Boise State University
Director of Prospect Development
Boise State University, Idaho City, Idaho, United States, 83631
Job Summary/Basic Function:
The Director of Prospect Development oversees all aspects of prospect research, management, and data analysis for the Boise State University Foundation. This role leads the process of identifying, researching, and tracking prospects for annual, leadership annual, major, principal, and planned gifts. The director partners with the Foundation’s CEO, AVP for Development, and Foundation staff to design and implement strategies for engaging individuals, foundations, and organizations with significant philanthropic potential.
Key Responsibilities:
Provide research, reports, and detailed analyses to support the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors.
Lead the strategy to discover new prospects.
Assign prospects to gift officers in collaboration with Foundation leadership.
Compile and present research briefs to university leadership.
Ensure the effective movement of prospects through the development pipeline.
Department Overview: Boise State University Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1964 to benefit Boise State University. The Foundation secures philanthropic support by developing relationships with alumni and friends and stewarding gifts. It works closely with university leadership, the Boise State University Alumni Association, and the Broncos Athletic Association.
Mission: To build a greater Boise State University, we provide fundraising leadership and service across the university and partner with donors and alumni to inspire private support.
Core Values:
Purpose Driven
Relentless Excellence
Responsible
Collaborative
Level Scope: Spends the majority of time achieving organizational objectives through the coordinated achievements of subordinate staff. Manages experienced professionals, establishes departmental goals, and manages resources while ensuring compliance with internal controls.
Essential Functions (60% of the time):
Oversee research, prospect management, and data analysis activities to assist the president, board, and Foundation staff with fundraising strategies.
Supervise the Prospect Development team, exercising latitude and independence in assignments.
Work with university leadership and gift officers to create cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for principal gift level prospects ($500,000+).
Serve as liaison between the president’s office, VP of university advancement, and gift officers to facilitate the president’s involvement with principal gift level prospects.
Manage movement of prospects through leadership annual giving and major gift officer portfolios, make prospect assignments, and monitor strategy implementation.
Develop and implement methods for identifying new potential donor prospects for university philanthropic priorities.
Act as the Foundation’s subject matter expert for the alumni/donor database’s prospect management module and related guidelines.
Research and analyze prospect background, wealth, interests, and relationship to Boise State to identify and qualify individual, corporate, and foundation prospects.
Prepare concise confidential reports and briefs on prospects to assist advancement staff.
Collaborate with development staff to prioritize and manage major, planned, and principal gift prospect portfolios, focusing on identifying appropriate prospects for qualification calls.
Prepare confidential written reports and meeting briefs for major and principal gift prospects for the president, board, and Foundation staff.
Coordinate and guarantee quality of research projects, meeting briefs, and donor profiles.
Additional Duties (35% of the time):
Make hiring recommendations and complete performance evaluations for Prospect Development team members.
Onboard new database users and coach existing users on complex issues with the prospect management module.
Assist the Foundation team with implementation of new software to align with prospect management and coordination guidelines.
Work with external vendors to provide screening and modeling services.
Demonstrate the ability to project future fundraising progress based on capacity, penetration, and activity of the prospect pool.
Keep up to date with effective research, prospect management, and prospect analytics techniques and trends in the profession and fundraising field.
Maintain procedures supporting best practices, ethical and professional research standards, leveraging technology, data integrity, and data security.
Maintain a working knowledge of public records, periodicals, electronic databases, and internal sources for obtaining prospect information.
Other Duties (5% of the time):
Perform other duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
Demonstrate the Foundation’s core values: Collaboration, Communication, Integrity, Inclusion, Ownership, Continuous Improvement, and Performance.
Lead and manage execution of processes, projects, and tactics within responsibility areas.
Aptitude for data analysis to identify characteristics of major, planned, and principal gift prospects.
Experience with principal development research tools and techniques, including online databases and directories.
Excellent analytical skills to determine critical information for advancement staff.
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with the ability to convey complex information clearly and diplomatically.
Experienced in managing sensitive donor communications and records with confidentiality and trust.
Strategic thinker with advanced project management capabilities and long‑term goal execution.
Thorough knowledge of ethical standards and best practices with commitment to industry guidelines (e.g., ADRP, CASE).
Self‑motivated, results‑driven leader with initiative and adaptability to thrive in a collaborative, team‑based environment.
Record of accomplishment demonstrating initiative, creativity, and effectiveness.
Knowledge of moving‑management concepts.
Understanding of donor behavior and philanthropic trends.
Excellent project management skills; attention to detail; and analytical skills.
Proficiency with relationship management systems, prospect data resources, and other information sources in all formats.
Proactive identification techniques and methodologies such as data segmentation and constituent ratings.
Broad knowledge of the university donor and alumni community.
Working knowledge of fundraising, donor relations, and public relations concepts, principles, and techniques.
Familiar with a broad range of research techniques, including text, periodical, electronic, and internet research.
Proficient in technology platforms, including Google Workspace, CRM databases, and other tools that support streamlined operations and best‑practice delivery.
Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree and five years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, including one year of managerial experience.
Preferred Qualifications: Preferred experience in higher education and a related field such as development, prospect research, advancement services, or library/information sciences.
Salary and Benefits: Starting salary range: $80,828.80 to $101,025.60 annually, commensurate with experience.
12 paid holidays (excluding Christmas and New Year’s, requiring use of 3 vacation days).
12–24 annual paid vacation days for full‑time professional and classified staff, depending on position type and years of service.
10.76% university contribution to the ORP retirement fund (professional and faculty employees).
11.96% university contribution to the PERSI retirement fund (classified employees).
Excellent medical, dental, and other health‑related insurance coverages.
Tuition fee waiver benefits for employees, spouses, and dependents.
Full benefits page available for more information.
Required Application Materials: Please submit a cover letter indicating your interest and qualifications for the position. Attach a resume that includes employment history (including dates of employment).
Application Deadline: This position is open until filled, with review of applications beginning December 15th, 2025.
About Us: Boise State University fosters a vibrant and welcoming academic environment that fuels student and employee success. We are a trailblazing institution nationally recognized for our innovative spirit and commitment to positive impact on Idaho and beyond. Applications from all backgrounds are welcomed. Learn more about Boise State and living in Idaho’s Treasure Valley at https://www.boisestate.edu/about/.
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Key Responsibilities:
Provide research, reports, and detailed analyses to support the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors.
Lead the strategy to discover new prospects.
Assign prospects to gift officers in collaboration with Foundation leadership.
Compile and present research briefs to university leadership.
Ensure the effective movement of prospects through the development pipeline.
Department Overview: Boise State University Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1964 to benefit Boise State University. The Foundation secures philanthropic support by developing relationships with alumni and friends and stewarding gifts. It works closely with university leadership, the Boise State University Alumni Association, and the Broncos Athletic Association.
Mission: To build a greater Boise State University, we provide fundraising leadership and service across the university and partner with donors and alumni to inspire private support.
Core Values:
Purpose Driven
Relentless Excellence
Responsible
Collaborative
Level Scope: Spends the majority of time achieving organizational objectives through the coordinated achievements of subordinate staff. Manages experienced professionals, establishes departmental goals, and manages resources while ensuring compliance with internal controls.
Essential Functions (60% of the time):
Oversee research, prospect management, and data analysis activities to assist the president, board, and Foundation staff with fundraising strategies.
Supervise the Prospect Development team, exercising latitude and independence in assignments.
Work with university leadership and gift officers to create cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for principal gift level prospects ($500,000+).
Serve as liaison between the president’s office, VP of university advancement, and gift officers to facilitate the president’s involvement with principal gift level prospects.
Manage movement of prospects through leadership annual giving and major gift officer portfolios, make prospect assignments, and monitor strategy implementation.
Develop and implement methods for identifying new potential donor prospects for university philanthropic priorities.
Act as the Foundation’s subject matter expert for the alumni/donor database’s prospect management module and related guidelines.
Research and analyze prospect background, wealth, interests, and relationship to Boise State to identify and qualify individual, corporate, and foundation prospects.
Prepare concise confidential reports and briefs on prospects to assist advancement staff.
Collaborate with development staff to prioritize and manage major, planned, and principal gift prospect portfolios, focusing on identifying appropriate prospects for qualification calls.
Prepare confidential written reports and meeting briefs for major and principal gift prospects for the president, board, and Foundation staff.
Coordinate and guarantee quality of research projects, meeting briefs, and donor profiles.
Additional Duties (35% of the time):
Make hiring recommendations and complete performance evaluations for Prospect Development team members.
Onboard new database users and coach existing users on complex issues with the prospect management module.
Assist the Foundation team with implementation of new software to align with prospect management and coordination guidelines.
Work with external vendors to provide screening and modeling services.
Demonstrate the ability to project future fundraising progress based on capacity, penetration, and activity of the prospect pool.
Keep up to date with effective research, prospect management, and prospect analytics techniques and trends in the profession and fundraising field.
Maintain procedures supporting best practices, ethical and professional research standards, leveraging technology, data integrity, and data security.
Maintain a working knowledge of public records, periodicals, electronic databases, and internal sources for obtaining prospect information.
Other Duties (5% of the time):
Perform other duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
Demonstrate the Foundation’s core values: Collaboration, Communication, Integrity, Inclusion, Ownership, Continuous Improvement, and Performance.
Lead and manage execution of processes, projects, and tactics within responsibility areas.
Aptitude for data analysis to identify characteristics of major, planned, and principal gift prospects.
Experience with principal development research tools and techniques, including online databases and directories.
Excellent analytical skills to determine critical information for advancement staff.
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with the ability to convey complex information clearly and diplomatically.
Experienced in managing sensitive donor communications and records with confidentiality and trust.
Strategic thinker with advanced project management capabilities and long‑term goal execution.
Thorough knowledge of ethical standards and best practices with commitment to industry guidelines (e.g., ADRP, CASE).
Self‑motivated, results‑driven leader with initiative and adaptability to thrive in a collaborative, team‑based environment.
Record of accomplishment demonstrating initiative, creativity, and effectiveness.
Knowledge of moving‑management concepts.
Understanding of donor behavior and philanthropic trends.
Excellent project management skills; attention to detail; and analytical skills.
Proficiency with relationship management systems, prospect data resources, and other information sources in all formats.
Proactive identification techniques and methodologies such as data segmentation and constituent ratings.
Broad knowledge of the university donor and alumni community.
Working knowledge of fundraising, donor relations, and public relations concepts, principles, and techniques.
Familiar with a broad range of research techniques, including text, periodical, electronic, and internet research.
Proficient in technology platforms, including Google Workspace, CRM databases, and other tools that support streamlined operations and best‑practice delivery.
Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree and five years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, including one year of managerial experience.
Preferred Qualifications: Preferred experience in higher education and a related field such as development, prospect research, advancement services, or library/information sciences.
Salary and Benefits: Starting salary range: $80,828.80 to $101,025.60 annually, commensurate with experience.
12 paid holidays (excluding Christmas and New Year’s, requiring use of 3 vacation days).
12–24 annual paid vacation days for full‑time professional and classified staff, depending on position type and years of service.
10.76% university contribution to the ORP retirement fund (professional and faculty employees).
11.96% university contribution to the PERSI retirement fund (classified employees).
Excellent medical, dental, and other health‑related insurance coverages.
Tuition fee waiver benefits for employees, spouses, and dependents.
Full benefits page available for more information.
Required Application Materials: Please submit a cover letter indicating your interest and qualifications for the position. Attach a resume that includes employment history (including dates of employment).
Application Deadline: This position is open until filled, with review of applications beginning December 15th, 2025.
About Us: Boise State University fosters a vibrant and welcoming academic environment that fuels student and employee success. We are a trailblazing institution nationally recognized for our innovative spirit and commitment to positive impact on Idaho and beyond. Applications from all backgrounds are welcomed. Learn more about Boise State and living in Idaho’s Treasure Valley at https://www.boisestate.edu/about/.
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