Portfolio Advisor, Prospect Development

UNIVERSITY OF AZ FOUNDATION•Tucson, AZ

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Portfolio Advisor serves as a strategic partner to frontline fundraising staff, advancement leadership, and institutional stakeholders to maximize philanthropic outcomes through portfolio management, prospect strategy, and data-informed decision-making. Reporting to the Director of Pipeline Strategy and Prospect Development or the Associate Director of Prospect Development, the position partners with Development Officers and Discovery Officers to guide prospect identification, qualification, assignment, and movement through the donor pipeline. It exercises substantial independent judgment in assessing portfolios, interpreting fundraising performance data, developing strategic recommendations, and advising fundraising leadership on decisions that affect institutional fundraising outcomes. The role uses analytics, prospect research, and fundraising intelligence to optimize fundraiser portfolios, improve pipeline performance, and support institutional fundraising priorities. It acts as a trusted consultant to development officers and senior leaders, facilitates portfolio reviews, and promotes effective portfolio management practices. The position is not supervisory in nature. The Portfolio Advisor also supports prospect lifecycle management, portfolio and pipeline performance analysis, governance processes, data quality, and continuous improvement within Advancement Services. It collaborates with research, analytics, campaign strategy, annual giving, stewardship, and advancement operations teams, and helps ensure adherence to prospect management policies, ethical standards, and data integrity practices.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution or experiential equivalent.
Proficiency with database work, CRMs, and reporting tools, such as Salesforce, Blackbaud CRM, Raiser's Edge NXT, Advance, or similar platforms.
Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to work collaboratively with a wide variety of individuals, including donors, PAE colleagues, deans, faculty, and staff.
Demonstrated commitment to exceptional customer service and the ability to apply donor-centricity and collaboration in work practices.
Ability to handle highly confidential, sensitive, or private health information discreetly and professionally in compliance with state and federal regulations.
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
Ability to work independently, prioritize multiple projects, and meet strict deadlines with little supervision.
Problem-solving ability and sound judgment in situations requiring initiative, tact, and confidentiality.
Exceptional work ethic and a track record of personal initiative.
Flexibility and adaptability in a fast-paced, multitasking environment with changing processes and occasional ambiguity.
Ability to inspire cooperation and participation.
Proficiency with personal computers and Microsoft Office software, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Proficiency or ability to learn additional software needed to perform essential duties.
Demonstrated ability to lead through influence, facilitate decision-making, and guide stakeholders toward effective portfolio management practices.
Any equivalent combination of experience, training, and/or education approved by Human Resources.

Nice To Haves

Experience with CRM systems and data tools, such as Blackbaud CRM.
Experience in higher education or nonprofit advancement, or familiarity with fundraising operations, including alumni and donor engagement.
Experience in prospect development, prospect management, advancement services, fundraising analytics, development operations, or related functions.
Demonstrated experience supporting major gift and principal gift fundraising programs.
Experience in similar support roles in sales, customer service, or operations.
Ability to conduct portfolio analysis and develop strategic fundraising recommendations.

Responsibilities

Serve as a subject matter expert in portfolio optimization, donor pipeline development, prospect management, and prospect lifecycle strategy.
Facilitate strategic portfolio reviews and prospect discussions with development officers, discovery officers, managers, and other stakeholders.
Manage and optimize assigned fundraiser portfolios through analysis, prospect assessment, and strategic recommendations.
Partner with major gift officers, principal gift officers, and advancement fundraising leadership to develop portfolio strategies.
Review portfolios and recommend prospect advancement, reassignment, qualification, disqualification, or other adjustments.
Monitor prospect movement through the development cycle and recommend changes to improve fundraising effectiveness.
Ensure prospect assignments align with institutional priorities, fundraiser capacity, and donor engagement strategies.
Coach, consult, and train staff on CRM tools and portfolio management processes.
Identify, assess, and qualify prospective donors with significant philanthropic capacity and affinity.
Collaborate with frontline fundraisers to record cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans for high-priority prospects.
Analyze portfolio health and pipeline trends using CRM and business intelligence tools.
Design, evaluate, and interpret portfolio performance reporting and dashboards.
Support governance processes related to prospect assignments, portfolio standards, pipeline definitions, and donor movement criteria.
Monitor portfolio and pipeline health using institutional metrics and share insights with fundraisers and managers.
Deliver data-driven insights and presentations to advancement leadership.
Collaborate with research, analytics, campaign strategy, annual giving, stewardship, and advancement operations teams.
Provide recommendations on prospect assignment policies, management practices, and data governance standards.
Establish and monitor standards for prospect and portfolio data quality.
Ensure adherence to prospect management policies, ethical standards, and data integrity practices.
Contribute to the development and improvement of prospect development methodologies, processes, and best practices.
Participate in strategic planning and continuous improvement initiatives within Advancement Services.