Director, Advancement Reporting & Analytics

Job Summary

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) seeks a Director, Advancement Reporting & Analytics to join Institutional Advancement (IA).

Serve as the technical lead and architect for Institutional Advancement's enterprise analytics infrastructure, with primary responsibility for the design, governance, and optimization of a Microsoft SQL Server-based data mart integrated with Tableau. Architect and maintain scalable data models, ETL pipelines, and reporting frameworks that consolidate Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT and third-party systems into a centralized, authoritative analytics layer supporting fundraising, alumni and family engagement, and campaign operations.

Act as the principal owner of IA reporting architecture, overseeing data standards, metric definitions, refresh processes, and performance optimization to ensure consistency, reliability, and analytical rigor across all executive and operational reporting. Coordinate and prioritize reporting and analytics initiatives for the Vice President for Institutional Advancement and IA leadership, delivering advanced analytical products--including dashboards, longitudinal analyses, and predictive models--that inform strategic planning, resource deployment, and performance management.

Working in close partnership with the Director of Advancement Data Services, the Director of Prospect Management and Analytics, and the Director of Gift Administration and Recording Secretary, this role evaluates and evolves existing data structures; designs future-state reporting and analytics solutions; and establishes best practices for data governance, documentation, and self-service analytics. The position leads the development of analytical models that assess and predict prospect development, donor behavior, volunteer engagement, and fundraising outcomes, translating complex, multi-source data into decision-ready insights for senior leadership and governing bodies.

The successful candidate will thrive in a campus environment that is committed to advancing the principles of social equity and inclusion, environmental and climate justice, and equal access to resources and opportunities.

Essential Functions:

Enterprise Data Architecture & SQL Environment Management

• Serve as the technical owner of Institutional Advancement's Microsoft SQL Server data mart, integrating Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT and related platforms into a centralized, governed analytics environment.
• Design, document, and maintain SQL schemas, views, stored procedures, and data models that support scalable reporting, longitudinal analysis, and predictive modeling.
• Partner with the Directors of Data Services, Gift Administration, and Prospect Management to ensure fluency across data coding, storage, extraction, transformation, import/export processes, and system integrations within Raiser's Edge NXT and the SQL data mart.
• Identify, design, and implement automation and process improvements to enhance data quality, system performance, and reporting efficiency; evaluate and recommend third-party tools and utilities as appropriate.

Reporting, Visualization & Tableau Analytics

• Develop, maintain, and govern an enterprise Tableau reporting environment connected to the SQL data mart, delivering standardized dashboards and analytical products for Institutional Advancement leadership and operational teams.
• Establish and enforce best practices for reporting standards, including shared metric definitions, consistent formatting and branding, documentation, and scheduled distribution to defined audiences.

Advanced Analytics, Forecasting & Predictive Modeling

• Analyze data from Raiser's Edge NXT and auxiliary systems to identify patterns in donor, alumni, family, and volunteer engagement; forecast fundraising cash and commitment trends; and model prospect development and campaign performance.
• Develop longitudinal and comparative analyses to assess institutional performance against historical benchmarks, aspirational goals, and peer and AICAD institutions, identifying trends, deviations, and anomalies.
• Apply statistical analysis and predictive modeling techniques to improve donor targeting, engagement strategies, and resource allocation across Institutional Advancement.

Strategic Partnership & Executive Decision Support

• Serve as the primary analytics partner to the Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Board Development Committee, and Campaign Committee, supporting campaign and annual fundraising modeling and executive-level reporting.
• Translate complex analytical findings into clear, decision-ready insights for senior leadership, Institutional Research, Finance, and other institutional stakeholders.
• Provide research and analytical expertise to inform marketing strategy, including message timing, audience segmentation, and communication effectiveness for alumni, families, and friends of the College.

Project Management & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Lead and manage Institutional Advancement reporting and analytics projects, coordinating priorities, timelines, and deliverables across functional areas.
• Collaborate closely with Major and Planned Giving, RISD Fund, Alumni + Family Relations, Stewardship, Museum, and other IA units to assess informational needs and deliver timely, outcome-focused analytics.
• Act as the primary liaison with external vendors and marketing firms, managing secure data exchanges and evaluating analytical outputs.

Institutional, External & Compliance Reporting

• Lead data preparation, validation, and submission for annual CASE VSE and AEM surveys, and support institutional reporting requirements, including the Chronicle of Philanthropy and IRS Form 990.
• Work in partnership with Institutional Research and Finance to ensure consistency, accuracy, and alignment between advancement and institutional data reporting.

Digital & Behavioral Analytics

• Leverage systems such as Almabase, Google Analytics, ThankView, and related digital platforms to analyze behavioral data associated with online giving, event registration, and volunteer activity.
• Integrate digital engagement data into the SQL data mart and Tableau environment to support holistic constituent analytics and proactive strategic planning.

Additional Functions:

• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• Staffing of key IA and institutional events, including, but not limited to, Commencement + Reunion Weekend and Families Weekend.

Required Knowledge/Skills/Experience

• Bachelor's degree required in data analytics, computer science, information systems, statistics, business, finance, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and advanced professional experience. Five to eight years of progressively responsible experience in data analytics, business intelligence, reporting, or data engineering, preferably within higher education advancement, nonprofit fundraising, or a complex, data-rich organization. Demonstrated experience supporting executive-level reporting and decision-making in a decentralized organizational environment.
• Advanced expertise in Microsoft SQL Server, including data modeling, schema design, complex query development, performance optimization, and management of production reporting environments. Proven experience designing and maintaining a centralized SQL data mart serving as an authoritative analytics layer across multiple systems.
• Strong experience integrating Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT (or comparable CRM/fundraising systems) with SQL-based reporting environments.
• Advanced proficiency with Tableau, including development of published data sources, dashboards, governance standards, and performance optimization.
  Demonstrated experience building ETL workflows, automating data refresh processes, and integrating third-party platforms and auxiliary data sources. Strong applied knowledge of fundraising, alumni engagement, and prospect development metrics, including campaign analytics, forecasting, pipeline management, LYBUNT/SYBUNT, donor retention, and gift officer performance.
• Experience conducting statistical analysis, longitudinal analysis, and predictive modeling to forecast fundraising outcomes, donor behavior, and engagement trends. Ability to synthesize complex, multi-source datasets into actionable insights for strategic planning and resource allocation. Familiarity with digital and behavioral analytics tools such as Almabase, Google Analytics, or similar platforms, and integrating engagement data into enterprise reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain data governance standards, including metric definitions, documentation, data quality controls, and reporting consistency.
• Experience improving data integrity, usability, and trust in enterprise CRM and analytics environments.
• Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent analytics and reporting projects, prioritize competing demands, and meet deadlines in a high-impact environment.
• Strong project management skills, including requirements gathering, stakeholder communication, and delivery of technical solutions aligned with business needs.
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional partners, including Advancement Services, Prospect Management, Gift Administration, Institutional Research, Finance, and external vendors.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and data-visual communication skills, with the ability to translate technical and analytical concepts for non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated experience presenting analytical findings to senior leadership, boards, and committees.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively in a diverse, inclusive, and collaborative institutional environment requiring discretion and confidentiality.
• Demonstrated ability to engage as a positive team member who establishes productive relationships, demonstrates respect and facilitates understanding by considering and integrating diverse viewpoints.
• Excellent organization skills, with a demonstrated ability to prioritize, manage multiple demands, work under pressure, and meet deadlines with accuracy, speed, independent judgment, and minimal supervision.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting capital campaigns at a higher education institution
• Familiarity with CASE VSE and AEM surveys, IRS Form 990, and external benchmarking publications

Union: No

Work Schedule: 35 hours per week; 12 months per year

Employment Status: Full-time; Exempt; Regular

Grade: 560EX

Work Modality Hybrid Eligible

Documents Needed to Apply: Resume (Required) Cover Letter (Required)