Prospect Research Leader - Strategy & Systems (Remote)

Florida State University; Tallahassee (FL); Remote; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Florida State University is seeking an Assistant Director of Prospect Research to drive bespoke research and scalable processes for major gifts. This remote, full-time role blends deep due diligence with building automation to accelerate fundraising impact across the Division of University Advancement.

The team emphasizes ethical research, training, and collaboration with CRM data teams to deliver actionable intelligence for frontline fundraisers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and four years of experience; or a high school diploma or equivalent and eight years of experience.

Responsibilities

• Produce in-depth, synthesized research profiles on high-capacity individuals, families, foundations, and corporations to inform gift strategy.
• Assess giving capacity, philanthropic inclination, affinity, and connectivity, translating raw data into clear, strategy-ready recommendations.
• Respond to time-sensitive research requests tied to leadership requests or solicitation timeframes.
• Analyze relationships and networks to surface pathways of connection to key prospects and potential volunteer or introduction opportunities.
• Design and maintain systems for ongoing news and trigger alerts, wealth events, and liquidity analysis so that timely intelligence reaches gift officers proactively.
• Partner with data and CRM teams to ensure research outputs integrate cleanly into the system of record and downstream reporting.
• Train prospect development staff, gift officers, and other stakeholders in sound research methods, ethical practice, and effective use of research tools, with an emphasis on emerging AI platforms.
• Develop, document, and maintain templates, toolkits, playbooks, and standard operating procedures for use across the division.
• Establish and promote best practices that raise the quality and consistency of research products division-wide.
• Serve as a resource and consultant to colleagues on complex research questions and methodology.
• Conduct due diligence and reputational risk assessments on prospects and donors in connection with major and principal gifts, naming opportunities, board and volunteer appointments, honorary degrees, and other high‑visibility associations.

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Florida State University is seeking an Assistant Director of Prospect Research to drive bespoke research and scalable processes for major gifts. This remote, full-time role blends deep due diligence with building automation to accelerate fundraising impact across the Division of University Advancement.

The team emphasizes ethical research, training, and collaboration with CRM data teams to deliver actionable intelligence for frontline fundraisers.