Posted: Apr 15, 2026
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Assistant Director, Prospect Management & Research

Loyola University Chicago - Chicago, IL
Salary: $66,000.00 - $76,650.00
Application Deadline: N/A

To be considered for this role, applicants must apply through our careers site: https://www.careers.luc.edu/postings/34889

Job Summary:

Under general direction, this position is responsible for conducting prospect management liaison duties as well as identifying philanthropic donors to provide financial gifts to benefit Loyola University of Chicago.

Minimum Education and/or Work Experience:

  • Bachelor’s Degree.
  • Preferred two to five years of experience in working with prospect research and familiarity with fundraising or nonprofit environment, preferably in a complex higher education context.

Duties and Responsibilities:

As part of a collaborative Advancement Operations team and in consultation with the Associate Director – Prospect Research, the Assistant Director of Prospect Research identifies and evaluates major and principal gift prospects for all areas of Loyola University Chicago. Conducts detailed research using on-line databases, in-house data, and other reference sources. Creates written reports compiling and synthesizing this information, and completes appropriate dissemination and presentation based on audience and situation. Uses prospecting tools such as screening and data modeling to provide analysis of overall prospect pools and targeted groups to support planning and projections. Provides analysis of and suggests suitable strategy for prospects in relation to institutional fundraising opportunities. Works with the Prospect Management team to ensure identified prospects are placed into and moved along the pipeline.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:

  • Conduct detailed biographical, business, and financial research on individuals and organizations using online databases, in-house data, and other reference sources. Provide capacity assessments on prospects in ongoing projects and upon request. Prepare high-quality profiles and other formatted reports, synthesizing this information as appropriate for a variety of audiences and situations.
  • Identify potential donors to Loyola as new prospects for future research and cultivation. Conduct special prospect identification projects in support of identified priorities and initiatives. Review and validate regular screening results. Conduct in-depth analysis on leadership groups and assist with building the pipeline of prospects for trustee and other leadership volunteer roles.
  • Develop and maintain an ongoing, collaborative relationship with Advancement and related staff. Develop strong knowledge about Loyola and its programs, projects, personnel, and initiatives.
  • Assist with onboarding and training current and new Advancement and related staff on understanding and interpreting research products and initiatives.
  • Maintains well-organized, accurate, and complete internal databases for use by all Advancement staff and assists with usage as needed.
  • Assists the Director of Prospect Management & Research and development staff with various data tasks, including (but not limited to) prospect coding, tracking, status monitoring, reporting, and the review of other dynamic information such as contact reports, strategy notes, etc.
  • Gain and maintain proficiency in the use of commercial databases, free Internet resources, and internal systems. Assist with the assessment on tools and products in the marketplace.
  • Assist in maintaining internal systems and products, including contributing to the upkeep of departmental SharePoint, shared drives, and other sites.
  • Gain and maintain awareness of issues within the development profession, particularly relating to ethics, privacy, and compliance, and of the goals and activities of Loyola and its peer institutions.
  • Monitor and participate in relevant listservs, publications, and professional groups to maintain a strong knowledge of developments in the field of prospect research and related functions. Identify and attend relevant meetings, conferences, and training opportunities organized by vendors and professional organizations.
  • Serve on administrative teams as appointed.
  • Safeguards the confidentiality of constituent information at all times by adhering to ethical and confidentiality guidelines of the Foundation, University, and the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (APRA).
  • Perform related duties and assist the Associate Director, Director, AVP, and related partners with projects as assigned.