Prospect Development Advisor at Hillsdale College – Hillsdale, Michigan

• Conduct proactive and reactive research on individuals, corporations, and foundations using tools such as iWave, WealthPoint, Target Analytics, LexisNexis, and Candid.
• Prepare detailed donor profiles assessing giving capacity, philanthropic interests, affiliations, and engagement history.
• Monitor news and activity related to high-level prospects and maintain accurate records in the College’s CRM (Blackbaud).
• Partner with development officers to support portfolio strategy, hygiene, and optimization.
• Lead portfolio reviews, track engagement and prospect stages, and recommend strategies to enhance donor movement.

• Collaborate with development officers and leadership to support key campaigns, regional events, and donor initiatives.
• Serve as a strategic partner to frontline fundraisers and leadership by translating data and research into actionable fundraising strategy.
• Lead prospect identification and strategy recommendations for campaign planning, travel briefings, and solicitation preparation.
• Ensure research strategies align with Hillsdale’s mission and institutional goals.

• Develop dashboards and analytical models that inform prospect prioritization, portfolio health, and fundraising strategy
• Analyze prospect screening results and behavior patterns to prioritize outreach and inform strategies.
• Contribute to the development of performance metrics and analytics tools to evaluate team effectiveness.

• Provide research and insights to inform donor engagement strategies.
• Maintain and update biographical, financial, and relational information in the College’s database.

• Support the training of staff on research tools, ethical standards, and best practices in prospect development.
• Contribute to the refinement of internal processes, documentation, and team efficiency.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and data-informed decision-making.

• Support special programs and projects as assigned.
• Perform other duties as required to contribute to the success of the fundraising and development teams.
• Maintain confidentiality and accuracy in handling sensitive donor and candidate information.

• Proficiency with research tools such as iWave, Target Analytics, WealthPoint, Candid, and LexisNexis.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to synthesize large datasets
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, data modeling, and experience developing or using VBA/macros to automate analysis and workflows.

• Strategic and analytical thinking with strong attention to detail.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and project management skills.
• Professionalism and discretion in handling sensitive data.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in both remote and in-person settings.
• Ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable insights for non-technical audiences.

• Required: Bachelor’s degree.
• Preferred: at least 4 years of experience in prospect development, portfolio management, and donor analytics or equivalent.
• Preferred: Experience with Blackbaud CRM, Power BI, and in a higher education or nonprofit setting.

• Strong belief in and alignment with Hillsdale College’s mission and values, including classical liberal arts education and moral virtue.
• Self-directed and proactive, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Collaborative team player who thrives in a mission-focused, high-performance environment.
• Adaptable and reliable in both independent and team-based work.

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter