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Prospect Research Analyst

Employer
University of South Carolina
Location
Columbia
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Job Details

Logo:

Posting Number:

STA00061PO25

Job Family:

Alumni Relations and Development

Job Function:

Development

USC Market Title:

Prospect Analyst

Link to USC Market Title:

https://uscjobs.sc.edu/titles/175067

Job Level:

P2 - Professional

Business Title (Internal Title):

Prospect Research Analyst

Campus:

Columbia

Work County:

Richland

College/Division:

Division of Development

Department:

DEV Advancement Services

State Pay Band:

6

Approved Starting Salary:

$54,165

Advertised Salary Range:

$54,165 - commensurate with qualifications

Location of Vacancy:

Eligible for hybrid or remote in SC, GA, NM, VA, NC, TN, LA, and FL.

Part/Full Time:

Full Time

Hours per Week:

37.5

Work Schedule:

Must be willing to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the department.

Basis :

12 months

Job Search Category:

Alumni Development

About University of South Carolina:

From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor’s degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.

Inclusive Excellence Statement:

At the University of South Carolina, we strive to cultivate an inclusive environment that is open, welcoming, and supportive of individuals of all backgrounds. We recognize diversity in our workforce is essential to providing academic excellence and critical to our sustainability. The University is committed to eliminating barriers created by institutional discrimination through accountability and continuous process improvement. We celebrate the diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences of our employees.

Advertised Job Summary:

Under limited supervision, reporting to the Director of Prospect Research (Director), the Prospect Research Analyst (Analyst) provides prospect identification, analytics support, and research support for the University’s fundraising efforts. The Analyst creates concise, accurate wealth capacity ratings, strategy briefings, and prospect profiles using biographical information, financial data, news, philanthropic history, and other publicly available resources to support frontline fundraising efforts. The Analyst coordinates with Prospect Strategy staff to ensure that the best prospects are assigned to development officers and plays a critical role in developing and cultivating relationships with Development staff. This position participates in various fundraising initiatives, prioritizing research needs to advance the University’s fundraising mission. The Analyst proactively and independently plans and executes creative strategies to identify sources of major gift support using innovative research techniques and electronic searching methodologies to ensure that campus-wide fundraising initiatives have sufficient prospects to meet fundraising goals. This position utilizes research methodologies to ensure that newly identified prospects are presented and assigned to appropriate campus fundraisers in a timely manner.

Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience:

Requires a bachelor’s degree in a job related field and 2 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree with 4 years of related experience with online database search techniques for products such as Lexis/Nexis, D&B, Research Point, Relationship Science, iWave, WealthX, LiveAlumni, and other personal wealth and financial databases. Experience working in a higher education (or comparably complex organization) setting, law, in a non-profit, or healthcare industry. Direct experience in relationship management, prospect research, development, sales, marketing, business administration, or project management. Blackbaud CRM, Qlik, Tableau, and other fundraising software experience desirable.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

Knowledge of Prospect Management, Research, and Prospect Tracking principles and methods. Knowledge of process, ethics, and policies of professional fundraising. Adherence to CASE and APRA standards and commonly accepted industry standards relating to fundraising reporting are expected of all fundraisers. Ability to work effectively with a wide range of individuals internally and externally to the University. High-level customer service skills and customer service ethic; sets high standards and seeks ways to improve service. Adept at problem-solving and using judgment in situations requiring initiative and tact. Must be able to manage time well, particularly while managing competing priorities and meeting frequent deadlines, demonstrating strong project management skills. Ability to implement and train others in new technology tools. Demonstrated commitment and leadership ability to advance diversity and inclusion. Ability to keep accurate records and complete timely reports. Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Ability to learn and increase knowledge and understanding of university policies and procedures. Ability to analyze and synthesize information, set priorities, and meet deadlines. Respond to a broad spectrum of high-priority assignments, as requested. Ability to work independently and as part of a team. Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail. Solid knowledge of database management and spreadsheet software: experience with Excel, Access, and other information management databases (to be used to join and analyze data from multiple tables) and able to adapt to and use future technologies. Ability to prioritize duties and achieve planned goals for a complex program. Ability to travel overnight to conferences, and work evenings, and weekends, as needed. Must have reliable means of transportation. Adhere to ethical and confidentiality guidelines of both the University and the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (APRA).

Job Duty:

Conduct research on individuals, corporations, and foundations using various biographical, organizational, and financial sources, including state-of-the-art online database services, Internet websites, library and government sources, and other external public information repositories. Analyze and synthesize accumulated information to assess financial capacity, philanthropic tendencies, giving propensity, and linkages to campus. Evaluate research results to develop and implement further research strategies utilizing ethical intelligence-gathering techniques of the information profession.

Essential Function:

Yes

Percentage of Time:

20%

Job Duty:

Compose documents (profiles, biographies, project summaries) using style, grammar, and content appropriate to specific audiences. Interpret and translate complex financial, legal, and corporate language into easily comprehensible terms while adhering to university standards of discretion and confidentiality. Extract and communicate essential information that directs cultivation and solicitation strategies. Prospect knowledge, including ratings, interests, and linkages acquired through research, is preserved, and maintained in a complex database system accessible to campus-wide fundraising staff and used to develop future cultivation strategies. Summarize key findings and create actionable recommendations to appear prominently in profiles, prospect lists, and other products.

Essential Function:

Yes

Percentage of Time:

20%

Job Duty:

Proactively and independently plan and execute creative strategies to identify sources of major gift private support using innovative research techniques and electronic searching methodologies to ensure that campus-wide fundraising initiatives have sufficient prospects to meet fundraising goals. Develop and execute strategies to ensure that newly identified prospects are presented and assigned to appropriate campus fundraisers in a timely manner. Query CRM on wealth and affinity to identify proactive prospect leads.

Essential Function:

Yes

Percentage of Time:

20%

Job Duty:

Make recommendations on prospect referrals to development officers and be responsible for maintaining the research flow of data and information from identification to gift by providing research information, updating, and tracking changes in the database, and making recommendations related to the assignment of prospects as well as post-assignment research and detailed financial analysis.

Essential Function:

Yes

Percentage of Time:

20%

Job Duty:

Stay abreast of trends in prospect research, online searching, and analytics, monitor national, statewide, and regional news alerts for prospect activity, and identify new major gift prospects.

Essential Function:

Yes

Percentage of Time:

15%

Job Duty:

Providing expertise and program support to others outside of the unit and other duties as assigned.

Essential Function:

No

Percentage of Time:

5%

Safety Sensitive or Security Sensitive:

No

Hazardous weather category:

Non-Essential

Number of Vacancies:

3

Desired Start Date:

03/17/2025

Job Open Date:

01/24/2025

Job Close Date:

03/03/2025

Open Until Filled:

No

Special Instructions to Applicant:

Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.



We are only accepting applications submitted by March 3, 2025.

Quicklink for Posting:

https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/182613

EEO Statement:

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender (including transgender), gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDs status, military status, national origin, pregnancy (false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, childbirth, recovery therefrom or related medical conditions, breastfeeding), race, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other bases under federal, state, local law, or regulations.

Organization

Working at University of South Carolina

With more than 200 years of history and tradition, the University of South Carolina is redefining itself for decades to come. There's never been a better time to be at South Carolina, the state's flagship university and one of only 62 public universities to receive the Carnegie Foundation's highest designation for research.

The University is located in the heart of South Carolina in the capital city of Columbia, which is the nexus of government, a thriving arts and culture center, a venue for big-time Southeastern Conference intercollegiate athletics, and a community that is reinventing itself with redevelopment projects citywide. Much of the development is tied to land along the scenic, slow-moving Congaree River. Working with government, business, and community leaders, Carolina has developed a unified plan that will allow the University to expand from its origins on the historic Horseshoe to its future-Innovista, a research and innovation district that will stretch to the banks of the Congaree.

Innovista represents a new vision for research by creating a vibrant, urban community where students and researchers, including those from private firms, will live, work, learn, and play. Innovista will represent the University's four core research areas-hydrogen fuel cells, nanoscience and technology, biomedical and public health, and the environment-but will include other initiatives and business partners that serve the knowledge economy. Innovista's first private tenant, for example, is a leader in software applications for the insurance industry and will create several hundred high-paying jobs.

By attracting similar companies and jobs-and by capitalizing on an attractive location for restaurants and residential and retail space-Innovista will help drive the economy and increase per-capita income in the city and state. Recreational space will include a world-class waterfront park along the Congaree River and a new stadium for the Gamecocks' nationally ranked baseball program. Greenway paths for biking, walking, and running already line much of the river area. Innovista's 8 million square feet will blend seamlessly with the Vista, the city's nearby entertainment district of restaurants, bars, shops, and art galleries.

Chartered in 1801, Carolina began classes in 1805 with nine students and a single building, Rutledge College. As the campus grew and buildings were added during the next 50 years, a horseshoe layout was adopted. Today, the Horseshoe is on the National Register of Historic Places, with 10 of its 11 buildings dating to the 19th century. Those renovated buildings house, among other areas, the South Carolina Honors College and Undergraduate Admissions, representing much of the University's current and future lifeblood.

In fact, incoming freshman classes have never been larger or more competitive. The freshmen from fall 2006 set records for their size (more than 3,700) and SAT scores (1171 average). Freshmen enrolling in the Honors College had average SAT scores of 1398. Members of the University's prestigious scholarship programs, Carolina Scholars for in-state students and McNair Scholars for out-of-state students, had average scores of 1449 and 1477, respectively. Total enrollment at Carolina for undergraduates and graduates is more than 27,300, with some 350 degree programs to choose from. Since 1994, Carolina students have earned more than $9.9 million in prestigious national scholarships such as the Goldwater, Truman, Rhodes, and NSF scholarships and the Fulbright Fellowships.

South Carolina's student body is diverse. In fact, Carolina was recently recognized as the state flagship university with the highest percentage of African-American student enrollment in the nation. Research by the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education shows African-American students made up 14.7 percent of enrollment in 2004, the latest year available. The JBHE also ranks Carolina eighth in the nation in percentage of African-American faculty at a state flagship university with 4.3 percent.

The University's faculty garnered a record $173.3 million in federal, state, and private funding for research, outreach, and training programs in 2005-06, and several key hiring plans will introduce more talent and expertise to the faculty ranks. An aggressive campus building master plan and the faculty recruiting initiatives will change the collective face of the University and the faces of many of its key teachers and researchers.

South Carolina is recruiting world-class faculty to be endowed chairs-and change agents-for a series of "research centers of economic excellence" in areas such as nanoelectronics, polymer nanocomposites, brain imaging, regenerative medicine, cancer therapeutics, drug discovery, vision research, hydrogen fuel cells, and travel and tourism technology. These centers, some in collaboration with other state research universities and health and hospital systems, are funded with $30 million annually in state lottery money, as well as private matching money. Carolina is in the midst of a faculty recruitment plan to hire 600 new members. The Faculty Excellence Initiative is recruiting 150 faculty, many in interdisciplinary clusters of emphasis, while the Centenary Plan will recruit 100 elite research faculty to lead the University's core initiatives. Additionally, 350 faculty will be hired across disciplines to replace retirees over the next few years.

The University has forged a number of international collaborations in research, and the University's global connections are also strong in academics, particularly in international business. U.S. News & World Report has consistently ranked the Moore School of Business best in the nation for its undergraduate and graduate programs in international business; the undergraduate program is No. 1 for the 10th consecutive time, while the graduate program is No. 1 among public universities for the 18th consecutive year and No. 2 overall, continuing a streak of 18 years with a top-two overall ranking.

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