Director of Advancement Data and Research

Summary

The Director of Advancement Data and Research leads advancement data strategy and operations, serving as the functional owner of Slate CRM, supervising gift processing and donor records, producing reporting and analytics, and directing prospect research and prospect management. This role ensures accurate, secure, and consistent data; delivers actionable donor intelligence and pipeline insights; and supports fundraising effectiveness through strong systems, policies, and staff leadership. This position requires proficiency with AI tools to enhance productivity with duties/projects within the position and department.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Slate CRM & Data Governance: Oversight of Slate System for Advancement; establish/enforce data standards, security/access, documentation, and data quality practices; manage imports/updates and data hygiene; train and support users; partner with the Information Technology Office as needed.
• Gift Processing & Records: Supervise gift processing to ensure timely, accurate entry of gifts and commitments (gifts, pledges, matching gifts, gifts-in-kind, payroll deductions, adjustments/write-offs/reversals); maintain internal controls and audit-ready documentation; partner with the Business Office as needed.
• Reporting & Analytics: Responsible for building and maintaining queries, dashboards, and recurring/ad hoc reports; produce accurate campaign, progress, and financial/analytical reporting; use analytics to inform segmentation, forecasting, and strategy.
• Prospect Research: Identify and qualify prospects; produce prospect profiles, wealth/affinity and capacity assessments; manage/validate third-party screening and research resources.
• Prospect Management: Oversee prospect assignment and tracking in Slate; optimize portfolios and pipeline health; facilitate portfolio/pipeline review meetings with gift officers.
• Collaboration & Support: Provide list pulls for outreach and mailings; support campaign planning; participate in university/advancement events as requested; perform other duties as assigned.
• Discretion with confidential information, attention to data integrity, responsibility for protecting sensitive records, donor personal/financial information, and ensuring compliance with data privacy standards.
• Continuous Training & Improvement: Actively leverage free Slate Community resources—including groups and learning labs—to strengthen platform expertise. Attend the annual Slate Summit and other role-relevant training courses, as approved by the supervisor.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required; 3-5 years of experience in advancement services/operations, gift processing, prospect research/management, or related roles.

Outstanding Benefits

Trine University offers a comprehensive benefit package designed to provide a variety of choices to best fit your needs and the needs of your family. Some benefits offered include:

• Health – medical, dental, vision, flex spending, HSA accounts
• Life Insurance – a variety of voluntary life options are available along with an employer paid employee life policy valued at 1½ times annual salary
• Financial Insurance – employer paid Long Term Disability and voluntary Short-Term Disability, Accident, Hospital Indemnity, and Critical Illness options are available
• Paid vacation and sick time
• Retirement – after one year of full-time service you are eligible for an employer contribution of 5% and up to an additional 5% employer match
• Education – after 6 months of full-time service, undergraduate education benefits are available for employee, spouse, and dependent children

Salary

The salary is competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications.