Senior Prospect Research Analyst, University Advancement (2880)

Idaho State University•Pocatello, ID

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Prospect Research Analyst is a strategic partner to fundraising leadership and Directors of Development. The role leads the quarterly portfolio review program, advances moves-management discipline across principal and major gift portfolios, and delivers research, analysis, and briefings to support philanthropic outcomes. The position combines traditional prospect research with data analytics, translating internal and external information into actionable recommendations. The analyst co-leads portfolio reviews, monitors pipeline health, supports moves-management planning, and produces prospect profiles, strategy notes, and executive-ready briefs. The role also audits portfolios and proposals, partners on reporting, ensures privacy and institutional-policy compliance, and develops repeatable research practices and standards. The position coaches a Prospect Research Analyst and student staff, trains colleagues, and contributes to team playbooks and procedures. It reports to the Director, Foundation Data and Research, and supervises a Prospect Research Analyst. The position is based at the Pocatello main campus and may be eligible for remote work from Idaho, Wyoming, or Utah with hiring-manager approval. It is not eligible for new visa sponsorship; candidates with valid U.S. work authorization may be considered.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Communications, Social Sciences, Library/Information Science, Data Analytics, or a related discipline, plus at least three years of progressively responsible relevant professional experience; alternatively, at least nine years of direct relevant professional experience may be considered under the stated substitution terms.
At least one year of mentoring and supervisory experience.
Demonstrated ability to synthesize qualitative and quantitative data into clear, actionable insights and recommendations.
Strong writing and editing skills, including experience producing executive-ready briefs and strategy documents.
Experience with CRM or advancement systems, such as Raiser’s Edge NXT or similar, wealth screening and research tools, and advanced Excel or Google Sheets.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting principal gifts and complex, multi-stakeholder strategies.
Knowledge of CASE Global Reporting Standards and advancement best practices, including prospect stages, pipeline metrics, and portfolio coverage.
Experience supporting comprehensive fundraising campaigns.
Experience working in philanthropy in higher education and/or a nonprofit setting.

Responsibilities

Co-lead quarterly portfolio reviews by preparing coverage and activity dashboards, facilitating meetings, documenting portfolio changes and next steps, and following up on accountability.
Maintain the Portfolio Guide, including stage definitions, movement expectations, contact and visit cadence, and portfolio size and coverage targets, in partnership with the Director.
Monitor pipeline health, including stage aging, coverage ratios, and proposal velocity, and recommend portfolio right-sizing and reallocations.
Support moves-management practices by surfacing next-best actions, creating call sheets and preparation briefs, and coordinating movement plans with gift officers and leadership.
Strengthen the prospect pipeline by combining internal Foundation data with vetted public sources to identify affinity, interests, and philanthropic capacity.
Analyze financial and biographical indicators, prepare decision-ready profiles and strategy notes, and recommend high-impact next actions for prospects.
Monitor news and market signals and translate relevant developments into prospect strategies aligned with ISU priorities.
Prepare concise, executive-ready briefs for priority visits and solicitations.
Audit principal and major gift pools, portfolios, and proposals for accuracy, deduplication, and stage integrity.
Partner with the Data Analyst to produce routine portfolio and pipeline reporting on activity, coverage, and outcomes by unit and fundraiser.
Ensure compliance with privacy requirements, CASE standards, and institutional policies, and document sources and methods for repeatability and audit readiness.
Provide research, qualification lists, and cultivation and solicitation strategies to the development team.
Review and refine research deliverables for clarity, sourcing, and tone, and uphold team style and citation standards.
Coach a Prospect Research Analyst and student staff and provide practical training in research methods, brief writing, and moves-management basics.
Share best practices with Advancement and Foundation colleagues and build peer networks across institutions.
Pursue targeted professional learning and incorporate takeaways into team playbooks.
Develop and refine templates, playbooks, and SOPs to scale prospecting, qualification, and portfolio hygiene across the division.