Analyst, Prospect Strategy

Western Kentucky University • Bowling Green, KY

21h • Onsite

About The Position

The Division of Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement (PAE) seeks to foster lifelong relationships with WKU constituents through activities designed to honor the WKU spirit, engage all members of the WKU family in the life of the University, and secure private support to advance WKU's mission. The Division's core values drive our success through: Positivity, Accountability, and Excellence. The Prospect Strategy Analyst reports to the Executive Director of Strategic Operations & Appeals and works with the Prospect Strategy Assistant Director to manage donor prospecting and research activities at Western Kentucky University. This position supports the prospect management and research needs of approximately 7 full-time fundraising professionals as well as research needs of campus partners. Responsibilities include the identification, research, and analysis of alumni, parents, and friends in support of fundraising efforts at WKU. This position utilizes a variety of sources and research tools to update prospect records and provide recommendations of philanthropic prospects, and assists by providing information needed to make data-informed strategic decisions.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree
• Must be a self-starter, organized and able to work in a team environment.
• Ability to establish priorities and work independently.
• Research skills necessary to locate and validate information from multiple sources including websites, social media, and commercial research databases.
• Advanced problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
• Ability to manage to completion large, long-term or fast-moving projects.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy with data entry and project tracking.
• Strong grammar and writing skills.
• Superior and effective interpersonal, written, and verbal communication and presentation skills.
• Computer literacy and proficiency, including Microsoft Office Suite with high proficiency in Excel and aptitude for learning new software packages.
• Knowledge of commercial research databases such as Lexis Nexis.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage large volumes of data in an accurate and meaningful way.
• Experience with data analysis and reporting.
• Ability to use discretion in working with sensitive, confidential materials and data.

Responsibilities

• Work with leadership and fundraisers to define needs, share results, and enhance the value and effective use of research in identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors.
• Conduct detailed research as requested by major gifts and principal gifts team members.
• Execute prospect identification activities for new prospects utilizing external information and prospect research tools and databases.
• Produce prospect and donor profiles and event bios when needed to support cultivation and solicitation activities.
• Integrate newly identified prospects into the allocated prospect discovery pool for qualification and assignment.
• Manage research queue and assign out requests to other team members as needed.
• Recommends prospect research tools and technologies to Executive Director for budget inclusion.
• Track research productivity with database metrics and project management tools.
• Conduct research using public, proprietary, purchased or leased databases, newspapers, published materials, and other resources to identify potential donors and funding sources.
• Utilize prospecting tools such as data screening and modeling to provide analyses of targeted groups and overall prospect pool.
• Provide support to the Assistant Director of Prospect Strategy with portfolios as needed, including portfolio audits and the assignment review process.
• Utilize data to make meaningful and strategic recommendations for prospecting of portfolios.
• Participate in portfolio management and business planning meetings.
• Support Prospect Strategy and Data Analyst to manage prospect records in database system and performs regular audits of prospect data.
• Contribute to the planning and implementation of comprehensive, proactive prospect identification and management of potential prospects.
• Conduct verification on wealth screening files and make portfolio assignment recommendations.
• Assist others on the team and/or across the Division on special projects to support the Division needs as necessary.
• Build partnerships across campus to drive PAE initiatives.
• Collaborate with team members and recommend improvements.
• Research best practices; evaluating and learning new tools to support philanthropic and alumni engagement needs.
• Contribute outside-the-box ideas in conjunction with research and best practices to position the Division to be leaders in the industry.
• Creates job-specific SOPs (standard operating procedures) to document process to create consistency and continuity as needed.

Benefits

• Comprehensive wellness and health benefits to employees and their families, including domestic partners and other qualified dependents
• Workplace culture that supports balancing the responsibilities of work and family life
• Paid-time off for holidays, vacation and sick leave
• Tuition discount program for employees and dependents

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level