Associate Director of Prospect Research and Analysis

Job Description Department : Advancement Research Pay Rate Type : Salary Employee Type : Job Summary : The Associate Director of Prospect Research and Analysis plays a critical role in supporting the fundraising efforts of Colby College by identifying, researching, and analyzing prospective donors. This position is responsible for providing high-quality, actionable intelligence on individuals, corporations, and foundations to inform cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies. Reporting to the Director of Prospect Research and Analysis, the Associate Director will work closely with frontline fundraisers, senior leadership, and other Advancement team members to build and maintain a robust prospect pipeline and ensure data integrity.

Essential Functions

To perform successfully in this position, an individual must be able to perform essential duties satisfactorily as well as possess education / experience, employ the knowledge, skills, and abilities as listed in representative fashion. Colby College actively supports the Americans with Disabilities Act and will consider reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position. This listing of essential duties is not all-inclusive, but representative; other duties may be assigned.

Key Responsibilities

Prospect Identification & Research :

Proactively identify new prospective donors with the capacity and inclination to support the college's priorities through various research methodologies (e.g., wealth screening, philanthropic databases, public records, news alerts).

Conduct in-depth research on individuals, corporations, and foundations, compiling comprehensive profiles that include biographical information, financial capacity, philanthropic interests, giving history, and connections to the college.

Utilize and manage prospect research tools and databases effectively.

Data Analysis & Strategy :

Analyze complex data from various sources to identify trends, patterns, and opportunities for prospect engagement.

Develop and implement proactive research strategies to support specific fundraising initiatives and campaigns.

Provide strategic recommendations to frontline fundraisers on prospect qualification, cultivation, and solicitation strategies based on research findings.

Collaborate with the Advancement Operations team to ensure accurate and up-to-date prospect information within the donor database.

Pipeline Management & Reporting :

Assist in managing and optimizing the prospect pipeline, ensuring a consistent flow of qualified prospects for fundraisers.

Generate reports and dashboards on prospect pool metrics, research activities, and pipeline progress to inform decision-making.

Contribute to the development and refinement of prospect management policies and procedures.

Collaboration & Communication :

Serve as a key resource and partner to frontline fundraisers, providing timely and relevant prospect information and strategic guidance.

Collaborate with other Advancement team members (e.g., Annual Giving, Alumni Relations, Gift Planning) to support integrated fundraising efforts.

Present research findings clearly and concisely, both verbally and in written reports, to various internal stakeholders.

Training & Best Practices :

Stay current with best practices, trends, and technologies in prospect research and fundraising.

Assist in training new staff on prospect research methodologies and tools.

Adhere to ethical guidelines and maintain confidentiality regarding donor information.

Position Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications :

Education and / or experience :

Bachelor's degree

Five years of experience in prospect research, development operations, data analysis, or a related field.

Preferred Qualifications or Skills :

Deep knowledge of fundraising and development principles, particularly in higher education.

Experience with Raisers Edge, Ellucian, Salesforce, or other CRM / database systems used in advancement.

Demonstrated experience using research tools and databases (e.g., iWave, LexisNexis, or similar).

Prior experience building dashboards or visual reports for leadership and using predictive analytics for pipeline development.

Knowledge of philanthropic trends, including donor behavior, wealth indicators, and market research techniques.

Appreciation for Colbys mission and values, and ability to make an impact through work as a member of a team and diverse community.

Physical / Mental Demands

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform essential functions of this position and / or may be encountered while performing essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

To successfully perform the essential functions of this position, an employee must be able to maintain appropriate confidentiality with regard to employee data, documents, issues, etc., and respect privacy needs of employees and past employees with regard to the same.

The ability to comply with highly inflexible deadlines is required to successfully perform the essential functions of this position; there will be multiple occurrences of sudden, urgent task completion required.

There may be occurrences of employees, past employees, members of the general public, and others who express opinions, may exhibit strong emotions, which will require the employee to interact professionally, diplomatically, and appropriately in such situations.

While performing the essential duties of this position, an employee would frequently be required to move around the office space as well as within hallways, meeting rooms, and other parts of the campus facilities.

There may be multiple / daily instances of prolonged personal computer use which would include keyboard and / or mouse usage as well as viewing a computer monitor.

An employee must frequently lift and / or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and / or move up to 35 pounds to perform essential position functions.

Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus.

The overall work environment requires the mental ability to shift focus quickly due to interruptions; an employee must be able to mentally track multiple projects and tasks as well.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate; however, there may be unexpected instances of somewhat loud sounds.

To Apply :

Interested candidates should apply electronically by clicking the Apply Now button on the Colby College website. Please upload a cover letter and resume to your application.