Assistant Director, Prospect Research

Stony Brook University • Town of Brookhaven, NY

8d

About The Position

The Assistant Director, Prospect Research supports Advancement’s mission by assisting with the day-to-day operations of the Prospect Research function, contributing to staff development, and delivering timely, high-quality prospect intelligence in support of fundraising priorities. The position supports the leadership of the Prospect Research team, helps implement workflows, priorities, and best practices, and contributes to building a more strategic and scalable research function.

The Assistant Director supports relationships with Development and gift officers, Advancement colleagues, research vendors, and cross-functional committees. The role assists with prospect review sessions, responds to research requests supporting cultivation, solicitation, and campaign strategy, and collaborates with cross-functional and data teams on data integrity policies. It contributes to strategic initiatives and cross-functional analysis under the direction of the Associate Director, Prospect Research.

The position assists in preparing confidential prospect profiles, briefings, and project summaries; translating complex financial, legal, and corporate information into actionable intelligence; and educating fundraising colleagues about research practices and trends. It supports prospect identification and evaluation projects, wealth and electronic screenings, data mining, pipeline development, monitoring news alerts and SEC filings, and vendor contract and budget management. The Assistant Director also keeps current with prospect research tools and practices and helps incorporate new methodologies into the team’s work.

This is a full-time, FLSA-exempt appointment with the Research Foundation of SUNY. Employment is subject to Research Foundation policies and procedures, sponsor guidelines, and funding availability. The Research Foundation is unable to sponsor work visas for this position.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (foreign equivalent or higher).
• Three years of full-time experience in prospect research, prospect management, prospect development, and/or a related field.
• Experience working in higher education, nonprofit, government or municipal environments, large healthcare systems, and/or related fields.
• Working knowledge of prospect research products and systems, such as LexisNexis, WealthEngine, iWave, or DonorSearch.
• Ability to uphold confidentiality, data integrity, and ethical, compliant research practices.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with data analysis, wealth screenings, and/or prospect research during a capital campaign.
• Familiarity with Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, or similar fundraising software.

Responsibilities

• Support day-to-day operations and leadership of the Prospect Research team, including implementation of workflows, priorities, and best practices.
• Support and strengthen relationships with Development and gift officers, Advancement colleagues, research vendors, and cross-functional committees through regular communication and meetings.
• Serve as a resource on prospect intelligence across the division.
• Assist with prospect review sessions and respond to research requests supporting cultivation, solicitation, and campaign strategy.
• Collaborate with cross-functional and data teams to support data integrity policies.
• Uphold data integrity, confidentiality, and ethical, compliant research practices, including APRA, CASE, and GDPR guidelines.
• Contribute to strategic initiatives and cross-functional analysis under the direction of the Associate Director, Prospect Research.
• Assist in developing and delivering confidential prospect profiles, briefings, and project summaries tailored to specific audiences.
• Translate complex financial, legal, and corporate information into clear, actionable intelligence and communicate insights supporting cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Help educate development staff and fundraising colleagues about current research practices and trends.
• Support prospect research and identification projects, including evaluating major gift prospects and analyzing financial capacity, philanthropic tendencies, giving propensity, and campus linkages.
• Conduct or support electronic and wealth screening, data mining, peer screenings, and pipeline development across prospect pools.
• Monitor news alerts and SEC filings, including IPO registrations, to identify new and existing prospects.
• Assist in managing vendor support contracts and related budgets, and evaluate tools for accuracy, cost-effectiveness, and value.
• Support the Prospect Research function’s participation in division-wide strategic initiatives.
• Attend conferences, participate in professional associations, and pursue workshops, webinars, and other training to stay current on trends, tools, and best practices; help incorporate new methodologies into the team’s work.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

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