Prospect Development Analyst

Seattle University Electrical and Computer Engineering•Seattle, WA

1d•$65,000 - $72,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to the Director of Prospect Development, the Prospect Development Analyst supports Seattle University’s prospect research, identification, and portfolio management programs. The role provides data-driven analysis and strategic insights to strengthen the University’s fundraising pipeline, partnering with major gift development officers and Advancement leadership to identify, evaluate, and prioritize prospective donors. As part of the Prospect Development team, the Analyst conducts prospect research, analyzes wealth and engagement data, and develops actionable intelligence to inform fundraising strategies and portfolio management. The position contributes to a sustainable pipeline of philanthropic prospects through rigorous analysis, proactive prospect identification, and collaboration with development officers. The Analyst serves as a primary liaison to assigned major gift officers, supports portfolio balance and prospect prioritization, and advises on the use of predictive models and wealth screening data. The role also creates strategic briefings, evaluates research tools and data quality, recommends process improvements, and acts as an internal consultant on prospect analytics. The position is hybrid-work eligible; hybrid arrangements may be available after an introductory period of 3–6 months, with the role typically beginning fully on campus.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
One to three years of experience in prospect research, advancement services, development, analytics, or a related field.
Understanding of fundraising and philanthropy principles, preferably in higher education.
Strong proficiency with relational databases and data analysis tools.
Ability to analyze and synthesize complex information from multiple sources and communicate findings through clear written reports, visualizations, and presentations.
Strong research and computing skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and experience using online research tools, databases, and search engines.
Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Effective written and verbal communication skills for technical and non-technical audiences at multiple organizational levels.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, respond to urgent requests, adapt to changing work demands, and maintain attention to detail.
Curiosity, initiative, commitment to continuous learning and process improvement, and ability to apply insights innovatively.
Commitment to strict confidentiality and sound judgment consistent with prospect research standards and Seattle University’s mission and values.

Nice To Haves

Three to five years of experience in prospect research or relationship management, with demonstrated ability to identify patterns in giving, propensity, and relationships for prospect pool development.
Advanced research skills, including detailed knowledge and extensive use of online reference and information systems, libraries, data-screening products, and other reference tools.
Mastery of real property research and SEC data analysis.
Advanced Excel skills and experience with enterprise fundraising CRMs such as Raisers Edge NXT.
Familiarity with data management principles and basic statistics, and understanding of screening strategies and methods such as data mining, segmentation, and analytics.
Advanced knowledge of predictive modeling, wealth screening tools, and portfolio management strategy.
Technical skills for working with programmers and vendors on data enhancement and systems projects.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary liaison to assigned major gift development officers, assessing and meeting needs related to discovery prospects, portfolio balance, and time management.
Orient development officers to research and relationship management policies and database procedures, and interpret those policies as needed.
Review relationship management data with fundraisers against baselines, troubleshoot activity capture, and use Excel, Tableau, and Power BI to provide descriptive statistics for prospect pools and portfolios.
Recommend and assign new prospects to appropriate fundraisers or University Advancement leadership for discovery and cultivation, balancing portfolios according to relevant data and constituency needs.
Monitor and seek feedback to ensure gift officers receive appropriate support and understand how prospect development data is used.
Initiate, conduct, and evaluate prospect identification projects that align with assigned gift officers’ portfolio needs and identification goals.
Advise development officers on predictive modeling and wealth screening data.
Design ongoing and one-time projects to qualify and quantify prospect pool segments using screenings, predictive models, and database queries for engagement purposes and campaign priorities.
Communicate data-analysis processes and findings in formats that support cultivation strategies.
Maintain knowledge of key University constituencies and institutional priorities.
Prepare timely, strategic briefings on top prospects for University Advancement and University leadership and strategy sessions, including analysis of gift capacity, philanthropic interests, timing, University engagement, wealth factors, and missing information.
Collaborate with colleagues to identify networks and synthesize relationship data, using visual displays where appropriate.
Contribute research findings, industry analyses, and strategic recommendations in Advancement staff meetings.
Identify and recommend process improvements and new data sources to better evaluate prospect pools and constituencies and enhance database information quality.
Assess the quality, reliability, and accuracy of current and emerging research tools and resources, including tools that reveal prospect interests, relationships, and networks.
Participate in professional research and relationship management networks and maintain familiarity with fundraising best practices.
Act as an internal consultant to University Advancement to define prospect analytics partnership opportunities.

Benefits

Medical plan options, dental insurance, and vision insurance for eligible employees.
Life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage.
Employer retirement contributions of up to 10%, including a 5% nonelective contribution and a dollar-for-dollar match of voluntary contributions up to 5%.
100% paid tuition benefits for eligible employees and dependents.
Subsidized transportation benefit.
Wellness program and free access to an on-site fitness facility.
Campus events.
Generous holiday schedule, including a paid December holiday break closure.
Vacation and paid sick leave.
Paid community service leave.