SUMMARY The Inside Prospect Development Associate plays a critical role in strengthening the advancement pipeline for both Cornerstone University and WCSG Radio ministries. This role focuses on front-end prospecting, discovery, stewardship, and research support, enabling Development Officers to focus on relationship management and closing opportunities.
This position is highly relational and primarily phone, email, and text based. The Associate conducts discovery conversations, qualifies prospects, advances opportunities, and ensures accurate data and research support using Raiser's Edge NXT and external research tools, while collaborating closely with the Database Administrator to maintain data integrity and reporting standards. The core of Cornerstone University is defined and driven by its Christ-centered mission and Biblical confession.
CLASSIFICATION: Full-time, Salaried
REPORTS TO: Underwriting Manager and Team Lead
DEPT: Cornerstone University & Radio Advancement
LOCATION: Grand Rapids, MI, Onsite (or hybrid)
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Prospecting & Discovery
- Execute outreach via phone, email, and text
- Conduct discovery conversations to assess interest, alignment, and readiness
- Initiate and advance qualified opportunities for Development Officers
- Maintain consistent follow-up cadence with professionalism and persistence
Stewardship & Relationship Development
- Build rapport with prospective donors, partners, and sponsors
- Provide ongoing relational touchpoints without owning long-term portfolios
- Serve as an early relationship ambassador for the organization
Pipeline & CRM Management
- Open, track, and advance opportunities in Raiser's Edge NXT
- Document interactions, next steps, and insights with accuracy and timeliness
- Collaborate with Development Officers to ensure smooth handoffs
Prospect Research, Data & List Development
- Conduct prospect research using Dun & Bradstreet, Prospect Research tools, and internal data
- Build and segment prospect lists to support campaigns and underwriting initiatives
- Partner with the Database Administrator to ensure data accuracy, consistency, and reporting best practices
- Follow established data governance and documentation standards
Team Collaboration & Growth
- Work closely with Development Officers, Underwriting, Advancement leadership, and Database Administration
- Share insights from discovery conversations to inform strategy, messaging, and data quality
Performance Metrics
- Volume and consistency of outreach activity
- Number of discovery conversations completed
- Qualified prospects and opportunities advanced to Development Officers
- Pipeline contribution across University and Radio initiatives
- Accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of CRM and research data
- Quality of handoffs and collaboration feedback from Development Officers and Database Administrator
Overall
- All Cornerstone University employees will regularly interact with students in a variety of projects, activities, and settings. As such all employees are expected to serve as Christian leaders and mentors by effectively living a gospel-centered lifestyle, ministering and discipling through a biblical worldview.?
- Other duties may be assigned.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITIES:
Required
- 2-5 years of experience in fundraising, prospect development, inside sales, customer success, or relational outreach
- Strong phone presence with confidence in initiating conversations
- Excellent listening, follow-up, and documentation skills
- Persistence and resilience paired with a relational, mission-centered approach
- Alignment with the mission and values of a Christian university and radio ministry
Preferred
- Experience with Raiser's Edge NXT or similar CRM
- Familiarity with prospect research and wealth screening tools
- Experience in higher education, university advancement, media, or broadcast environments
- Background in nonprofit or faith-based organizations
ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:
- A personal relationship with Jesus Christ and an active Christian commitment.
- A theology that supports the values and mission of Cornerstone University core commitments evidenced by an ability to affirm and sign the university's doctrinal statement, "The Cornerstone Confession."
- Four other foundational pillars, along with the university's mission and confession, form Cornerstone's Core Commitments.
- The Cornerstone Christian World View
- The Cornerstone Academic Vision
- The Cornerstone Beautiful Christian Community
- The Marriage and Human Sexuality Position Statement
These core commitments convey who we are, what we believe and how we live and work together in community. Employees are expected to faithfully attend an evangelical and biblical church whose core beliefs and practices are consistent with Cornerstone's confession and core commitments.
