Director of Prospect Research
| Organization | Reed College |
| Date Posted | September 18, 2026 |
| City | Portland |
| State | Oregon |
| Location | 100% On-site |
| Type of Position | Full-Time |
| Primary Job Function | Fundraising |
| Educational Requirement | Bachelor's Degree |
| Experience Requirement | 5-10 years |
| Salary Range | $82,000 – $90,000 annually |
Description & Details
The Director of Prospect Research provides strategic leadership for prospect development, research, portfolio management, and fundraising analytics. This position partners closely with Advancement leadership and frontline fundraisers to expand the prospective donor pipeline, optimize portfolios, and deliver data-driven insights. This position designs and implements institutional strategies for prospect identification and data utilization to support the college's comprehensive fundraising campaigns and long-term philanthropic growth. This position is responsible for conducting prospect research and creating relevant materials including briefings.
Reed College offers an exceptional benefits package, including comprehensive medical and dental insurance options for you and your dependents, 403(b) retirement plan with 10% employer contribution (after one year of service), educational assistance for employees and their children, 22 days of paid vacation, paid holidays, half-day Fridays in the summer, and many other campus amenities. This is a full-time role with typical work hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with a one-hour unpaid lunch.
The starting salary range for this position is $82,000-90,000. Pay offers are contingent upon experience and are determined through an internal pay assessment. This is an exempt position in grade 8.
Who You Are
You have experience in prospect research of complex individual, family, foundation, and corporate philanthropy.
You are a consistent strategist that is able to identify relationships and connections among prospective donors.
You are a collaborative and relational team member and work well with a variety of personality types.
You are proactive in identifying opportunities to enhance fundraising strategy and elevate gift officer performance.
You are able to produce and translate data to drive initiatives and departmental goals.
You are forward looking, innovative, and creative.
You are comfortable serving as an advisor to a diverse set of team members, including frontline gift officers and college leadership.
You are able to balance strategic leadership with personal goals relating to prospect research conducted and briefings produced.
What You’ll Do
Prospect Development Strategy & Leadership
Develop and lead Reed's comprehensive prospect development strategy to identify, qualify, and advance prospective donors capable of making principal, major, and planned gifts
Design and implement proactive prospect identification initiatives that expand the donor pipeline using internal and external data resources
Train fundraising staff on prospect management practices, research interpretation, and portfolio management
May supervise staff
Prospect Research and Portfolio Management
Develop and oversee Reed's portfolio management strategy to support fundraiser productivity and donor engagement. Lead annual and ongoing portfolio review processes with frontline fundraisers and leadership, and monitor portfolio health to recommend prospect assignments.
Conduct prospect research supporting principal gifts, campaign initiatives, and strategic fundraising efforts
Analyze philanthropic capacity, inclination, affinity, and engagement using a variety of public and subscription resources, both on a routine basis and as needed throughout the year
Produce prospect profiles, briefing materials, relationship maps, and strategic analyses
Data Governance & Best Practices
Establish policies and procedures related to prospect management, prospect research, and portfolio management and serve as institutional expert on prospect development methodologies and best practices
Ensure compliance with ethical standards established by American Prospect Research Association (APRA) and Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) as well as applicable privacy regulations
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree or experience in lieu
5 years of progressively responsible experience in prospect development, prospect research, portfolio management, advancement operations, or fundraising strategy
Preferred Qualifications
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
Experience developing fundraising dashboards and portfolio analytics
Familiarity with APRA and CASE standards and best practices
Experience supporting principal and major gift fundraising programs and campaigns within a large, complex organization
Demonstrated ability to interpret complex financial and philanthropic information
Application Instructions
Application Instructions
Click here to apply. A resume and cover letter are required. You can submit these documents in any format, but pdf works best.
Applications will be considered as they are submitted so you are encouraged to apply early.
Reed College replies to every candidate. We will confirm that your application is received, and if you are not selected, we will let you know as soon as possible.