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Prospect Research Analyst

As a member of the Advancement Services team, the Prospect Research Analyst provides development staff, deans, senior leaders and alumni relations with in-depth research and reports on Belmont University constituents, stakeholders and other prospective donors. The Researcher’s primary responsibility is the identification, research, and tracking of individual, corporate, and foundation prospects, helping the advancement division build fundraising capacity and successfully acquire support for the projects, programs and priorities of the University. The Prospect Research Analyst also plays integral roles in both the administration of prospect/moves management processes and the management of related data. This position reports to the Director of Advancement Services and Information Systems and provides advancement services support to the Director as assigned including assisting with various report and list creation, systems data and record upkeep.
Essential Job Functions:
  • Perform prospect research, analyze, synthesize and summarize information in the form of written prospect profiles and reports.
  • Identify and qualify major gift and leadership annual giving prospects by researching and analyzing individual, foundation and corporate entities for linkage (connections to Belmont); personal and philanthropic interests; affinity (engagement and propensity to donate to Belmont); and giving capacity to grow the prospect pipeline and ensure the best prospects are actively qualified and managed by development officers (moves management).
  • Mine internal databases, external publications, online resources, and leadership networks to identify individual, corporate, and foundation prospects for major gift solicitation assignments.
  • Prepare detailed, accurate research briefings on prospects and/or groups of prospects for alumni relations, development staff, and senior leaders.
  • Manage new parent information by migrating parent data into the advancement module. Facilitate regular wealth screenings efforts including annual screening of parent constituents. Take the lead, in consultation with the Director, screening the lists and importing the results back into the database, disseminating the results, and prioritizing the lists.
  • Partner with fundraising professionals in evaluating prospects based on estimated wealth and assets, giving capacities, engagement, as well as other factors, in order to determine cultivation and solicitation strategies. Including participation in regular development prospect review meetings.
  • Independently monitor new research trends and techniques and communicate with staff. Support regular evaluation of research tools and products, and make recommendations on new resources as appropriate.
  • Record, organize and maintain prospect information in electronic files, paper files, and other information systems.
  • Assist the Advancement Services Director and development staff with various prospect management tasks, including (but not limited to) prospect coding, tracking, status monitoring, reporting, and the review of dynamic information such as contact notes and account comments.
  • Assist the Director with advancement list creation, analysis and support prospect management reporting.
  • Assist the Director with running custom scripts to import data.
  • Cross-train with other Advancement Services staff and assist with records management and gift processing during busy periods. Share responsibility for database integrity efforts.
  • Provide supervision to student workers when needed.
Required Qualifications:Belmont University seeks to attract and retain highly qualified faculty and staff that share the University's values and will contribute to its mission and vision to be a leader among teaching universities bringing together the best of liberal arts and professional education in a Christian community of learning and service. 

  • Demonstrated proficiency in all areas of knowledge management (capturing, synthesizing, sharing, and applying information), including the use of online resources.
  • Demonstrated proficiency with various research resources including advanced searching techniques using online databases; including capturing, analyzing, synthesizing, disseminating, and applying information. Experience with LexisNexis is preferred.
  • Demonstrated ability to analyze and synthesize data from a wide variety of sources, and present the resulting information in a clear summary.
  • Ability and initiative to identify new sources of research-related information as they become necessary and/or available.
  • Ability to organize and manage a diverse range of assignments and projects with high efficiency, yet thorough attention to detail and timely follow-through.
  • Strong written and oral communication skills.
  • Familiarity with and appreciation of the mission, purpose and values of Belmont University.
  • Demonstrated competence in a variety of computer applications, including donor databases, Microsoft Excel, Access, and Word; preferred experience importing and exporting data from relational databases.
  • Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information appropriately and with discretion.
  • Strengths in anticipating and seeking out information related to the immediate priorities of development and alumni relations staff.
  • Ability to work both independently and within the framework of an integrated development program and team-oriented environment.
  • Self-starter with the ability to adjust to changing priorities and meet deadlines.
  • Experience working in a fast-paced environment and the ability to respond effectively to high-pressure situations.
  • Willingness to work beyond the normal office hours of 8:00 am – 4:30 pm. during busy seasons.
  • Ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
  Required EducationA bachelor's degree is preferred.
  Required Experience• Two to three years of directly related professional experience, preferably in nonprofit prospect research, prospect management, development and/or information management in a higher education environment. • Experience investigating, researching, analyzing and synthesizing large quantities of information in a concise format.