Executive Director of Prospect Development
University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
Executive Director of Prospect Development
The University of Rochester (URochester) seeks a strategic, innovative, and collaborative advancement professional to serve as its next Executive Director of Prospect Development. This is a pivotal leadership opportunity to shape and elevate the University's prospect research and prospect management functions amid extraordinary fundraising momentum and institutional ambition.
Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Administrative Services within University Advancement, the Executive Director will provide enterprise-wide leadership for Prospect Development, overseeing both prospect research and prospect management. This role will lead a team of nine dedicated professionals who are responsible for identifying, qualifying, and positioning major and principal gift prospects across the University and Medical Center. With broad autonomy and significant influence, the executive director will help advance Prospect Development from a transactional support function to a proactive, insight-driven partnership in fundraising strategy, portfolio optimization, and donor engagement.
Responsibilities In the current public phase of the University’s “For Ever Better” campaign, Prospect Development is mission‑critical. The Executive Director will ensure that data, analyses, and research are translated into clarity, confidence, and action, supporting leadership‑level giving, strengthening donor pipelines, and informing fundraising decisions throughout the enterprise. The role will work closely with Advancement leadership, frontline fundraising teams, and data analytics colleagues to align prospect strategy with institutional goals. It also provides meaningful exposure to executive‑level planning, donor strategy discussions, and campaign leadership, positioning the Executive Director at the center of philanthropic strategy and execution. Success in this role requires a leader who is highly visible, politically astute, and capable of building productive, trust‑based relationships across a complex organization, effectively navigating competing priorities while advancing shared goals.
Qualifications The ideal candidate will bring deep experience in prospect research and prospect management within a complex advancement organization, along with the vision to modernize systems, integrate analytics and emerging technologies, and develop high‑performing teams. The successful candidate will be tech‑savvy and forward‑thinking, with the ability to leverage data and digital tools to drive strategy.
Compensation The anticipated salary range for this position is in the low‑to‑mid- $100,000s, with the midpoint of the range representing the expected hiring range. The full budgeted pay range for this position is $96,860.00 – $145,290.00. This broader range reflects the University of Rochester’s good faith and reasonable estimate of compensation for the role.
Equal Opportunity Employer The University of Rochester is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving an inclusive and welcoming culture to advance the University’s Mission to Learn, Discover, Heal, Create – and Make the World Ever Better. In support of our values and those of our society, the University is committed to not discriminating on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, military/veteran status, national origin, race, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law (Protected Characteristics). This commitment extends to non‑discrimination in the administration of our policies, admissions, employment, access, and recruitment of candidates, for all persons consistent with our values and based on applicable law.
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Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Administrative Services within University Advancement, the Executive Director will provide enterprise-wide leadership for Prospect Development, overseeing both prospect research and prospect management. This role will lead a team of nine dedicated professionals who are responsible for identifying, qualifying, and positioning major and principal gift prospects across the University and Medical Center. With broad autonomy and significant influence, the executive director will help advance Prospect Development from a transactional support function to a proactive, insight-driven partnership in fundraising strategy, portfolio optimization, and donor engagement.
Responsibilities In the current public phase of the University’s “For Ever Better” campaign, Prospect Development is mission‑critical. The Executive Director will ensure that data, analyses, and research are translated into clarity, confidence, and action, supporting leadership‑level giving, strengthening donor pipelines, and informing fundraising decisions throughout the enterprise. The role will work closely with Advancement leadership, frontline fundraising teams, and data analytics colleagues to align prospect strategy with institutional goals. It also provides meaningful exposure to executive‑level planning, donor strategy discussions, and campaign leadership, positioning the Executive Director at the center of philanthropic strategy and execution. Success in this role requires a leader who is highly visible, politically astute, and capable of building productive, trust‑based relationships across a complex organization, effectively navigating competing priorities while advancing shared goals.
Qualifications The ideal candidate will bring deep experience in prospect research and prospect management within a complex advancement organization, along with the vision to modernize systems, integrate analytics and emerging technologies, and develop high‑performing teams. The successful candidate will be tech‑savvy and forward‑thinking, with the ability to leverage data and digital tools to drive strategy.
Compensation The anticipated salary range for this position is in the low‑to‑mid- $100,000s, with the midpoint of the range representing the expected hiring range. The full budgeted pay range for this position is $96,860.00 – $145,290.00. This broader range reflects the University of Rochester’s good faith and reasonable estimate of compensation for the role.
Equal Opportunity Employer The University of Rochester is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving an inclusive and welcoming culture to advance the University’s Mission to Learn, Discover, Heal, Create – and Make the World Ever Better. In support of our values and those of our society, the University is committed to not discriminating on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, military/veteran status, national origin, race, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law (Protected Characteristics). This commitment extends to non‑discrimination in the administration of our policies, admissions, employment, access, and recruitment of candidates, for all persons consistent with our values and based on applicable law.
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