Job ID: 326622
Job Title: Project Manager-Prospect Development
Job Code: 9718D2
Location: Twin Cities
Empl Group: Acad Prof and Admin
Full/Part Time: Full-Time
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Qualifications
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Two years of work experience in non-profit prospect research, preferably in higher education, or comparable work experience in a closely-related research industry such as business research, law research, or library research.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to analyze and report a wide range of research findings; experience developing presentations and leading training, professional meetings or team projects.
• Demonstrated knowledge of major gifts fundraising process/strategies and the contributions and integration of data management and analysis to process/strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and prioritize complex tasks with multiple deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced production environment.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Two to three years research experience in a research production environment; one or more years project management experience.
• Demonstrated experience querying data, managing electronic screenings, creating prospect management models, designing constituent surveys and/or supporting principal level fundraising.
• Experience using data and knowledge in strategic decision making, to improve processes and customer service, and to transfer and apply knowledge to other functions within a fundraising organization.
• Familiarity with current research technologies and information search techniques, including online library sources, pay-subscription sources, public records, and Internet search.
About the Job
The University of Minnesota Foundation serves as the central development office for the University of Minnesota. The Foundation raises and manages gifts from individuals and organizations to support the mission of the University. This position is responsible for gathering, analyzing, and managing information to help advance the University’s development program, particularly in support of the University’s top donors and prospects. This position serves as a project manager and prospect researcher experienced in production, analysis, tracking, prospect management, campaigns, customer service, and research deliverables, as well as in determining/advising prospect strategy in coordination with University development staff.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Customer Experience Management
• Act as service manager for principal giving, including individual, corporation and foundation areas, employing customer relationship strategies to ensure positive service experiences, proactively discover ongoing needs, and recommend approaches to meet those needs; also employ these skills in supporting internal Foundation or collegiate needs.
• Act as service manager and alternate point of contact for assigned research projects, employing customer relationship strategies to ensure positive service experiences, proactively discover ongoing needs, and recommend approaches to meet those needs.
• Engage development officers in proactive prospect identification and qualification and provide research-based counsel regarding strategy, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.
• Serve as back-up to researchers and senior researchers as the primary collegiate point of contact for research needs as required (e.g., during vacations).
2. Project Management
• Manage principal giving processes, including providing research and strategic guidance on highest-level prospects.
• Review and assign gift credit to development officers through Donor Management System.
• Evaluate and analyze tracking program strengths and weaknesses at appropriate intervals and develop corrective measures as needed.
• Participate in strategy meetings with development officers to ensure coordinated and updated University-wide strategy is in place.
• Manage multiple customers, requests and initiatives, with frequently competing deadlines, ensuring timely project completion and delivery of high-quality products.
• Act as back-up liaison between collegiate units and internal Foundation departments when needed; guide and follow up on internal resources, as appropriate.
3. Prospect Research
• Research individuals, corporations and foundations, using online proprietary donor management system, subscription databases, and University library resources, as well as public and government websites.
• Conduct research to ensure current biographical information is routed to University representatives (President, Deans, development officers) for meetings or attending events.
• Analyze data and synthesize results to assess financial capacity, philanthropic tendencies, giving propensity, affinities to campus, and other information to aid in the development process; produce accurate, detailed background reports and enter to the database information.
• Employ research, analysis and reporting strategies useful to the prospect development stages and in proportion to prospect/donor value.
4. Database Management
• Identify, evaluate and prioritize potential donors using database queries and analysis.
• Input, utilize and manage relevant prospect information within constituent database.
5. Prospect Management
• Execute a variety of prospect management services including, but not limited to prospecting and portfolio development, portfolio management, portfolio analysis and review, pipeline management, and prospect management processes and data management.
• Develop, articulate, establish and implement prospect management policies and procedures and training for development officers and university staff.
6. Other Duties
• Develop project proposals, work plans, reports, or other written documents.
• Stay current on leading industry trends; transfer and apply expertise. Maintain and expand research expertise with continuing education about new sources, search methods, and relevant information technologies.
• Maintain and expand research expertise with continuing education about new sources, search methods, and relevant information technologies.
• Develop project proposals, work plans, reports, or other written documents.
• Contribute to discussions around business strategy planning, goal setting, and best practices.
• Aid in evaluating, designing, documenting and implementing new prospect research services, deliverables, processes and products; evaluate search methods, sources, and database usage.
• Act as role model and source of information for more junior staff members.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by manager.
*Maintain strict confidentiality and handle sensitive information and material in an ethical and professional manner.
Original posting / application information