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Prospect Researcher Jobs in Ohio (NOW HIRING)

Akron Zoological Park

Grants Specialist

Akron, OH · On-site

Conducts regular prospect research via online sources. * Develops and builds relationships with existing and prospective funders, including phone calls and face-to-face meetings or site visits.

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Prospect Researcher information

See Ohio salary details

$28.5K

$107.5K

$156.4K

How much do prospect researcher jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for prospect researcher in Ohio is $107,525.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $63,700.00 and $146,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a prospect researcher?

A Prospect Researcher is responsible for identifying and evaluating potential donors for a nonprofit or fundraising organization. They gather and analyze data from public records, financial documents, and other sources to assess a prospect's giving capacity and interest. Their research helps fundraisers build strong donor relationships and develop effective fundraising strategies. By providing insights into donor history, wealth indicators, and philanthropic interests, Prospect Researchers play a key role in securing funding for their organization.

What are the daily responsibilities of a prospect researcher?

As a Prospect Researcher, your daily tasks often include conducting in-depth research on individuals, foundations, or corporations to assess their capacity and inclination to give, preparing detailed donor profiles, and updating information in the organization's database. You may also collaborate closely with fundraisers and development officers to identify new fundraising opportunities or prioritize prospects. Balancing multiple projects and maintaining the confidentiality of sensitive information are central to the role. This work directly supports your team’s fundraising efforts, making attention to accuracy and timeliness essential.

What skills and qualifications are needed to be a prospect researcher?

To thrive as a Prospect Researcher, you need strong analytical skills, experience with data analysis, and a background in research or nonprofit fundraising, often supported by a bachelor's degree. Familiarity with prospect research databases (such as WealthEngine, iWave, or DonorSearch) and proficiency in CRM systems are typically required. Attention to detail, discretion, and excellent written communication skills set outstanding researchers apart. These abilities are critical because the role involves identifying and evaluating potential donors to drive successful fundraising strategies and organizational growth.

What are the most commonly searched types of Prospect Researcher jobs in Ohio?

The most popular types of Prospect Researcher jobs in Ohio are:

What are popular job titles related to Prospect Researcher jobs in Ohio?

For Prospect Researcher jobs in Ohio, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Prospect Researcher jobs in Ohio look for?

The top searched job categories for Prospect Researcher jobs in Ohio are:

What cities in Ohio are hiring for Prospect Researcher jobs?

Cities in Ohio with the most Prospect Researcher job openings:

Prospect Researcher jobs near you
Infographic showing various Prospect Researcher job openings in Ohio as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 93% Full Time, 4% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $107,525 per year, or $51.7 per hour.

Prospect Research Manager

MOUNT ST JOSEPH UNIVERSITY

Cincinnati, OH

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 7 days ago

Job description

Since 1920, Mount St. Joseph University has provided an education that is based on interdisciplinary liberal arts and professional curricula emphasizing mission, values, integrity, and social responsibility. Faculty and staff deliver high-quality academics, hands-on experiential learning, and personalized attention to support student success. Join our award-winning team, recognized as a 'Best College to Work for,' and be part of a vibrant culture that places a premium on collaboration and belonging.

Position Summary

The Prospect Research Manager provides strategic research, data analysis, and prospect intelligence to support fundraising and engagement efforts at Mount St. Joseph University. This position identifies, qualifies, and analyzes prospective donors while preparing comprehensive research and briefing materials that inform cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies. Working collaboratively with the Institutional Advancement team, the Prospect Research Manager strengthens the donor pipeline through data-informed decision making and advances the University's mission by supporting philanthropic growth.

Essential Responsibilities

Prospect Research & Analysis

  • Conduct comprehensive research to identify, qualify, and prioritize prospective donors, including individuals, corporations, and foundations, utilizing a variety of online, public, and subscription-based research resources.
  • Analyze philanthropic capacity, charitable interests, giving history, affiliations, and relationship networks to develop strategic donor profiles.
  • Prepare research reports, biographies, briefing materials, and prospect profiles for University leadership, Major Gifts Officer, and Institutional Advancement staff.
  • Monitor wealth indicators, philanthropic trends, and emerging opportunities to support donor cultivation strategies.
  • Research and identify alumni engagement opportunities, including volunteer leadership, advisory roles, and event participation.

Data Management & Reporting

  • Maintain accurate prospect research information within the University's constituent relationship management system (e.g., Raiser's Edge) and related research platforms.
  • Develop and manage systems for tracking research requests, project assignments, and completed analyses to ensure efficiency and data integrity.
  • Conduct data mining and predictive analysis to identify new major gift prospects and opportunities to increase donor engagement.
  • Develop reports, dashboards, and performance metrics that measure fundraising progress, prospect activity, and portfolio performance using tools such as Power BI and Excel.

Advancement Strategy & Collaboration

  • Partner with the Director, Advancement Services to evaluate and recommend balanced prospect portfolios for Major Gifts Officer and other fundraising staff.
  • Collaborate with Major Gifts Officer, Annual Giving, Alumni Engagement, and Grants staff to align prospect research with institutional fundraising priorities.
  • Support comprehensive campaign planning through prospect pipeline development, goal setting, and strategy sessions.
  • Recommend enhancements to research methodologies, technologies, and systems that improve fundraising effectiveness and operational efficiency.
  • Provide guidance and training to Institutional Advancement staff regarding prospect research tools, resources, and best practices.

Compliance & Continuous Improvement

  • Ensure compliance with professional ethics, confidentiality standards, and applicable data privacy regulations in all prospect research activities.
  • Remain current on industry trends, emerging research methodologies, and best practices in prospect development and philanthropy.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Primary Internal Contacts

  • Institutional Advancement Staff
  • University Leadership
  • Administrative Departments
  • Other University Employees

Supervision

Supervision Received

  • Director of Advancement Services

Supervision Exercised

  • May supervise student employees, interns, or co-op students.

Education

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.

Experience

  • Minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in prospect research, philanthropy, advancement services, annual giving, alumni relations, or a related fundraising environment.
  • Experience within higher education is strongly preferred.

Technical Knowledge & Skills

  • Experience using donor databases such as Blackbaud Raiser's Edge or comparable constituent relationship management systems.
  • Experience with prospect research platforms such as iWave, ResearchPoint, WealthEngine, LexisNexis, or similar tools.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel and Word.
  • Experience using reporting and visualization tools such as Power BI or similar analytics software.
  • Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex research into concise, actionable reports.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain confidentiality, and work independently while collaborating effectively across departments.

Benefits
Mount St. Joseph University offers a wide array of benefit options, to meet the financial, educational, health, and wellness needs of you and your family. Eligibility varies by position and FTE.

  • Tuition Remission for you and your family.
  • 403b Retirement
  • Excellent benefits including medical, employer HSA contributions, dental, vision, life, parental leave.
  • Generous PTO.
  • 16 paid holidays.
  • Competitive salaries.
  • Opportunity to work in a dynamic and collaborative educational environment.
  • Professional development opportunities.

To apply, please upload a cover letter, resume, and contact information with three professional references via Paycom.

A review of resumes will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Please click here to review the University's policies on E-Verify, Equal Opportunity, and Non-Discrimination.

Mount St. Joseph University is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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