Program Coordinator, Prospect Research and Management

Northwestern University is seeking a Program Coordinator for its Prospect Research and Management team. This role involves managing day-to-day operations, supporting data analysis, and serving as a key liaison across teams to enhance prospect development efforts.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day operations of the PRM team
• Coordinate and support team-wide data analysis and quality initiatives
• Build and maintain reports that fill business gaps, increase efficiency, and simplify the collection of data for staff across ARD
• Manage PRM’s data quality management process, correcting data errors and/or delegating clean up assignments to other PRM staff or fundraising teams, as appropriate
• Prepare and maintain team budget
• Act as liaison with third-party vendors and manage PRM’s suite of subscription resources
• Negotiate and renew contracts, pay invoices, and prepare department expense reports
• Assist other members of the PRM as needed
• Act as point of contact for IT to ensure technology systems are properly installed and maintained
• Serve as point of contact between PRM and other ARD teams in scheduling meetings, managing calendars, organizing portfolio reviews, and other communication needs
• Manage PRM’s new employee onboarding process, tracking new hires, scheduling onboardings, and training both internal and external staff on PRM policies and business practices
• Oversee compilation of team communications, digest emails, reports, and other resources intended for the ARD community
• Maintain PRM team’s presence on internal communication channels, such as the department KnowledgeShare (intranet)
• Develop working knowledge of research and prospect management policies and contribute to ARD staff’s understanding of those policies
• Negotiate project deliverables firmly and respectfully, ensuring requestor satisfaction while maintaining realistic expectations and appropriate expenditure of resources
• Conduct prospect research by gathering, analyzing, and synthesizing financial, biographical, philanthropic, and relational information—using tools such as wealth screenings, research databases, data-mining platforms, news and financial feeds, and relationship-mapping resources—to assess capacity, affinity, engagement potential, compliance, and reputational risk
• Produce clear, accurate research deliverables — including profiles, capacity estimates, and analytical summaries — to support prospect identification, qualification, and strategic fundraising decisions
• Contribute to discussions on refinement of prospect management policies, business processes, and overall approaches to prospect development at ARD
• Collaborate with colleagues across ARD — including Reporting & Analytics, User Services, Gift and Record Services, and fundraising and engagement teams — to support shared goals and improve prospect development practices
• Participate in testing and review of reports, system functionality, and tools used throughout ARD
• Maintain awareness of trends and technologies used in prospect development, fundraising, and the broader development profession and pursue ongoing professional development through conferences, trainings, and engagement with peer institutions and professional associations
• Perform other duties as assigned

Skills

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's degree or higher; OR appropriate combination of education and experience
• 1 year program/project administration or other relevant experience
• Ability to navigate Microsoft Office products
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects, track deadlines, and maintain accurate records using structured systems
• Ability to locate, interpret, and synthesize information from multiple sources to support research, reporting, and decision-making
• Ability to communicate clearly and diplomatically across teams and levels of seniority; exercise sound judgement when handling confidential or sensitive information
• Ability to learn new software, processes, and data systems quickly and apply them accurately in day-to-day work
• Ability to identify inconsistencies, anomalies, or outliers in data and bring them forward for review
• Ability to connect individual assignments to broader team and organizational goals, understanding how prospect research and data management contribute to fundraising strategies
• Ability and willingness to ask questions and seek assistance when unsure of how to resolve a situation or move forward on a project

Benefits

• Meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans
• Retirement benefits
• Tuition discounts
• Comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities
• Programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care
• Employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home
• Variety of tools and resources

Company Overview

Company H1B Sponsorship