Advancement Research Manager

Description At Feed the Children, we recognize the value of outstanding people, and we are looking for compassionate changemakers to join our team. We pride ourselves on cultivating a collaborative workplace where employees experience productive and rewarding employment and feel engaged in our mission to end childhood hunger. Our passionate team shares a deep sense of purpose, and we dream big to solve complex problems and create positive impact in communities around the world. We are currently in search of an Advancement Research Manager to join our Development team! The Advancement Research Manager plays a key role in advancing major and planned giving by integrating prospect intelligence, portfolio strategy, and high-touch donor stewardship. This position is responsible for leading prospect identification and qualification efforts, providing research‑driven insights that strengthen frontline fundraising, and ensuring gift officers are equipped with accurate, actionable information to support donor engagement. In addition, the role oversees the processing and stewardship of complex and high‑value gifts, including donor‑advised funds (DAFs), IRA qualified charitable distributions, and other non‑cash contributions, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and exceptional donor care. Serving as a strategic partner to development leadership and gift officers, the Advancement Research Manager strengthens pipeline development, enhances data integrity within the CRM, and supports a seamless, personalized donor experience throughout the giving lifecycle. Job Requirements Education Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required. Experience Required 3+ years in prospect research, development operations, or major gifts support Experience handling or supporting complex gifts (DAFs, IRAs/QCDs, securities, etc.) Strong analytical and research skills Preferred Experience with wealth screening and prospect research tools (e.g., iWave, Kindsight, WealthEngine) Knowledge of IRS guidelines related to charitable giving vehicles Experience collaborating with finance, legal, or gift processing teams Background in stewardship strategy and donor experience design Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams and SharePoint required. Any combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of this job may be considered. Essential Functions Prospect Research & Pipeline Strategy Manage and lead prospect identification and qualification strategy for Advancement team Oversee portfolio analysis and pipeline management Lead staff for research consultants, or vendors, if applicable Identify, research, and qualify prospective major gift donors using internal and external data sources Produce concise, actionable prospect profiles, wealth assessments, and briefing materials Support portfolio development through prospect identification, segmentation, and prioritization Maintain accurate and up‑to‑date prospect records within the CRM Assign and remove qualified prospects to gift officers in the CRM Recommend assignments for Midlevel and Planned Giving teams Stewardship & Complex Gift Management Lead and coordinate stewardship activities for major donors, with a focus on high‑capacity and complex gift donors Partner with vendors to track gifts made through donor‑advised funds (DAFs), IRA qualified charitable distributions (QCDs), stock transfers, and other non‑cash vehicles Ensure proper acknowledgment, documentation, and compliance for complex gifts in collaboration with finance and legal teams Serve as an internal resource on best practices for handling and stewarding complex gifts Prepare high‑quality donor briefings, including giving history, affiliations, and strategic recommendations Support gift officers in moves management by tracking donor engagement and next steps Identify opportunities for donor upgrades, renewals, and re‑engagement, especially among complex gift donors Assist in the preparation of proposals, impact reports, and customized stewardship materials Data Entry, Management & Reporting Track and report on complex gift activity (DAFs, IRAs, securities, etc.) and stewardship outcomes Support both Planned Giving and major giving data entry Maintain data integrity across CRM system, ensuring accurate coding and tracking of gift types Develop reports and dashboards to support decision‑making and portfolio performance Provide dashboard with number of qualified major gift prospects added to portfolios, increase in prospects rated and assign, growth in the major gift pipeline value. Analyze trends in giving vehicles and donor behavior to inform fundraising strategy Establish an environment of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning, a commitment to quality, welcomes and encourages collaboration, and fosters both intra and inter‑departmental dialogue and respect. Model the type and level of behavior, professionalism and leadership that is in accordance with the values of the organization. Perform other related duties as required. 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. Feed the Children is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for positions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, political affiliation, pregnancy, military and/or veterans’ status, genetic characteristics, marital status or any other considerations made unlawful by applicable state, federal, or local law. Feed the Children welcomes and encourages applications from persons with physical and mental disabilities and will make every effort to reasonably accommodate the needs of those persons. Additionally, Feed the Children strives to provide an environment free from sexual exploitation and abuse and harassment in all places where relief and development programs are implemented. Feed the Children expects its employees to maintain high ethical standards, protect organizational integrity and reputation, and ensure that Feed the Children work is carried out in honest and fair methods, in alignment with the Feed the Children safeguarding and associated policies. Equal Opportunity Employer. This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor. #J-18808-Ljbffr Feed the Children