Prospect Researcher Jobs
Prospect Researcher jobs are open across nonprofits, higher education, healthcare systems, and consulting firms, from entry-level research associates to senior and director-level roles, with specializations in donor prospecting, wealth screening, and pipeline development. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 41+ Prospect Researcher jobs
Description
PROSPECT RESEARCH ANALYST
The University of Alabama at Birmingham
General Responsibilities:
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) seeks a Prospect Research Analyst to conduct thorough research analysis on prospect interest and/or funding opportunities. The incumbent will be responsible for identifying and researching corporate and foundation partners that may be interested in funding various clinical and academic initiatives. The Prospect Research Analyst will work closely with the Corporate and Foundation Relations office to produce profiles and comprehensive lists of suspects for fundraisers.
This position will report to the Director of Prospect Research Management
This position is hybrid eligible after the probationary period.
Key Duties & Responsibilities:
1. Conducts thorough research, following all ethical guidelines, on potential corporate and foundation partners. Provides detailed analysis on donor capacity and assigns appropriate prospect ratings that will be used for solicitations.
2. Produces a variety of comprehensive reports, including but not limited to, profile briefs, and preliminary and full profiles on corporations, and foundations that will be distributed to university leadership, development officers, UAB faculty, and clinical staff.
3. Assists in assuring accuracy and integrity of donor and prospect information in the CRM.
4. Performs other duties as assigned.
Salary Pay Range: $43,890 – $44,000
Qualifications
Minimum Requirements:
Bachelor's degree in a related field and one (1) year of related experience required. Work experience may NOT substitute for the education requirement.
- Minimum of one year of experience in conducting prospect research for nonprofit development purposes, preferably in a higher education or healthcare environment
- Minimum of one year of experience in using online information resources
- Discretion in working with confidential information
- Experience with Lexis Nexis for Development Professionals, Edgar, NOZA, Candid, and other standard prospect research databases
- Experience with donor screening services and software, preferably DonorSearch
- Experience with constituent relationship management systems, preferably Ellucian CRM Advance
- Familiarity with Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (APRA) Statement of Ethics and Prospect Research Skills Set
UAB is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution dedicated to providing equal opportunities and equal access to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, sex (including pregnancy), genetic information, age, disability, and veteran's status. As required by Title IX, UAB prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to UAB's Assistant Vice President and Senior Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX notice of nondiscrimination is located at uab.edu/titleix.
Primary Location
: UniversityJob Category
: Professional & ManagerialOrganization
: 181000000 Office of AVP Advancement ServicesEmployee Status
: RegularDescription
PROSPECT RESEARCH ANALYST
The University of Alabama at Birmingham
General Responsibilities:
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) seeks a Prospect Research Analyst to conduct thorough research analysis on prospect interest and/or funding opportunities. The incumbent will be responsible for identifying and researching corporate and foundation partners that may be interested in funding various clinical and academic initiatives. The Prospect Research Analyst will work closely with the Corporate and Foundation Relations office to produce profiles and comprehensive lists of suspects for fundraisers.
This position will report to the Director of Prospect Research Management
This position is hybrid eligible after the probationary period.
Key Duties & Responsibilities:
1. Conducts thorough research, following all ethical guidelines, on potential corporate and foundation partners. Provides detailed analysis on donor capacity and assigns appropriate prospect ratings that will be used for solicitations.
2. Produces a variety of comprehensive reports, including but not limited to, profile briefs, and preliminary and full profiles on corporations, and foundations that will be distributed to university leadership, development officers, UAB faculty, and clinical staff.
3. Assists in assuring accuracy and integrity of donor and prospect information in the CRM.
4. Performs other duties as assigned.
Salary Pay Range: $43,890 – $44,000
Qualifications
Minimum Requirements:
Bachelor's degree in a related field and one (1) year of related experience required. Work experience may NOT substitute for the education requirement.
- Minimum of one year of experience in conducting prospect research for nonprofit development purposes, preferably in a higher education or healthcare environment
- Minimum of one year of experience in using online information resources
- Discretion in working with confidential information
- Experience with Lexis Nexis for Development Professionals, Edgar, NOZA, Candid, and other standard prospect research databases
- Experience with donor screening services and software, preferably DonorSearch
- Experience with constituent relationship management systems, preferably Ellucian CRM Advance
- Familiarity with Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (APRA) Statement of Ethics and Prospect Research Skills Set
UAB is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution dedicated to providing equal opportunities and equal access to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, sex (including pregnancy), genetic information, age, disability, and veteran's status. As required by Title IX, UAB prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to UAB's Assistant Vice President and Senior Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX notice of nondiscrimination is located at uab.edu/titleix.
Primary Location
: UniversityJob Category
: Professional & ManagerialOrganization
: 181000000 Office of AVP Advancement ServicesEmployee Status
: RegularSee All 41 Prospect Researcher Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Prospect Researcher JobsProspect Researcher Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in prospect researcher jobs.
- Bachelor's degree in a related field such as social sciences, communications, or liberal arts
- Experience with prospect research databases such as iWave, DonorSearch, or Wealth-X
- Proficiency in donor management systems such as Raiser's Edge, Salesforce Nonprofit, or Blackbaud
- Demonstrated ability to synthesize financial, biographical, and philanthropic data into clear written profiles
- Understanding of wealth screening methodologies and gift capacity rating frameworks
- Strong written communication skills for producing prospect briefs and gift officer reports
Tips for Your Prospect Researcher Job Search
Tailor your resume to fundraising metrics
Prospect researchers are judged on pipeline output, not just research quality. Quantify your contributions by naming the number of major gift prospects identified per cycle, average gift capacity ratings produced, or portfolios delivered to frontline fundraisers, so hiring managers can evaluate your throughput.
Highlight the databases you know cold
Job postings for prospect researchers almost always list specific tools like iWave, DonorSearch, Wealth-X, or Raiser's Edge. Name every platform you've used in a dedicated skills section, and note whether you built queries, ran screenings, or simply retrieved reports, since those are very different skill levels.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists prospect researcher openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target organizations with active capital campaigns
Institutions running a capital campaign or major fundraising initiative hire prospect researchers aggressively and often have budget for more senior roles. Watch nonprofit news outlets and university foundation announcements to spot campaigns early, then search for research openings at those organizations before postings circulate widely.
Prepare a sample prospect profile for interviews
Many prospect researcher interviews include a skills assessment where you build a donor profile from scratch. Practice producing a clean, well-sourced brief on a public figure using only open sources, covering estimated capacity, affinity indicators, and connection to the institution, so you're ready to work under time pressure.
Negotiate scope alongside salary in research roles
Prospect researchers often absorb duties that belong to data analysts or gift officers when departments are lean. Before accepting an offer, clarify whether the role includes database management, event research, or report writing, so you can negotiate title, resources, or compensation that reflects the actual workload.
Prospect Researcher Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most prospect researchers?
The most active employers for prospect researchers right now are Tulane University, HonorHealth, and William & Mary, and the most openings are in New York, California, and Massachusetts, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Nonprofits, universities, and large healthcare foundations tend to post the most consistently throughout the year.
How many prospect researcher jobs are remote?
About 64% of prospect researcher openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the desk-based nature of the work. Database research, profile writing, and wealth screening are the sub-areas most likely to be fully remote, while roles that involve close collaboration with frontline gift officers are more often hybrid or on-site.
How do you become a prospect researcher?
Start by earning a bachelor's degree in any research-oriented field, then build familiarity with publicly available financial filings, real estate records, and philanthropic databases. Many professionals enter through administrative or data roles at nonprofits or universities, then move into dedicated research positions. Earning the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement credential signals serious commitment to the field and strengthens your candidacy for senior roles.
Can you get hired as a prospect researcher with little experience?
Yes, entry-level research associate roles exist specifically for candidates without direct fundraising experience. Employers value transferable research skills from academic work, journalism, paralegal work, or competitive intelligence. Build a sample donor profile using public sources, get comfortable with one major screening database through a free trial or nonprofit volunteer project, and apply to research coordinator postings at mid-size nonprofits or universities where training is more structured.
What does the prospect researcher interview process look like?
Most prospect researcher interviews include a phone screen with HR, a hiring manager conversation focused on your research methodology and database experience, and a practical skills assessment where you build a prospect profile under a time limit using provided sources. Some organizations add a panel interview with gift officers who will use your research. The full process typically runs two to four rounds over a few weeks.
Where can I find and apply to prospect researcher jobs?
You can find and apply to prospect researcher jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search for roles that match your experience level and specialization, then apply directly to each listing that fits your background and location preferences.
See All 41 Prospect Researcher Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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