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Job Summary/Basic Function:
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The Director of Prospect Development oversees all aspects of prospect research, management, and data analysis for the Boise State University Foundation. This role leads the process of identifying, researching, and tracking prospects for annual, leadership annual, major, principal, and planned gifts. The director partners with the Foundation’s CEO, AVP for Development, and Foundation staff to design and implement strategies for engaging individuals, foundations, and organizations with significant philanthropic potential.
Key responsibilities include providing research, reports, and detailed analyses to support the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors; leading the strategy to discover new prospects; assigning prospects to gift officers in collaboration with Foundation leadership; compiling and presenting research briefs to university leadership; and ensuring the effective movement of prospects through the development pipeline.
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Department Overview:
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A nonprofit Idaho organization, the Boise State University Foundation was established in 1964 for the benefit of Boise State University. We work to secure philanthropic support for the university by developing and nurturing relationships with our alumni and friends and stewarding gifts made to support Boise State. The Foundation works closely with university leadership, the Boise State University Alumni Association, and the Bronco Athletic Association.
Mission: To build a greater Boise State University, we provide fundraising leadership and service across the university and partner with donors and alumni to inspire private support.
Core Values:
- Purpose Driven
- Relentless Excellence
- Responsible
- Collaborative
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Level Scope:
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Spends the majority of time (50% or more) achieving organizational objectives through the coordinated achievements of subordinate staff. Manages experienced professionals who exercise latitude and independence in assignments. Establishes departmental goals and objectives, functions with autonomy. Manages the accountability and stewardship of human, financial, and often physical resources in compliance with departmental and campus wide goals and objectives. Ensures subordinate supervisors and professionals adhere to defined internal controls with a focus on policy and strategy implementation. Manages systems and procedures to protect departmental assets and requires practical knowledge in leading and managing the execution of processes, projects and tactics within one area. May report to a Chair, Unit Director, or equivalent administrative management.
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Essential Functions:
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60% of the time the Director of Prospect Development must:
- Oversee the research, prospect management, and prospect data analysis activities in the Boise State University Foundation to assist the president, board, and Foundation staff with fundraising strategies for the university.
- Establishes departmental goals and objectives, supervising the Prospect Development team members, who exercise latitude and independence in assignments.
- Work with university leadership and gift officers to create cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies for principal gift level prospects ($500,000+); monitor and ensure implementation of strategies.
- Serve as liaison between the president's office, vice president of university advancement and gift officers to facilitate the president’s involvement with principal gift level prospects.
- Manage movement of prospects through leadership annual giving and major gift officers’ portfolios, make prospect assignments; and monitor strategies to ensure assigned staff members are meeting goals and deadlines.
- Develop and implement methods for identifying new potential donor prospects for university philanthropic priorities.
- Act as the Foundation’s subject matter expert for the alumni/donor database’s prospect management module and related guidelines.
- Responsible for researching and analyzing prospect(s) background, wealth, interests, and relationship with Boise State in an effort to identify and qualify individual, corporate, and foundation prospects for the university’s priority projects.
- Utilize information obtained through the research of public records to prepare concise confidential reports, summaries, and briefs on prospects to assist the advancement staff in the development process.
- Collaborates with the development staff to assist with prioritizing and managing major, planned, and principal gift prospect portfolios, with particular emphasis on identifying appropriate prospects for qualification calls.
- Prepare confidential written reports and meeting briefs for major and principal gift prospects for the president, board, and Foundation staff.
- Coordinate and guarantee quality of research projects, meeting briefs, donor profiles, etc.
35% of the time the Director of Prospect Development must:
- Make hiring recommendations and complete performance evaluations for Prospect Development team members.
- Onboard new database users and coach existing users on complex issues with the prospect management module.
- Assist the Foundation team with the implementation of new software, making sure it aligns with the Foundation’s prospect management and coordination guidelines.
- Work with external vendors to provide screening and modeling services.
- Demonstrate the ability to project future fundraising progress based on capacity, penetration, and activity of the prospect pool.
- Through professional development, keep up to date with effective research, prospect management, and prospect analytics techniques, as well as trends in the prospect development profession and the advancement/fundraising field.
- Maintain procedures supporting best practices, ethical and professional research standards, leveraging technology, data integrity, and data security.
- Maintain a working knowledge of public records, periodicals, electronic databases, and internal sources for obtaining prospect information.
5% of the time the Director of Prospect Development must:
- Perform other duties as assigned.
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Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
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- Demonstrate the Foundations’ core values: Collaboration, Communication, Integrity, Inclusion, Ownership, Continuous Improvement and Performance.
- Knowledge in leading and managing the execution of processes, projects and tactics within areas of responsibility.
- Aptitude for data analysis in order to identify characteristics of individual, corporate and foundation major, planned, and principal gift prospects.
- Experience with the principal tools and techniques for development research (including sources of public records available through online databases, directories, and various periodicals).
- Excellent analytical skills to determine information that is critical to the advancement staff in the fundraising process.
- Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly, diplomatically, and with impact across a variety of audiences, while maintaining a strong understanding of the importance of confidentiality.
- Experienced in managing sensitive donor communications and records, balancing discretion and transparency while upholding confidentiality and trust.
- Strategic thinker with advanced project management capabilities, able to set and execute long-term goals while navigating shifting priorities and dynamic environments.
- Thorough knowledge of ethical standards and best practices with commitment to industry guidelines (e.g., ADRP, CASE).
- Self-motivated, results-driven leader, with the initiative and adaptability to thrive in a collaborative, team-based environment.
- Record of accomplishment demonstrating initiative, creativity, and effectiveness.
- Knowledge of moves-management concepts.
- Understanding of donor behavior and philanthropic trends.
- Excellent project management skills; attention to detail; and analytical skills.
- Proficiency with relationship management systems, prospect data resources, and other information sources in all formats.
- Proactive identification techniques and methodologies such as data segmentation, third-party screenings, constituent ratings, and surveying.
- Broad knowledge of the university donor and alumni community.
- Working knowledge of fundraising, donor relations, and public relations concepts, principles, procedures, and techniques.
- Familiar with a broad range of research techniques including; text and periodical-based research, electronic research databases, and internet research.
- Proficient in technology platforms, including Google Workspace, CRM databases, and other tools that support streamlined operations, calendar/timeline oversight, and best-practice delivery.
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Minimum Qualifications:
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Bachelor’s degree and five years’ relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, including 1 year of managerial experience.
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Preferred Qualifications:
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Preferred experience in higher education and a related field such as development, prospect research, advancement services, library science/information sciences.
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Salary and Benefits:
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Starting salary range for this position is $80,828.80 to $101,025.60 annually and is commensurate with experience. Boise State University provides a best-in-class benefits package, including (but not limited to):
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Required Application Materials:
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Please submit a cover letter indicating your interest and qualifications for the position. Attach a resume that includes employment history (including dates of employment).
This position is open until filled with review of applications beginning December 15th, 2025.
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About Us:
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Nestled along the Boise River and steps from the state capitol, Boise State University fosters a vibrant and welcoming academic environment that fuels student and employee success. We’re a trailblazing institution, nationally recognized for our innovative spirit and commitment to positive impact on Idaho and beyond.
Boise State is proud to be recognized by Forbes as the only Idaho employer listed in the top 100 of all national midsize and large employers. We’re building a thriving community of faculty and staff whose unique skills, experiences, and perspectives come together to create a rich and rewarding academic experience. Applications from all backgrounds are welcomed.
Learn more about Boise State and living in Idaho’s Treasure Valley at https://www.boisestate.edu/about/
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