Assistant Director, Prospect Strategy

About Western Kentucky University:

Western Kentucky University (WKU) is a student-centered, applied-research institution committed to providing its students with a transformative academic and social experience and to elevating its surrounding communities. Founded in 1906, WKU is the second largest undergraduate institution in the Commonwealth of Kentucky with approximately 15,035 students (29% first generation, 18% underrepresented minority) and just over 2,500 faculty and staff employees.

Western Kentucky University is committed to empowering its campus community to embrace diversity by building equitable and inclusive learning, working, and living environments. At the heart of our mission, we seek to provide holistic education and employment experiences that prepare students, faculty, and staff to become effective scholars, contributors, and leaders in our diverse and evolving communities.

Located 65 miles north of Nashville, TN, and just over 100 miles south of Louisville, KY, WKU's main campus is in Bowling Green, KY - a city with approximately 70,000 residents. Our population is ethnically diverse, with more than 85 languages spoken in and around Bowling Green, and people from 35 nationalities call our community home.

Western Kentucky University seeks to attract talented faculty and staff who are inspired individually to contribute to WKU's strategic plans and ongoing success. We offer comprehensive wellness and health benefits to employees and their families, including domestic partners and other qualified dependents and take pride in providing a workplace culture that supports balancing the responsibilities of work and family life. Paid-time off for holidays, vacation and sick leave, and a tuition discount program for employees and dependents are also provided. Learn more about WKU and Bowling Green at wku.edu/about.

Job Description:

Position Summary

The Division of Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement (PAE) seeks to foster lifelong relationships with WKU constituents through activities designed to honor the WKU spirit, engage all members of the WKU family in the life of the University, and secure private support to advance WKU's mission. The Division's core values drive our success through: a Positive and supportive culture, being Accountable for our work and to our peers, demonstrating we are a Resilient team that adapts to change, and see Feedback as an opportunity for growth, and above all, expect Professionalism at all times.

The Assistant Director of Prospect Strategy reports to the Executive Director of Strategic Operations & Appeals and works with the Prospect Strategy Associate to manage donor prospecting and research activities at Western Kentucky University. This position is one of the key liaisons between Gift Officers and prospect identification, assignments, research support, and prospect management including proposal entry, stage changes, pipeline efforts, research and segmentation. This position supports the prospect management and research needs of approximately 15 full-time fundraising professionals. Responsibilities include the identification, research, and analysis of alumni, parents, and friends in support of fundraising efforts at WKU. This position utilizes online research tools to update prospect records and provide recommendations of philanthropic prospects.

Essential Job Functions

The following duties are customary for this position, but are not to be construed as all-inclusive. Duties may be added, deleted and assigned based on management discretion and institutional needs.

Prospect Data Management 

• Develop, organize and conduct internal prospecting activities to identify potential major gift donors in support of fundraising initiatives.
• Maintain in-depth analysis of prospect and portfolio data in order to inform strategic decision-making by fundraising managers.
• Implement prospect management, handling, pipeline, coding and analysis functions.
• Manage prospect records in database system and performs regular audits of prospect management data.
• Work with users to ensure accurate data and, as needed, develop training and support materials on prospect management policies and procedures.
• Maintain a system for monitoring prospect and portfolio movement and support and assist fundraisers in portfolio management and prospecting activities.
• Utilize data to make meaningful and strategic recommendations for prospecting.
• Compile and monitor business plan solicitations and proposal pipelines.
• Audit portfolios and manage the assignment review process, which includes leads generated, and categorize prospects according to the prospect classification.
• Schedule and lead quarterly reviews with gift officers to review portfolios, business plans and prospecting strategies.
• Work with Data Specialist to create and maintain reports for prospect management, analytics and segmentation.
• Contribute to the planning and implementation of comprehensive, proactive prospect identification and management of potential prospects.
• Coordinate with vendors as needed to ensure data feeds between Advance and Evertrue transfer accurately, collaborate with vendor on assignments, and monitor biographic updates via Evertrue and gift officers.

Prospect Research 

• Work with leadership and fundraisers to define needs, share results, and enhance the value and effective use of research in identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors.
• Execute prospect identification activities for new prospects utilizing external information and prospect research tools and databases.
• Produce prospect and donor profiles and event bios when needed to support cultivation and solicitation activities.
• Integrate newly identified prospects into the allocated prospect discovery pool for qualification and assignment.
• Track research productivity with database metrics and project management tools.
• Conduct research using public, proprietary, purchased or leased databases, newspapers, published materials, and other resources to identify potential donors and funding sources.
• Utilize prospecting tools such as data screening and modeling to provide analyses of targeted groups and overall prospect pool.

Foster Collaboration and Partnerships

• Assist others on the team and/or across the Division on special projects to support the Division needs as necessary.
• Build partnerships across campus to drive PAE initiatives.

Support Best Practices

• Collaborate with team members and recommend improvements.
• Research best practices; evaluating and learning new tools to support philanthropic and alumni engagement needs.
• Contribute outside-the-box ideas in conjunction with research and best practices to position the Division to be leaders in the industry.

Knowledge and Skills Considered Essential for Success

• Must be a self-starter, organized and able to work in a team environment.
• Ability to establish priorities and work independently.
• Research skills necessary to locate and validate information from multiple sources including websites, social media, and commercial research databases.
• Advanced problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
• Ability to manage to completion large, long-term or fast-moving projects.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy with data entry and project tracking.
• Strong grammar and writing skills.
• Superior and effective interpersonal, written, and verbal communication and presentation skills.
• Computer literacy and proficiency to include Microsoft Office Suite with high proficiency in Excel and aptitude for learning new software packages.
• Knowledge of commercial research databases such as Lexis Nexis.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage large volumes of data in an accurate and meaningful way.
• Experience with data analysis and reporting.
• Ability to use discretion in working with sensitive, confidential materials and data.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree

Additional Information:

Kentucky state law requires all public institutions of postsecondary education to conduct pre-employment criminal background checks to determine suitability for employment.

Western Kentucky University (WKU) is committed to a policy and practice of providing equal employment and educational opportunities to all individuals. In accordance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Revised 1992, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, no form of discrimination or harassment will be tolerated at WKU on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, marital status, age, uniformed services, veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, or physical or mental disability in admission to career and technical education programs and/or activities, or employment practices.

Persons with disabilities, who need reasonable accommodations to participate in the application and/or selection process, should notify the office of Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action/University ADA Services (EEO). To request an accommodation, report/express a complaint, or ask questions regarding WKU''s Discrimination and Harassment Policy (#0.2040), please contact Mr. Joshua Hayes, EEO Director/Title IX Investigator/University ADA Coordinator, via email at joshua.hayes@wku.edu or by phone at (270) 745-5121.

The University is also required to investigate complaints of sex and gender-based harassment, also a form of discrimination, and has designated the Title IX Coordinator as the individual responsible for coordinating the investigation and response to such complaints. The Title IX Coordinator for the University is Ms. Ena Demir, who can be contacted via email at ena.demir@wku.edu or by phone at (270) 745-6867. Additional information regarding Title IX is accessible via WKU's https://www.wku.edu/titleix/ website.

Information concerning educational programs offered by WKU are provided at: http://www.wku.edu/atwku/academics.php

Application Instructions:

The following items must be submitted through this electronic talent management system:  

• Cover Letter
• Resume

You will receive email confirmation that your submission has been received. The candidate review process will generally begin as materials are received. The expected hire date is on or about November 1, 2022.