Prospect Researcher
: Job Details :

Prospect ResearcherDepartment: AdvancementLocation: Columbia, MOType: Staff. Full-timePay: $44,000 to $45,000 per year (Pay range may vary based on geographic location)Diversity Statement:Columbia College is committed to creating an inclusive employee experience for all regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age or disability. The college maintains a safe place for open discourse; supports activities that promote diversity and inclusion; and overall, fosters a sense of community that welcomes everyone.Job Summary:The Prospect Researcher position will work with Advancement Services and support the fundraising efforts of the Office of Development for Columbia College by conducting proactive research with the goal of discovering potential new donors from our data base, working with the Discovery Officer help to allocate prospects among fundraisers portfolios under the direction of leadership. This position will also regularly mine available data from various sources in order to identify information pertaining to potential significant giving capacities of new and existing donors and foundations. This position will be responsible for creating and pulling reports from NXT to provide to leadership that quantify and measure the results of the fundraisers as it relates to activities, moves management and actual fundraising results so progress towards established goals is measurable. They will create prospect profile reports as requested. They will pull and create reports, including endowment and lifetime support overview reports. They will support Advancement Services and Development leadership as projects are assigned. This position will have a combination of daily, weekly and one time responsibilities.Essential Functions:

• Perform job duties in accordance with Columbia College's vision, mission and values.
• Contribute to the overall goals of Columbia College, of the Advancement Division, and specifically, the Office of Development.
• Proactively, energetically and independently plan and execute creative strategies to identify potential donors at all giving levels through intuition, trends and online data.
• Perform research prior to College events to ensure fundraisers are knowledgeable about those who have RSVP'd to each event.
• Support the fundraising team by researching by geographic location to determine potential donors with capacity, on behalf of the fundraisers and work with the Discovery Officer to ensure appointments are secured with qualified prospects.
• Assist fundraiser preparation for donor meetings by providing suggested ask amounts for prospects, based on data and research.
• Create reports for specific donors or prospective donors as requested.
• Access online database services and design effective search strategies based on variable database-specific search protocols to identify corporate, foundation and individual major gift prospects.
• Facilitate all aspects of prospect management, including maintaining accurate information on prospects in the fundraising database, strategizing with advancement staff and collaborating on prospect assignments and classifications, monitoring the cultivation cycle of major gift prospects, to update classification/status and work with leadership to design and prepare reports for development staff under the direction of Advancement Services and Development leadership.
• Analyze and synthesize quantitative criteria, including income, assets, liabilities, and giving patterns to evaluate each identified prospect's potential and propensity to give or volunteer for leadership positions, including but not limited to the Board of Trustees.
• Ensure that fundraiser portfolios are fresh and active and that they properly reflect the current status (assessment/cultivation/solicitation/stewardship).
• Meet regularly with Advancement leadership and fundraisers to facilitate prospect moves management, ensuring portfolio balance between the prospect statuses in the solicitation life cycle.
• Provide accurate, capacity driven, high-level prospect research to serve the needs of College leadership, including Deans, the Provost, and the President as needed and as requested through leadership, following established protocols.
• Generate and facilitate prospect discovery through competent externally driven prospect research, data mining of existing information and utilization of tools such as wealth screening and predictive models in collaborate with Discovery Officer.
• Recommend relevant potential grant opportunities to appropriate Development staff, and assist in the data collection and research for grant preparation.
• Gather information from media, reference documents, on-line and other electronic reference resources as well as from staff and volunteers, and append findings to donor records, to include marriages, deaths, etc. This will include named spaces and volunteer activities of alumni and friends.
• Work closely with the Alumni Relations office to identify, collect and store alumni biographical updates for Class Notes and other potential features in college publications.
• Proactively review a variety of publications and available online information to expand knowledge of donors, prospects and alumni.
• Demonstrate refined communications skills, both verbally and in writing, and represent the College and the Office of Development in a refined and professional manner at all times.
• Collaborate with the fundraisers, Advancement Services, Donor Relations, Annual Giving and Major Giving staff to achieve desired results.
• Under the direction of leadership, work in partnership with the External Relations and Strategic Communications Department and the Alumni Relations Department, as well as with the Athletics Division with fundraising strategy.
• Demonstrate and maintain basic knowledge of deferred gift options and facilitate moves into fundraiser portfolios as appropriate for these planned giving prospects.
• Maintain collaborative communication lines with various staff and colleagues across the college to ensure a coordinated approach to prospect engagement.
• Attend College functions as a representative of the Advancement Division as requested.
• Represent the Advancement Division on committees as requested.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Practice superior customer service.
• Fulfill additional responsibilities as assigned.
• Display respect and civility to all constituencies regardless of method of communication.
• Attend work timely and during the established hours of operation on a regular basis; work additional hours as business necessitates.

Supervision Given:NoneSupervision Received:Director of Advancement ServicesSkills:

• Ability to fluently read, write and understand the English language.
• Proficiency with the following, but not limited to: speaking; active listening; reading comprehension; social perceptiveness; writing; coordination; critical thinking; persuasion; complex problem solving; and judgment and decision making.
• Proficiency for using a variety of computer and technology-related software and equipment, including Microsoft Office products and database systems.
• Proficiency for using web-based technologies, including database systems.
• Ability to work independently or in a team environment, with or without direct supervision.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, customer service and organizational skills with all constitutients.
• Effective written presentation and communication skills.
• Effective time management and organizational skills.
• Consistent demonstration of a positive, supportive, team focused attitude.
• Ability to maintain complete confidentiality.

Required Education: Bachelors DegreeCertification(s):Experience:

• 1-2 years of prospect research, or technology or related experience desirable.
• Good working knowledge of fundamental computer software systems.

Preferred Education/Experience:

• Research, data, Higher education setting experience desired..
• Proven exceptional customer service skills.

Employment Requirements:

• Ability to pass a criminal background check as a condition of employment, and on an annual basis, during employment.
• Ability to pass a drug test as a condition of employment, and during employment, and on a random basis or as required if probable cause or reasonable suspicion.

Special Requirements:

• Some evening and/or weekend hours are required.
• Must meet and maintain requirements as an approved driver for Columbia College.
• Valid driver license.

Physical Requirements:The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit for long periods of time, and talk or hear. The employee is regularly required to use hands and fingers to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. The employee must lift, carry and move a minimum of 10 pounds on an occasional basis. Must be able to type on a computer keyboard and use a computer monitor on a frequent and regular basis. Work Conditions:The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is rarely exposed to outside weather conditions; however, possible exposure to hazards and physical risks to personal safety may occur while operating certain equipment. The noise level in the work environment is usually mild. Extensive sitting in one position. Regular interaction with the College community and the public.This job description is not meant to be all-inclusive of every duty and responsibility required by the employee in the position.Eligibility for employee benefits and perks is determined by employment status. For more information please see The offer of employment and assignment to duties is contingent upon a satisfactory criminal background check. The information may include, but is not limited to, academic, residential, achievement, performance, attendance, disciplinary, employment history, credit history, driving history, and criminal history of public record.Columbia College is an equal-opportunity employer.In compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus crime Statistics Act (Clery Act), the Department of Campus Safety for Columbia College has provided the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report and crime statistics for the main campus and venues nationwide.Columbia College is required to distribute this information to all current and prospective employees and students. Please follow the link below for the full report or contact Human Resources at 573-###-#### for a printed copy.