Prospect Development Analyst

At Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), we Make it Real through learning, research, creativity, service and discovery — the hallmarks of the VCU experience. A premier, urban, public research university nationally recognized as one of the best employers for diversity, VCU is a great place to work. It’s a place of opportunity, where your success is supported and your career can thrive. VCU offers employees work flexibility, a generous leave package, career paths for advancement, competitive pay, and an opportunity to do mission-driven work.

The mission of VCU’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) is to maximize philanthropic support by engaging stakeholders with our institution working in partnership with all VCU schools, programs and campuses as one development and alumni relations community and implementing the best practices and efficient strategies to achieve a comprehensive development program.

Prospect Development creates and disseminates prospect research materials (profiles, capacity ratings, employment info, etc.) and provides prospect management service and consultation and data analytics (descriptive and predictive).

Job overview:

The Prospect Development Analyst is a Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) University Professional position reporting to the Sr. Associate Director of Prospect Data Management. The Analyst will support frontline fundraising staff by assisting in assignments, cultivation and solicitation strategies, while ensuring the database of record accurately reflects all engagement activity. The Analyst is a key member of the strategic fundraising team that provides prospect strategy and donor pipeline development. DAR welcomes applicants with transferable skills and competencies from outside the fundraising industry including, but not limited to, the following roles: Business Analyst, Marketing Associate, Data Analyst, Research Analyst, Research Associate, Strategy Consultant and/or Business Associate.

In this role, you will:

- Collaborate on a regular basis with leadership of assigned VCU units to maximize prospect opportunities to reach fundraising goals
- Utilize Prospect Management reporting tools and established templates to partner with fundraisers on prospect strategy
- Manage priority discovery prospect assignments for assigned units
- Ensure quality and quantity of prospects under fundraiser management
- Identify prospect data quality issues as needed
- Manage assigned projects efficiently with strong awareness and adherence to deadlines

As a team member, you will:
- Establish trusting and respectful professional relationships within the team and throughout DAR.
- Practice an outward mindset across teams of varying talents and backgrounds
- Work in a fast-paced, performance-based professional environment.
- Represent DAR’s core purpose and values.

Required qualifications/skills:

- Bachelor’s degree in the humanities, business, or other related field
- Aptitude to develop and maintain strong working relationships
- Ability to exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality
- Self-starter who can exercise independent judgment with moderate direction
- Strong research and analytical skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff and student environment or commitment to do so

Preferred hiring standards:

- Master’s degree in a field such as Information Science, Library Science, Public Administration, Marketing/Sales or other related areas
- Previous working experience in prospect research, fundraising/development, libraries, legal/corporate research, or similar business experience.
- Previous experience with relational databases, preferably Blackbaud CRM or Raiser’s Edge
- Demonstrated knowledge of prospect management principles, practices, and tools
- Experience in data analysis, data visualization and writing
- Experience in higher education, health or nonprofit industry

Position Details:

Department: Office of Development and Alumni Relations
VCU Job Title: Senior Specialist DV (15214)
Salary Range: $48,000 - $53,000
Employment Type: University and Academic Professional / Full-Time
Remote Work Available: Yes
Restricted Status: N/A
FTE: 1.0
Exemption Status: Exempt

Contact Information:

Contact Name: Carolyn Lee
Contact Email: clee23@vcu.edu