Position Summary:
The Office of Alumni Affairs and Development is seeking a detail-oriented and resourceful Prospect Research Specialist to support our organization’s fundraising and development initiatives. This individual will be responsible for identifying, researching, and evaluating potential individual donors to support organizational goals. The ideal candidate will have strong analytical skills, excellent research abilities, and a deep understanding of donor cultivation strategies. The Prospect Research Specialist will also support gift officers on a newly developed prospect management system within the CRM, Slate for Advancement.

Key Responsibilities:
• Support the Major Gifts team and Vice President of Alumni Affairs and Development and collaborate closely with other areas of the department.
• Prospect for donors to support fundraising priorities for each school the Great Hall and special projects.
• Proactively identify new and high-level annual and major gift prospects through prospectmanagement tools such as DonorSearch, LiveAlumni, AlmaConnect as well as media subscriptions and daily news. Profile updates to include giving capacity, philanthropic interestsand connection(s) to Cooper.
• Research prospective and current donors. Prepare and submit briefing documents of potentialand current donors.
• Reviews and refreshes consistent annual donors and unassigned prospect pool adding potential prospects to development portfolios.
• Update donor records in SharePoint and in Slate by Technolutions CRM.
• Conduct monthly meetings with front facing fundraisers to develop strategies for portfolio moves management and prospecting.
• Analyze donor trends, wealth indicators, and philanthropic patterns to inform solicitation strategies.
• Identify approximately 10 new prospects each month for further cultivation by a development staff member. Measure donor conversion rates to determine key performance metrics.
• Assist in other development areas as needed.

Qualifications:
Education: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as nonprofit management, business, library sciences, or a related area.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Knowledge of CRM systems like Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge, or other donor management platforms.
• Understanding of nonprofit operations and philanthropic landscapes.
• Certification in prospect research or fundraising (e.g., CFRE, APRA and AFP).
• Practice the tenets of current privacy acts, such as HIPPA and FERPA

Experience:
• Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in prospect research, development, or a related role.
• Familiarity with fundraising principles, donor cultivation, and stewardship processes.

Skills and Competencies:
• Proficiency in prospect research tools and databases (e.g., WealthEngine, DonorSearch, iWave).
• Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.

Key Competencies:
• Analytical mindset with a passion for uncovering opportunities.
• Strong problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach to research.
• Team-oriented with a collaborative spirit.

Pay range: $75k-$78K