Assistant/Associate Director, Principal Gift Qualification and Research

Details•San Diego, CA

About The Position

The assistant/associate director for principal gift qualification and research is responsible for proactively identifying and qualifying emerging principal and major gift prospective donors to support the university’s fundraising goals. Reporting to the senior director of principal gifts, this position works closely with the associate vice president (AVP) for Development, frontline fundraisers, and other advancement leaders to maintain a robust pool of qualified prospective donors for all approved fundraising priorities for USD with added focus on pipeline development. The assistant/associate director will generate high-level prospective donor intelligence, align donor interests with institutional priorities, and recommend tailored cultivation and solicitation strategies, ensuring a consistent and tactical flow of newly qualified prospects into active portfolios. This position will engage prospective donors in-person, through correspondence, telephone outreach, and/or Zoom. This role requires a strategic mindset, initiative, and expertise to produce actionable results that enhance engagement and increase the likelihood of transformational gifts.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
Assistant director-level: at least three years of professional level experience in fundraising, donor engagement, and/or related field.
Associate director-level: at least five years of professional level experience in fundraising, donor engagement, and/or related field.
Excellent oral and written communication skills, including public speaking; ability to communicate positively and effectively with a diverse audience; possess exceptional critical listening and thinking skills.
Strong professional interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with faculty, advancement professionals, academic administrators, senior executives, volunteers, and trustees of the university.
Must exhibit attention to detail with excellent organizational and time management skills; remain professional under pressure.
Willingness and ability to work evenings and weekends.
Willingness and ability to travel.
Must have a reliable vehicle and a valid driver’s license.
Must be friendly and personable; mature, positive attitude; a team player.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree.
Demonstrable success in personally qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding six- and seven-figure gifts or more from individuals.
Experience working on large-scale, comprehensive fundraising campaigns.
Knowledge in strategic development, donor cultivation, and engagement, ideally within higher education or a complex organizational setting.
Familiarity with moves management and prospect research tools (e.g., iWave, DonorSearch, WealthEngine).
Proven record of knowledge in the full spectrum of philanthropic fund development, including special gifts, major gifts, capital campaigns, annual giving, special events, prospect research, proposal development, and gift planning.

Responsibilities

Qualification and Discovery Identify and qualify new prospective donors with the capacity and inclination to make six- and seven-figure gifts within 18–24 months in support of approved fundraising priorities for USD with added focus on pipeline development.
Serve as the critical link between prospect identification and advancement leadership and/or frontline fundraisers ensuring a consistent and strategic flow of newly qualified prospects into active portfolios.
In collaboration with the advancement research team, analyze data to uncover prospective donors based on wealth indicators, philanthropic history, engagement, inclination, life stage, and other key characteristics.
Conduct in-depth research and evaluate key qualification indicators to surface new and under-engaged prospective donors capable of principal or major gifts.
Synthesize complex data into meaningful donor insights and strategic recommendations for major gift officers, the senior director, campaign director, AVP, and senior leadership.
Fully comply with the university’s prospect management/move management system including the filing of donor/prospect contact reports; protect confidentiality in all communications regarding proposed and consummated gifts.
Outreach and Cultivation Initiate contact with potential donors, build relationships quickly, and create research profiles for the senior director.
Connect donor passions to institutional priorities, identifying compelling entry points for engagement.
Support campaign messaging and strategy for all stages of the donor engagement life cycle for major and principal gifts and emerging leadership prospects.
Prepare strategic briefings and pipeline reports for advancement leadership team.
Collaborate with senior director on gift proposals (with unrestricted, restricted, and planned gift components) to support donor solicitation and yield gifts toward institutional priorities.
Review and finalize briefing documents for leadership that articulate donor strategy to ensure goals for prosect development are clearly defined, and leadership is prepped for donor conversations.
Research, write, and edit collateral for principal and major gift donors, coordinating with colleagues, faculty, and leadership to create personal and accurate communications; research, write, and edit other donor communications, as needed.
Support long-term strategies to grow transformational giving at the university.
Attend conferences and professional development seminars to stay current with fundraising strategies and best practices.
Other duties as assigned by senior director.