Prospect Research Manager

Description

The Prospect Research Manager is a key strategic partner to the Office of Development, responsible for identifying, researching, and reporting on prospective donors across all contributed revenue streams, including individual donors, foundations, corporations, and event participants. This role fills a critical function within AKF's fundraising strategy and operations by ensuring that gift officers and Development leadership have timely, accurate, and well analyzed information to guide donor engagement and solicitation efforts.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Development Strategy and Operations, the Prospect Research Manager serves as the primary prospect research resource for the Office of Development, leading and executing prospect research activities that support fundraising priorities, new opportunity identification and strategic decision making. The role works closely with colleagues across Individual Giving, Corporate Engagement, Special Events, Direct Donor Engagement, and the Constituent Data team to deliver high quality research, donor profiles, and briefings that advance AKF's mission

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Prospect Research & Fundraiser Support (45%)

This functional area encompasses the core research services provided to frontline fundraisers and Development leadership

• Responds to research requests from gift officers and leadership related to individual, corporate, and foundation prospects.
• Develops and maintains standardized donor profiles, briefings, and research deliverables that are accurate, concise, in-line with industry best practices, and actionable.
• Prepares background materials to support donor meetings, event strategy, and pre- and post-event outreach, as well as cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities.
• Serves as the first line of research and an ongoing partner to fundraisers by aligning research outputs with solicitation strategies, donor interests, and organizational priorities.

Proactive Research & Prospect Identification (30%)

This functional area focuses on forward looking research and the identification of new potential funders aligned with AKF's fundraising priorities

• Independently identifies and qualifies new prospective donors across all funding streams.
• Produces strategic prospect lists and briefings for campaigns, events, leadership engagement, and other initiatives as requested.
• Evaluates indicators of capacity, affinity, and philanthropic activity to recommend prospects for further engagement.
• Monitors trends in philanthropy, giving behavior, research/scoring tools, and funding vehicles to inform research and prospect efforts.
• Recommends tools, techniques, and technologies that support effective prospect research and fundraising efforts.

Operations & Portfolio Support (20%)

This functional area focuses on the tools, processes, and coordination needed to support the day to day use of prospect research across the Development team

• Manages and utilizes donor screening tools and research resources in coordination with the Constituent Data team.
• Supports portfolio development and refinement by providing research-based recommendations and background information.
• Produces recurring and ad hoc research reports that provide context and insight to support planning, meetings, and leadership requests.
• Helps develop and refine prospect research workflows, standards, and tools to support consistent, high-quality research.
• Creates and maintains foundational prospect research materials, templates, and documentation.

Other Duties as Assigned (5%)

• Additional responsibilities as determined by the supervisor or DEVO leadership.

Requirements

Required

• Minimum of 2-4 years of experience in prospect research, fundraising operations, or a related development discipline.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience researching individual, corporate, and foundation prospects.
• Strong written communication skills with the ability to synthesize complex information into clear reports.
• High level of attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines with limited guidance.
• Ability to handle confidential matters with a high level of integrity

Preferred

• Experience with CRMs such as Raisers Edge NXT and various industry-standard and emerging research and wealth-scoring tools.
• Familiarity with prospect research best practices, ethical standards, and data privacy considerations.
• Experience in nonprofit fundraising, preferably within a health-related or similarly mission-driven organization.

COMPETENCIES:

• Research and analytical thinking
• Clear written communication
• Information synthesis and judgement

The salary range displayed is for a successful candidate hired in the DMV area. The salary range may be adjusted to reflect cost of living factors for candidates living outside of this location.

Employee benefits:

In addition to your competitive salary, paid holidays, vacation, sick and personal days; health, dental, and vision coverage; life insurance and disability coverages; and a generous matching 403(b) retirement plan, we'll shower you with perks, including:

• Culture: We ensure our team knows how much they are valued, as demonstrated by our Quality Work Environment (QWE) Task Force and employee-led recognition and social events throughout the year.
• Compressed work week: Start the weekend early with shorter workdays on Fridays-closing at 3 p.m. from Labor Day to Memorial Day and 2 p.m. in the summer.
• Flexibility: Employees work from home most of the time with 1-4 days a month in the office.
• Clear expectations: You'll know what you need to do to succeed; annual raises and bonuses for all employees are based on your performance.
• Location: Convenient location and a short walk to the popular Pike and Rose shopping center
• Parking: Arrive and leave work comfortably, thanks to an underground parking garage whose cost is paid for by AKF. Metro subsidies are provided for those who do not drive.
• Dress code: Business casual through the week and casual on Fridays.

AKF offers a hybrid work schedule with employees working in the office 1-4 days per month and telework the rest of the time.