Position Summary:
The manager of operations and prospect research oversees the university’s prospect research efforts as well as the primary functions of the Foundation office. Duties include but are not limited to management of the Foundation/Alumni database, gift entry, and prospect research. This position works closely with Development and University-wide units including academic units, athletics, registrar, and institutional research. Directed work with external audiences may include alumni, parents, donors, friends, faculty and staff.Specific Job Duties (Essential Functions and Responsibilities)
Operations Management:
Oversee daily operational functions of the advancement/development office, including database management, gift processing workflows, and donor stewardship programs to ensure efficient and effective fundraising operations.
Coordinate cross-departmental initiatives between advancement, alumni relations, and university communications to streamline donor engagement processes and maximize institutional fundraising capacity.
Responsible for data entry of all gifts managed by the Adams State University Foundation which includes: determining which fund each gift should be receipted to and entering of gift in the software database, preparing receipt/letter to donors and preparation of bank deposit. Bank deposit must be balanced against receipts entered.
Lead the process to upload and maintain each graduating class information from the university system into the alumni database. Will require coordination with the Office of the Registrar and engagement with the Office of Institutional Research.
Responsible for hiring and management of office work study students. Assistant with the coordination of hiring of work study students for Foundation projects that require community and donor interaction including: the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI), the McDaniel Internship Program and Lucero Project.
Maintain fundraising databases such as Raiser's Edge or similar systems, and manage multiple projects while maintaining confidentiality with sensitive donor information.
Prospect Research:
Conduct comprehensive research and analysis on potential major gift prospects, including wealth screening, capacity assessments, and relationship mapping to identify and prioritize high-value donor cultivation opportunities.
Develop and maintain detailed prospect profiles and briefing materials for senior leadership and development officers, providing strategic insights on donor interests, giving history, and optimal solicitation approaches.
Board and Event Support:
Assist with the preparation of various alumni and foundation events hosted by the office including but not limited to: Donor & Student Recognition Dinner, Homecoming, and the Alumni Awards Banquet. Events will require periodic evening and weekend work.
Assist with preparation of Foundation Board meetings including but not limited to: scheduling rooms, mailing packets, communication with board members on attendance and arranging catering for board luncheons. Position will also be responsible for taking minutes at meetings of the board and/or committees.
Attend university, alumni, and foundation events as required, including events that may occur during evenings or weekends.
Office and Administrative Support:
Supervise work-study student(s).
Office duties including but not limited to: office coverage (opening/closing office), answering phones, greeting guests, checking/sorting mail, ordering supplies.
Perform other duties as needed to support the department's goals.
Qualifications:
Required Qualification:
Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, or related field
3+ years of relevant experience of fundraising, data management or related.
Strong organizational and planning skills, including the ability to start projects, work collaboratively.
Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills; able to work professionally and effectively with a wide range of people and personalities.
Proficiency with email, calendars, Google Workspace (including Google Docs), Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access), and fundraising systems such as Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge and Financial Edge.
Detail‑oriented self‑starter with the ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines.
Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends for events or meetings.
Ability to treat others with respect and professionalism and use appropriate conflict‑resolution skills when needed.
Preferred Qualification:
Experience in higher education or a nonprofit setting; direct experience with fundraising, volunteer management, or familiarity with Adams State University is highly valued.
Strong analytical skills
Manage and evaluate multiple initiatives that support advancement and fundraising goals.
Demonstrated ability to work in a donor‑focused and team‑oriented environment, engaging respectfully with diverse groups such as students, families, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members.
Salary and Benefits:
The salary range for this position is $47,400-$56,900. In addition to salary, Adams State University offers a competitive benefits program including medical, dental, vision, disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, and retirement savings plans. For detailed benefits information please visit our Human Resources Benefits Page.
How to Apply:
All interested candidates must submit application materials electronically through Adams State University’s Workday application portal.
No other format of application material will be accepted.
Completed applications include the following:
Cover letter
Resume
Unofficial transcripts (official transcripts will be necessary at the time of appointment)
Three professional references, including phone number and email for each
For full consideration, applications should be received by 3/19/2026. Review of applications will begin immediately as they are received.
The position will remain open until filled. Applications received after the priority deadline may be reviewed at the discretion of the search committee.
Questions about the position may be directed to Rose Urbina at rurbina@adams.edu
Adams State University is committed to building and expanding the talent of its professional staff and actively seeks qualified applicants who bring unique perspectives, experiences, skills, and attributes that can augment the perspectives of our current faculty and staff and can contribute to serving and preparing our students to engage and thrive in their learning, leadership, and service.
We strive to create a more representative workforce that mirrors the people who study, work, and lead our institution and welcome applications from candidates from all walks of life, especially members of communities who fall within state and federally protected classes such as: women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, and people with disabilities.
We value qualified candidates, with varied language skills, who have a record of successful experience with varied communities and student populations, and who have a deep understanding of and commitment to the unique geographical and historical characteristics of the place we are situated in and the intersecting perspectives that define our university being a low-income, first-generation, and Hispanic-serving, rural anchor university. Therefore, we seek individuals committed to intentionally supporting students and colleagues who possess these characteristics through their teaching, service, and scholarship.
The successful candidate will join a campus that is dedicated to inclusive excellence and acknowledges Adams State’s purpose to foster the educational goals of its students and the well-being of the surrounding community.
Additional information about the university and the academic mission may be found at www.adams.edu/academics/
Disclosures:
In compliance with the Immigration Control Act of 1968 candidates for positions must provide proof of eligibility to work before an offer of employment can be made final.
Adams State University is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for its students, faculty, staff and visitors, and to protecting its funds, property and other assets. Well-informed hiring decisions contribute to this effort. Therefore, Adams State University has adopted a policy on background screening for its prospective, continuing, and returning employees as well as students in certain circumstances. Offers of employment will be contingent upon the completion of an acceptable background check. The information received in response to a background check will be treated as confidential to the extent provided for by law.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Part 106 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, including in admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and CFR 106 to Adams State University (ASU) may be directed to ASU's Office of Equal Opportunity, Director Ana Guevara, and/or to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights of the Department of Education. Support resources for sexual misconduct, ASU's sexual misconduct policies, contact information for the Adams State University's Office of Equal Opportunity & Title IX, as well as a detailed procedure for filing a grievance due to discrimination on the basis of sex may be found online at https://www.adams.edu/administration/oeo/reporting-sexual-harassment/. These procedures also describe the University's response to reports and/or complaints of sex discrimination or sexual harassment.
Adams State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Applications are sought from all qualified persons regardless of race, color, sex, disability, and, as covered by law, veteran status. In addition, University policies prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation including transgender status and gender expression, marital status, and parental status.