Senior Specialist, Prospect Management - R4579

Job Description

Title: Senior Specialist, Prospect Management

Category: Development

Job Family/Level: Sr. Specialist

Reports to: Manager, Prospect Management

Major Function

The Senior Specialist, Prospect Management supports a strategic, data-informed approach to fundraising through portfolio optimization, pipeline analysis, and effective prospect management practices. Partnering with gift officers and Development teams, this position provides analysis, recommendations, and operational support that strengthen prospect progression, portfolio performance, forecasting accuracy, and fundraising outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary prospect management liaison for Development teams, including Major Gifts, Gift Planning, Annual Giving, and Philanthropic Partnerships.
• Facilitate prospect management meetings that advance prospect progression, strengthen portfolio performance, and maintain pipeline health, ensuring timely CRM updates and follow-up actions.
• Partner with gift officers across Development fundraising units to optimize portfolios by providing data analysis, insights, and recommendations that support coordinated donor strategies and balanced portfolios.
• Monitor prospect pools, portfolio activity, and pipeline performance to identify trends, opportunities, and areas for action.
• Analyze portfolio, pipeline, and prospect cycle metrics to inform fundraising strategy, improve portfolio effectiveness, and support revenue forecasting.
• Lead and collaborate on projects that translate prospect management strategies into actionable processes, tools, workflows, reporting solutions, and documentation to support effective implementation across Development teams.
• Provide training, guidance, and resources to promote effective prospect management practices and consistent use of established processes.
• Champion the consistent application of prospect management frameworks and best practices across Development teams.
• Collaborate with gift officers to track solicitation activity and ensure portfolio and pipeline information accurately reflects fundraising activity.
• Maintain accurate and timely prospect and relationship management data in the CRM to support portfolio strategy, reporting, informed decision-making, and fundraising effectiveness.
• Serve as a bridge between Prospect Management and cross-functional partners, fostering alignment of processes, data standards, and information flow.
• Support the implementation and adoption of evolving Prospect Management practices, processes, and frameworks, helping Development teams incorporate new approaches and continuously improve how prospect management supports fundraising.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Key Competencies:

• Strategic Partnership & Decision Support: Builds trusted, collaborative relationships with gift officers and Development partners and uses data, analysis, and prospect management expertise to support portfolio strategy, prospect progression, and fundraising decisions. Brings thoughtful perspectives to stakeholder conversations, considers the needs and interdependencies across Development teams, and uses relevant information and context to support effective decisions.
• Facilitation & Clear Communication: Leads productive prospect management conversations, communicates complex information clearly and concisely, and effectively navigates differing perspectives to build understanding and alignment. Serves as a bridge across Development teams by ensuring relevant prospect management information and context are communicated effectively, while helping establish clear next steps, ownership, and follow-through.
• Analytical Judgment & Problem-Solving: Interprets portfolio, pipeline, and prospect data to identify meaningful trends, opportunities, and areas for attention. Applies analytical judgment and critical thinking to assess what information is meaningful and actionable and translate findings into practical recommendations.
• Process Improvement & Operational Excellence: Translates prospect management strategies into effective processes, workflows, tools, and practices. Maintains high standards for data quality and operational execution while identifying opportunities to improve consistency, efficiency, and effectiveness.
• Change Agility & Continuous Improvement: Demonstrates curiosity, initiative, adaptability, and a willingness to learn and evolve as Prospect Management continues to mature. Contributes positively to the development and implementation of new approaches, processes, and practices that strengthen the function and support Development teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 4+ years of progressive experience in prospect management, development operations, fundraising analytics, or a related field.
• Experience supporting fundraising teams through prospect management practices, portfolio strategy, and pipeline management.
• Proficiency with CRM systems (e.g., Blackbaud CRM, Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge NXT) and reporting tools.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret fundraising data and support accurate forecasting.
• Experience developing and implementing processes, maintaining data quality, and managing recurring operational workflows.
• Experience facilitating meetings and collaborating effectively across stakeholders.

Skills and Abilities

• Strong organizational and analytical abilities, with attention to detail and the ability to interpret prospect and portfolio data, identify trends, and provide actionable insights within established frameworks.
• Knowledge of standard development fundraising practices, techniques, and solicitation processes to effectively support fundraising teams.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex information clearly, accurately, and concisely.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, work independently, and collaborate effectively across teams.
• Ability to take initiative, identify opportunities for improvement, and develop solutions to address challenges proactively and collaboratively.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy and consistency, with the ability to manage detailed and recurring work while maintaining focus on broader fundraising priorities.
• Identifies and aligns with WWF’s core values:
  • COURAGE – We demonstrate courage through our actions, we work for change where it’s needed, and we inspire people and institutions to tackle the greatest threats to nature and the future of the planet, which is our home.
  • INTEGRITY – We live the principles we call on others to meet. We act with integrity, accountability and transparency, and we rely on facts and science to guide us and to ensure that we learn and evolve.
  • RESPECT – We honor the voices and knowledge of people and communities that we serve, and we work to secure their rights to a sustainable future.
  • COLLABORATION – We deliver impact at the scale of the challenges we face through the power of collective action and innovation.

Additional Information

Please note: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Relocation is not provided for this position.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) promotes equal employment opportunities for all qualified individuals regardless of age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.