Prospect Research Specialist

Waterloo, ON
On-site
Posted Sep 26, 2026
1 position

US$65,000–US$75,000 / year

Opens an external site

Employment type: Full-time
Experience level: Mid-level · 2+ years
Minimum education: College diploma
Posting language: English
Working hours: 40 hours per week

Job summary

Identify, track, segment, and analyze donor records and relationships to support fundraising goals, and maintain prospect data in Raiser’s Edge. Prepare tailored research profiles, reports, and briefings; use analytics and screening tools to inform prospect strategies and portfolio assignments; and collaborate with gift officers and campus partners.

Job details

The Talent Acquisition department hires qualified candidates to fill positions which contribute to the overall strategic success of Howard University. Hiring staff “for fit” makes significant contributions to Howard University’s overall mission. At Howard University, we prioritize well-being and professional growth. Here is what we offer: Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus mental health support Work-Life Balance: PTO, paid holidays, flexible work arrangements Financial Wellness: Competitive salary, 403(b) with company match Professional Development: Ongoing training, tuition reimbursement, and career advancement paths Additional Perks: Wellness programs, commuter benefits, and a vibrant company culture Join Howard University and thrive with us! https://hr.howard.edu/benefits-wellness JOB PURPOSE: Developing a robust culture of prospect research and portfolio management is vital to the University’s fundraising and to Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) efforts to build sustainable and broad-based annual, leadership, major, principal, and planned gift programs, as well as corporate and foundation relations prospect pipelines in support of annual and long-term fundraising targets. The position embodies a customer-service orientation to lead generation, potential prospect identification, research, and qualification and provides—both proactively and in response to requests from colleagues—confidential and thoroughly researched profiles, reports, and briefings tailored to the needs of a variety of audiences. SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY: N/A NATURE AND SCOPE: Reporting to the Director of Prospect Development, the Prospect Research Specialist provides analysis and actionable support to gift officers and portfolio managers to inform prospect strategies and list segmentation. This position also works closely with the Advancement Services team and participates in regular prospect strategy meetings, ensuring quick and accurate updates of portfolios and donor records. In collaboration with partners across campus, additional prospect names and introductions will be captured and centralized in DAR’s database. Teamwork and collaboration across campus and within DAR are essential. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES: This role identifies, tracks, segments, and analyzes donor records and key relationships between the existing Howard community and prospective new sources of support to meet annual and long-term University fundraising objectives. The role ensures prospect data is collected and input into Raiser’s Edge, requiring systematized efforts to review local and national news, business publications, economic trends, and business developments to keep abreast of prospect information and to provide relevant updates to gift officers on assigned prospects. Core responsibilities include the timely creation of prospect briefings and reports using research and screening tools. The position is expected to leverage analytics informed by predictive modelling, wealth screening, data mining and benchmarking to inform portfolio audit/balancing efforts and maintain a system of assigning prospects to gift officer portfolios. The Prospect Research Specialist must keep current on research and fundraising trends through regular contact with industry resources as well as vendors. CORE COMPETENCIES: Demonstrate sound project management skills; Strong attention to detail and ability to analyze substantial amounts of data; Ability to embody a customer service approach while providing support to multiple team members; Ability to prepare tailored profile reports as needed/requested by gift officers and DAR leadership; Knowledge of research software (i.e., Donor Search, WealthEngine, iWave, etc). and other tools; Demonstrated proficiency in query and report building in a development CRM (Customer Relationship Management) (i.e. Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce or similar) Commitment to maintaining the professional and ethical standards set forth for the field by the Association of Researchers for Advancement (APRA); Ability to navigate internal processes and structures to problem-solve and contribute to a culture of collaboration, accountability, and excellence; Ability to and adhere to standard operating procedures for data process functions; Ability to work collaboratively and independently with purpose and accuracy in a fast-paced environment; and Ability to exercise independent judgment and a high degree of discretion. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: Associate's or Bachelor's degree or (3) years of experience in a prospect research position Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and database management experience; familiarity with Raiser’s Edge preferred Excellent communication and interpersonal skills Compliance Salary Range Disclosure Expected Salary Range: $65,000.00- $75,000.00

What you’ll do

Requirements

Requires an associate or bachelor’s degree, or three years of experience in prospect research, along with Microsoft Office proficiency and database management experience; Raiser’s Edge familiarity is preferred. Candidates should have strong analytical, communication, project management, and collaboration skills, and be able to handle confidential information with discretion and follow professional research ethics.