Prospect Development Advisor

Hillsdale College is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Prospect Development Advisor to support our fundraising efforts through strategic prospect research, data analysis, and portfolio management. The Advisor will collaborate closely with the Executive Director and the Prospect Development team to enhance donor engagement, optimize prospect portfolios, and align fundraising strategies with Hillsdale College’s mission and values.

This pivotal role directly contributes to Hillsdale College’s commitment to academic excellence, the promotion of virtue, and the preservation of a classical liberal arts education. By providing actionable insights, comprehensive research, and data-driven strategies, the Advisor will empower our front-line fundraisers to effectively build long-term relationships with donors.

This position offers the flexibility of remote or hybrid work. The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker who thrives in a values-driven, collaborative environment. This position requires a distraction-free home workspace and a reliable internet connection. The Prospect Development Advisor will be expected to travel up to 20% for conferences, campus visits, and donor events.

• Conduct proactive and reactive research on individuals, corporations, and foundations using tools such as iWave, Wealth Point, Donor Scape, Lexis Nexis, 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.
• Provide prospect identification and strategy recommendations for campaign planning, travel briefings, and solicitation preparation.
• Ensure research strategies align with Hillsdale’s mission and institutional goals.

• Use Blackbaud CRM , Excel, and Power BI to develop custom reports and dashboards that track donor trends and fundraising performance.
• 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.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty mentioned. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

• Required:
  
  Minimum 4 years of experience in prospect development, portfolio management, and donor analytics
• Preferred:
  Experience with Blackbaud CRM , Power BI, and in a higher education or…