deliver data-driven insights.

Responsibilities include designing institutional strategies for prospect identification, supervising staff, and producing briefing materials to support principal and major gifts, campaigns, and long-term philanthropic growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or experience in lieu.
• 5 years of progressively responsible experience in prospect development, prospect research, portfolio management, advancement operations, or fundraising strategy.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience developing fundraising dashboards and portfolio analytics.
• Familiarity with APRA and CASE standards and best practices.
• Experience supporting principal and major gift fundraising programs and campaigns within a large, complex organization.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret complex financial and philanthropic information.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead Reed's comprehensive prospect development strategy to identify, qualify, and advance prospective donors capable of making principal, major, and planned gifts.
• Design and implement proactive prospect identification initiatives that expand the donor pipeline using internal and external data resources.
• Train fundraising staff on prospect management practices, research interpretation, and portfolio management.
• May supervise staff.
• Develop and oversee Reed's portfolio management strategy to support fundraiser productivity and donor engagement. Lead annual and ongoing portfolio review processes with frontline fundraisers and leadership, and monitor portfolio health to recommend prospect assignments.
• Conduct prospect research supporting principal gifts, campaign initiatives, and strategic fundraising efforts.
• Analyze philanthropic capacity, inclination, affinity, and engagement using a variety of public and subscription resources, both on a routine basis and as needed throughout the year.
• Produce prospect profiles, briefing materials, relationship maps, and strategic analyses.
• Establish policies and procedures related to prospect management, prospect research, and portfolio management and serve as institutional expert on prospect development methodologies and best practices.
• Ensure compliance with ethical standards established by APRA and CASE as well as applicable privacy regulations

Skills

Prospect research

Portfolio management

Data interpretation

Strategic leadership

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Experience in lieu

Job description

Reed College seeks a Director of Prospect Research to provide strategic leadership for prospect development, research, portfolio management, and fundraising analytics, partnering with Advancement leadership to expand the donor pipeline and deliver data-driven insights.

Responsibilities include designing institutional strategies for prospect identification, supervising staff, and producing briefing materials to support principal and major gifts, campaigns, and long-term philanthropic growth.