Job Summary:The Prospect Researcher & Donor Experience Officer plays a pivotal role in strengthening the institution's fundraising capacity by identifying, researching, and qualifying prospective donors while supporting personalized engagement strategies for alumni, parents, and friends of Lincoln University and the Lincoln University of PA Foundation.
In a small advancement office, this position is both analytical and relational-combining data-driven research with hands-on donor stewardship. The ideal candidate is innovative, collaborative, and comfortable balancing strategic projects with day-to-day operational needs.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:Prospect Research & Portfolio Management- Conduct comprehensive research on individuals, foundations, and corporations to assess giving capacity, philanthropic interests, and engagement potential.
- Develop and maintain prospect profiles, briefings, and research reports for use by frontline fundraisers and leadership.
- Manage and refine prospect pools and portfolios, ensuring appropriate prospect assignment and movement through the donor cycle.
- Monitor and analyze wealth indicators, engagement data, and predictive modeling tools to surface new prospects.
- Track fundraising activity and provide insights that support goal-setting and pipeline development.
Donor Engagement & Stewardship- Support the creation and execution of individualized stewardship plans for major and leadership donors.
- Draft donor communications, including acknowledgment letters, impact reports, and personalized updates.
- Collaborate with colleagues to coordinate small-scale donor events, campus visits, and cultivation activities.
- Maintain accurate donor interaction records and ensure timely follow-up on engagement opportunities.
- Develop and maintain broad knowledge of the university, such as admissions, athletics, colleges, and continuing education. Develop network of contacts through the university to access additional information. Develop knowledge of resource hub (Homebase) of relevant content to share with donors.
- Execute quarterly touchpoint cadences across the donor portfolio to ensure consistent and relevant communication.
Data & Systems Support- Work closely with the advancement services team to ensure data accuracy, consistency, and strategic use of the CRM.
- Generate reports and dashboards that help leadership understand donor behavior, trends, and opportunities.
- Assist with data hygiene projects and contribute to the development of research and stewardship standards.
Cross-Department Collaboration- Partner with annual giving, alumni relations, and communications staff to align research insights with outreach strategies.
- Provide research support for campaigns, special initiatives, and institutional priorities.
- Serve as a resource for colleagues seeking donor background information or engagement recommendations.
Content Curation- Collaborate closely with colleagues to identify and deliver content related to the impact of philanthropy through video, social media, and digital platforms.
- Collaborate with marketing and annual giving teams to tailor modern marketing tactics for donors.
Education:- Bachelor's degree required.
Experience:- Minimum of three years of progressive and successful basketball coaching experience at the college level.
- Division II or III coaching experience preferred.
Qualifications:- Strong analytical, writing, and critical-thinking skills.
- Ability to synthesize complex information into clear, actionable insights.
- High attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy.
- Discretion and professionalism in handling confidential information.
- Comfort working in a small, collaborative team environment.
- Experience in prospect research, fundraising, advancement services, or related fields.
- Familiarity with donor databases (e.g., Raiser's Edge, Slate, Salesforce, or similar).
- Knowledge of wealth screening tools, research databases, and public records resources.
- Understanding of fundraising best practices and donor engagement principles.
Physical Demands:- Moderate lifting up to 20 pounds as frequently as needed to move objects; dexterity to write and manipulate computer keyboard and mouse; ability to hear and speak clearly; and body mobility to stoop, kneel, and bend and reach.
- Night and weekend responsibilities will be required for major university events and fundraisers.
