Prospect Development Specialist, RPD

The Prospect Development Specialist is an internal liaison between internal DAR Partners and Prospect Development, and the Specialist will provide strategic focus and direction to Major and Leadership Annual Giving development officers and frontline fundraising teams. Prospect Development is the strategic arm of Vanderbilt’s DAR operation, and the Specialist will manage, track, and report out on constituent and prospect pools which influence development officer and Dare to Grow campaign activity. The Prospect Development Specialist is an internal liaison between internal DAR Partners and Prospect Development, and the Specialist will provide strategic focus and direction to Major and Leadership Annual Giving development officers and frontline fundraising teams. Prospect Development is the strategic arm of Vanderbilt’s DAR operation, and the Specialist will manage, track, and report out on constituent and prospect pools which influence development officer and Dare to Grow campaign activity. By leveraging a solid understanding of the university’s vision and philanthropic priorities, the Specialist is expected to lead efforts which increase the pipeline for major and lead annual gifts and optimize fundraising activity for assigned development officers and fundraising teams. Typical day-to-day duties include, but are not limited to, building and maintaining assigned portfolios and pools of prospects, leading biannual portfolio reviews, directing monthly opportunity and activity audits, preparing travel list or contact list requests, and other ad hoc projects which support the university’s major gift and leadership annual giving programs. These projects support an information-driven culture which derives conclusions and trends through structured analysis of internal and external data. The Specialist will be expected to work collaboratively with appropriate DAR staff members in scenarios which involve prospective donors who have giving interests in multiple areas. The Specialist will leverage DAR’s Prospect Development Optimization Guide to foster coordination and collaboration between fundraising teams to create the best possible match between a donor’s interests and Vanderbilt’s priorities. The Specialist will develop and foster relationships with internal fundraising teams, engagement teams, and external partners and thought leaders. The Specialist will demonstrate initial competency of Level I Relationship Management functions, Level I Data Science functions, and Level I Leadership functions, defined by APRA International Body of Knowledge, but will also gain exposure to Prospect Research, Pipeline Development, and additional Data Science functions on an as-needed basis. The Specialist is expected to demonstrate competency of Level II Relationship Management functions, Level I Data Science functions, and Level I Leadership functions by the end of their first year. **About the Work Unit:** Vanderbilt’s Department of Alumni Relations (DAR) assists the university in securing the resources, both human and financial, that are required to achieve its mission and goals. DAR is responsible for the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individuals and organizations whose charitable objectives are consistent with those of Vanderbilt’s teaching and research programs. **Key Functions and Expected Performance:** - Possess and demonstrate a solid, detailed knowledge of the university’s prospect pool, prospect development business processes, and the proper use and function of information in DAR’s database - Ensure compliance with the Prospect Optimization Guide with focus on roles and responsibilities for the prospect development teams and the development officers - Recommend portfolio moves which enhance prospect and donor lifetime value to Vanderbilt, and/or perceived engagement with or affinity to Vanderbilt - In coordination with assigned team(s) and/or development officer(s), review all prospect development request…