submitted by hr@augsburg.edu
Summary of Position
The Senior Research Program Manager is responsible for performing prospect development functions in support of major and principal gift fundraising along with Augsburg’s grants program. This position executes proactive and responsive research services as well as prospective funder management services for primary relationship managers in Institutional Advancement.
The Senior Research Program Manager works in close partnership with assigned Major Gift Officers and Advancement Services to plan, partner, and execute donor-centric development strategies that facilitate philanthropy and provide strategic guidance to Major Gift Officers while focusing on the philanthropic priorities of the prospective donors. This individual works within specified Advancement processes to ensure the team meets objectives and maximizes donor philanthropy and Gift Officer time.
An ideal candidate is solution oriented infusing a sense of positivity, tenacity, and dedication. The Senior Research Program Manager may perform other related duties as assigned; the omission of specific tasks does not preclude the supervisor from assigning responsibilities that are logically related to the position.
Primary Responsibilities
This role serves as a key strategic member of the Advancement Services team and works closely with members of the Institutional Leadership team. The person in this role provides proactive strategic direction to gift officers and oversees day-to-day operational activity with the goal of delivering the best possible donor experience. As process partners to the gift officers, provides regular coaching and feedback. This position is responsible for research development to sustain and grow the external funding supporting Augsburg University. That includes planning, implementing, and directing a comprehensive program to move prospects along the prospect pipeline and establishing and implementing a “moves management” system. Based on comprehensive research, this approach aims to drive mutually agreed upon engagement, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies for current and prospective donors.
Research
– Identify, evaluate, and recommend current and potential major gift prospects and assess their ability to financially support Augsburg University.
– Provide research and quantitative analysis of biographical, philanthropic, professional, and financial information on donors and prospective donors.
– Prepare profiles, rating memos, event bios and qualified lists to support the cultivation of prospects.
– Track prospective and current donors by monitoring daily news, online “alerts,” and utilizing internal information and provide pertinent information to the appropriate Gift Officer.
– Identify donor’s associates and acquaintances, update relationships in the database, and facilitate institutional involvement.
– Update report on gift officer metrics like opportunities / proposals added, calls made, visits attended. Contribute some of these metrics to be included in campaign reports and division dashboard reports.
Major Gift Officer Strategy
– Lead work in partnership with the Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Associate Vice President of Institutional Advancement to organize and facilitate regular donor strategy meetings that track a moves management system.
– Be an organized and communicative collaborator with Gift Officers to strategically move all KPIs for prospect proposal pipeline metrics forward.
– Develop a moves management system and partner with colleagues for success.
– Identify prospective donors through proactive research and present findings at strategy meetings.
– Make recommendations on ask amounts on current and potential donors.
Acumen and Procedures
– Manage all aspects of research for gift portfolios, including creating and implementing pipeline procedures, coordinating proactive research, and making the research processes increasingly effective.
– Maintain or proof the data that represent the work of the gift officers including opportunities / proposals, actions, call reports, prospect status, top prospects, etc.
– Lead, in partnership with IA leadership, efforts to prepare volunteer leaders to cultivate, solicit and steward major and principal level gifts to Augsburg.
– Facilitate training and educational sessions as needed for colleagues; Communicate research techniques and procedures for consistency.
– Conduct regular wealth screenings, validate wealth screening data, and update donor records as needed.
– Maintain expertise in research techniques and resources.
Work Environment and Physical Demands
– Typical work environment is an office. Sedentary work for long periods of time.
– Regular computer and phone use.
– Hybrid work schedule. There are on-site requirements for meetings and events. The schedule will include 1-2 regularly scheduled weekly in-office days.
– Ability to work efficiently in person and in a virtual environment with off-site colleagues.
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