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Location: Raleigh, NC
Essential Job Duties:
The Senior Philanthropic Research Analyst serves as a critical strategic partner within the University Development team, driving the growth and health of the fundraising pipeline for our most ambitious initiatives. This role requires an expert-level understanding of prospect development, sophisticated data analysis, and the ability to influence fundraising outcomes through high-level consultation.
The Senior Analyst works synergistically across the organization and unit-based fundraising teams to align research strategy with program priorities and upcoming campaign priorities.
Other Work/Responsibilities:
Strategic Pipeline Leadership & Consultation
- Serve as the lead consultant for complex fundraising programs, providing dedicated strategic support for institutional priorities like AI, Student Success, and Parent fundraising.
- Act as the primary strategic partner for 2-3 specific assigned colleges/units, facilitating meetings to drive fundraising strategy, market analysis, and campaign performance.
- Analyst and segment the prospect pool based on factors like engagement level, giving history, and estimated capacity to give, to create targeted lists for fundraisers; leveraging predictive modeling and scoring to segment lists.
- Establish and manage the framework for identifying and distributing major gift "suspects" to the appropriate frontline fundraisers.
Data Intelligence & Innovation - Utilize data mining and predictive modeling to analyze, segment, and score the prospect pool based on engagement, giving history, and estimated capacity.
- Design and develop reporting solutions that translate complex philanthropic metrics into clear, visual, and actionable insights for leadership and fundraisers.
- Review and analyze large, complex data sets to create highly targeted lists, ensuring fundraisers are focused on the highest-ROI opportunities.
- Lead the integration of emerging technologies-including AI and advanced visualization-into daily workflows to increase the speed and depth of prospect discovery.
Operational Excellence & Research Leadership - Manage the reactive research process, synthesizing complex financial and biographical data into full donor profiles as needed for high-level solicitations.
- Oversee the transition from "suspect identification" to "established foundation," ensuring data movement and prospect tagging align with long-term strategy.
- Partner with leadership to develop and implement new methods for evaluating market trends and portfolio health through advanced research metrics.
Minimum Experience/Education:
- Bachelor's degree; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
- Previous prospect research experience, preferably in a higher education setting.
- Previous database management experience (3+ years).
All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Required Qualifications:
- Proficiency in using subscription information services especially those commonly used in prospect research
- Strong interpersonal and critical thinking skills, including the ability to show flexibility and adaptability when confronted with competing priorities and interests.
- Knowledge of software used for fundraising/alumni data and an understanding of information management in a database structure.
- Excellent attention to detail.
- Ability to use tools to gather, interpret, organize and present data to prospect development colleagues.
- The ability to interact effectively and collegially with varied groups who may have different purposes.
- Organizational skills to handle several projects simultaneously, accommodate shifting priorities, and meeting deadlines.
- Proficiency in MS Office applications, with an advanced knowledge of Excel.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with database operations and usage, including CRM and other relational databases.
- Previous capital campaign experience.
- Experience in fundraising or fundraising support (preferably higher education fundraising)
Required License or Certification:
N/A
AA/EEO Statement:
NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.
If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.
Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.
NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.
