Funding Source:
UB Foundation Activities, Inc.
Title of Position:
Research Analyst
Department:
Prospect Research
Division:
Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement
Supervisor of Position
Title:
Director of Prospect Research
FLSA Status:
Exempt
Date:
January 12, 2015
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University Overview
UB is a premier, research-intensive public university known for its academic excellence. Driven by our
vision—UB 2020—to be counted among the nation’s leading and most distinctive public research
universities, a new University at Buffalo is emerging. Building strong connections with our alumni and
donors worldwide is critical to our success; the Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement is leading
the effort. We are creating a new UB environment that broadens opportunities for alumni engagement,
capitalizes on positive student experiences and builds philanthropic support for the university.
The Research Analyst will join a team of fundraising professionals who are focused on engaging and
soliciting prospects in a professional and collaborative environment.
Position Overview
The Research Analyst is responsible for supporting the University at Buffalo’s major and planned gifts
prospecting program for individuals, corporations and foundations under the direction of the Director of
Prospect Research. The analyst will work closely with research colleagues and fundraising professionals in
implementing a major and planned gifts prospect identification and qualification program. The analyst
should be highly skilled at generating qualitative and quantitative data and trend analysis in support of the
development and success of fundraising programs. The analyst is also responsible for supporting and
coordinating the use of the university’s prospect and donor records, both hard copy and electronic, to
create analytical research profiles on prospects, to provide analysis of the gift capabilities of those within
the donor database and to act as a resource for philanthropy staff. The analyst is expected to respect the
confidential nature of the position at all times.
Duties and Responsibilities

Under direction of the Director, set goals, plan and execute a prospect identification and qualification
program to support major and planned gifts fundraising initiatives.

Identify prospects for current and planned gifts in the general range of $25,000 or greater, including the
use of database segmentation, external resources, peer screening and database screening.

Take an active role in a prospect tracking and management program, including prospect strategy
meetings, routine reports on cultivation activity, and development of solicitation strategies.

Conduct research on corporations, foundations and grant makers to help identify funding sources for
programs and projects within the University.

Determine financial qualification of new major and planned gift donor prospects, both proactively and
reactively.

Interpret and synthesize large amounts of information and complex financial and legal data into easy to
comprehend deliverables.

Work with divisional leadership and philanthropy staff to identify their prospect information needs.

Work creatively, by crossing barriers of regions, departments and funding needs by providing key
information to ensure successful solicitations.

Suggest cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies.

Implement use of the Advance database to support all prospecting activity (to the extent possible),
including major and planned gifts, proposal tracking and prospect research.

Set standards for prospect information dissemination, organization, storage, maintenance and retrieval.

Ensure timely and accurate delivery of prospect data.

Develop supportive and productive relationships with fellow research analysts and the entire University
at Buffalo Philanthropy staff, displaying judgment and decisiveness to motivate colleagues and inspire
confidence. Work closely with gift officers and leadership to assure the development of relationships
with major and planned gift prospects and donors that will optimize their philanthropy to the University
at Buffalo and key university and school/college priorities, including campaigns, projects and goalsetting.

Become knowledgeable and remain updated about the unique challenges and accomplishments of the
University at Buffalo.

Complete research for selected major donor prospects which specifically will provide:


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Financial information.
Data relating to the prospect’s interests and priorities.
A history of the prospect’s relationship to UB and the current status of the relationship.
Names of persons who may know and relate to the prospect.

Fully utilize resource documents and supporting materials, including both hard copy and on-line
resources to create analytical research profiles on prospects, to provide analysis of the gift capabilities
of those within the donor database and to act as a resource for philanthropy staff.

Implement, coordinate and update when necessary, the following:


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
Methodologies for prospect research.
Criteria for analysis and review.
Procedures for written materials.
Systems for distribution and retrieval.
Provide timely and accurate updates of major philanthropic activity both locally and nationally to the
appropriate philanthropy staff members.

Become grounded in the key concepts, terms and tools of the fundraising profession within the
University at Buffalo and the industry.

Remain current with trends in prospect research by attending training sessions, networking with other
professionals in their field, participating in professional conferences and subscribing to electronic
listservs focusing on prospect research and fundraising issues.

Train philanthropy staff on software applications as directed.

Handle all sensitive information in a confidential manner.

Other duties as assigned.
Reporting Relationships
Supervisory:
The Research Analyst reports to the Director of Prospect Research.
Functional:
Within the Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement, the Research Analyst will work closely with
central staff and school/unit-based gift officers, as well as alumni engagement professionals in identifying
and qualifying top prospects.
Qualifications
Required:

Bachelor’s degree.

Minimum of 1-3 years experience in research.

Strong analytical skills.

Electronic database experience

Excellent communication skills, including oral, face-to-face, written and computer proficiency.

Proficiency with productivity tools including Excel, Access, Word and PowerPoint

Experience searching online databases and Internet.

Experience managing deadline-driven multiple and diverse tasks.
Preferred:

Master’s degree.

Minimum of 1-2 years experience in prospect research for a fundraising operation, preferred.

Experience in writing logical, detailed and analytical reports with a high degree of accuracy.

Knowledge of information segmentation utilizing a database.
Salary Range: $40,000- $50,000
UB offers highly competitive salary and benefit packages for its development staff.
The University at Buffalo is an Equal Opportunity Institution.
For more job information and directions on how to apply, please visit our website at:
https://www.ubjobs.buffalo.edu. Only applications received through UB Jobs will be considered.
Posting # 1500032
Quick link to apply https://www.ubjobs.buffalo.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=57704