Senior Prospect Strategy & Research Lead

Apra-MN; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 92,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site parking

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Scripps Research in La Jolla, California seeks a Senior Manager of Prospect Management & Research to lead portfolio strategy for frontline fundraisers, drive data-informed decisions, and optimize donor portfolios with research-backed insights.

You will shape prospect assignments, oversee research, and collaborate with BI to turn portfolio data into actionable dashboards for leadership and fundraising teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 4+ of progressive experience in prospect development, including both prospect research and prospect management.
• Demonstrated extensive experience writing comprehensive donor profiles, conducting wealth screening, and analyzing complex financial indicators such as IRS information, SEC filings, and real property records.
• Proven track record advising and supporting fundraising teams through portfolio strategy and pipeline management.
• Demonstrated expertise in prospect development best practices and APRA competencies; APRA membership or professional certification preferred.
• Proficiency with a CRM database and online prospect research tools (e.g., iWave, LexisNexis, Foundation Directory, PitchBook, or similar).
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal skills, with a strong client-service orientation and the ability to build relationships with fundraisers.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and manage a high volume of complex, competing requests with accuracy and attention to detail, exercising sound independent judgment and working collaboratively as part of a team.
• A high degree of professionalism, discretion, and respect for confidentiality; ability to work some evenings and weekends for events.
• Experience with Raiser’s Edge, Raiser’s Edge NXT, or another Blackbaud product preferred.
• Experience with Power BI or other data visualization tools preferred.
• While subject to change based on business needs, this is an on-campus position requiring a minimum of 4 days per week working onsite from our La Jolla campus, with flexibility to work 1 day per week remotely from home.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the dedicated senior PMR liaison and point of contact for assigned fundraisers’ research and prospect management requests and oversee the request queue in Freshservice.
• Lead portfolio reviews (biannually and ongoing) and direct the vetting and approval of prospect assignments, critically evaluating portfolio fit, prospect viability, and alignment with institutional priorities.
• Oversee the processes behind prospect assignment, stage management (applying standardized pipeline stage definitions), prospect classifications and rating levels, and moves management, ensuring contact reports, proposals, and follow-ups are tracked, and the pipeline accurately reflects fundraising activity.
• Lead and coordinate prospect clearance across the institution (including but not limited to, faculty, corporate and foundation relations, planned giving and leadership) to prevent duplicate or conflicting solicitations.
• Oversee data quality and QA reports, and ensure research, fundraiser activity, and constituent updates are recorded accurately and on time.
• Track and report on fundraiser activity and prospect pools to identify strategic opportunities and optimize portfolios. Define, track, and report portfolio metrics.
• Provide strategic support for high-priority cultivation and solicitation efforts.
• Own and maintain prospect management policies, procedures, and training resources, and collaborate with other PMR liaisons and the Senior Manager of Prospect Research to drive consistent practices.

Skills

Excellent communication

Interpersonal skills

Client-service orientation

Attention to detail

Discretion and confidentiality

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

APRA certification preferred

Tools

Power BI

iWave

LexisNexis

Foundation Directory

PitchBook

Raiser’s Edge

Job description

Scripps Research in La Jolla, California seeks a Senior Manager of Prospect Management & Research to lead portfolio strategy for frontline fundraisers, drive data-informed decisions, and optimize donor portfolios with research-backed insights.

You will shape prospect assignments, oversee research, and collaborate with BI to turn portfolio data into actionable dashboards for leadership and fundraising teams.