PROSPECT RESEARCH STRATEGIST

Position Number:

S-3785

Position Summary

Supports the fundraising efforts of the university by carrying out proactive and reactive prospect research on individuals, corporations, and foundations. Works collaboratively with the director of advancement services, the director of corporate and foundation relations, the vice president of advancement, and the development officers to develop strategies for individuals, corporations, and philanthropic foundations.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree.

Two years of related experience.

Computer experience, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Excellent analytical and organizational skills.

Effective verbal and written communication skills.

Demonstrated positive interpersonal skills.

Ability to handle and prioritize multiple tasks.

Organization skills and attention to detail.

Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information.

Ability to project a collegial team-building style with a proven ability to work effectively with people who possess different work styles and methods.

Demonstrated track record in meeting goals and objectives.

Ability to proactively engage staff, faculty and/or grant program officers by phone, videoconference, e-mail, and in person, as needed.

Ability to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Preferred Qualifications

Knowledge of online and internet resources/search engines.

Knowledge of prospect development/prospect research principles and best practices.

Awareness of fundraising strategies in higher education.

General understanding of the structure of higher education and familiarity with a college environment.

Duties & Responsibilities

Works proactively to find available state, federal, corporate, and philanthropic grant opportunities and matches those opportunities to appropriate faculty on CMU’s campus.

Works collaboratively with the director of corporate and foundation relations to develop strategies for corporations and foundations, which is critical in order to meet deadlines for submissions.

Conducts in-depth prospect research for corporations, foundations, and individual major gift prospects by analyzing, interpreting, and evaluating biographical, business, personal, and financial information for current and prospective donors.

Uses a variety of electronic and print resources, develops and synthesizes information on prospects to produce clear profiles/biographies of their background, career, financial capacity, philanthropic interests, and nature of the relationship to the University.

Identifies, collects, and analyzes publicly available biographical, organizational, and financial information to evaluate existing and potential prospects using internal and external online tools and databases and works to appropriately assign information to the proper development officer with an accompanying profile.

Prepares high quality profiles and strategic briefings on prospects and/or groups of prospects for advancement staff and executive leadership, in advance of calls and events, in order to obtain optimal outcomes.

Monitors local, national, and business news and events for individual donor prospects and corporate and foundation prospects.

Keeps abreast of regional and national business developments and economic trends.

Leads the ongoing monitoring of contact reports and reviews pertinent information inputted into the main database system.

Oversees the main database system and monitors the prospect tracking/management module of the database.

Generates and updates regular reports, including alpha, geographical and status lists for the development fundraising staff.

Prepares agendas and materials for prospect strategy meetings.

Participates in advancement strategy meetings, goal-setting sessions, Advancement Board sessions and other meetings as required.

Develops and contributes to the research department’s annual goals and objectives.

Participates in professional development activities to stay in touch with current prospect research and fundraising trends.

Performs special projects as needed.

Supervision Exercised

None.

Employee Group: Professional & Administrative -Salary

Staff Pay Level

Pay Range: $47,000 - $57,000 per year

Division: University Advancement

Department: Advancement Services

Position Status: Regular

Position End Date

Employment Status: Full-Time

FTE: 1.00

Position Type: 12 month

Weekly Work Schedule: Mon-Fri, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. / weekends and evenings as needed

Location: Mount Pleasant, MI

Posting Ends

Open Until Filled: Yes

About The Department

About CMU:

Central Michigan University has a more than 125-year legacy of preparing students to become leaders and changemakers in their communities and in their personal and professional lives.

We serve nearly 15,500 students on our Mount Pleasant campus, in satellite locations around the state and throughout the country, and through flexible online programs. Many of our approximately 300 undergraduate, master’s, specialist and doctoral programs in the arts, media, business, education, human services, health professions, liberal arts, social sciences, medicine, science and engineering are nationally ranked for excellence.

CMU leads the nation in leadership development programming through our Sarah R. Opperman Leadership Institute, and we are proud to be among only 5% of U.S. universities in the top two Carnegie research classifications. Our faculty work with graduate and undergraduate students in areas such as Great Lakes research, medical innovation, engineering technology and more.

Central is home to 17 men’s and women’s Division 1 sports including football, basketball, gymnastics, baseball, wrestling and more. Our student-athletes achieve great success in competition and in the classroom, capturing Mid-American Conference championships and maintaining an average cumulative GPA of 3.17.

CMU is located in Mount Pleasant, a community that blends the best of small-town living with big-city amenities. It’s part of the culturally varied and vibrant Great Lakes Bay Region that also includes Saginaw, Bay City, Midland and the state’s largest Native American community, centered on the Saginaw Chippewa Isabella Reservation in Mount Pleasant.

Area residents enjoy the mix of outdoor activities, cultural events, shopping and dining options, and family attractions. Other major Michigan destinations and attractions — Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Traverse City, wineries, beaches, golf and ski resorts, and many more — are within easy reach of the city’s central location in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.

CMU employees enjoy access to a nationally recognized wellness program along with health care and benefits that exceed regional, state and national norms.

CMU Leadership Standards

Central Michigan University is a place where we value students and work for their success, where we act as family, and where employees are engaged, appreciated and have extraordinary opportunities to make a difference.

We intentionally maintain and strengthen the hallmark CMU culture that sets us apart from our peers by expecting CMU leaders and employees to model the following Leadership Standards and develop them within their teams.

Please review the Leadership Standards before applying for this position.

Message To Applicants

Central Michigan University is dedicated to fostering an environment that is reflective of the communities we serve. We are especially interested in highly qualified candidates who will advance and promote CMU’s mission, vision, and leadership standards.

You must submit an on-line application in order to be considered as an applicant for this position.

Cover letters may be addressed to the Hiring Committee.

To apply, visit

CMU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and institution. CMU does not discriminate against persons based on age, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, height, marital status, national origin, political persuasion, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, race, religion, sex, sex-based stereotypes, sexual orientation, transgender status, veteran status, or weight.

If you wish to see “Know Your Rights ” posters, please click here .

CMU does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, including admission and employment, and is required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 not to discriminate in such a matter.

Inquiries about the application of Title IX can be made to CMU’s Title IX Coordinator, the US Department of Education’s Assistant Secretary, or both.

CMU’s Title IX Coordinator Can Be Reached At

Phone: 989-774-3253

Office: 103 E. Preston St.

Bovee University Center, suite 306

Mount Pleasant, MI 48858

Email: [email protected]

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