Development Research Manager (Job ID: 2021-2633)

The Brookings Institution

Equal-Opportunity Employer: It is Brookings policy to provide equal employment opportunity for all of its employees and applicants without regard to their actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, personal appearance, citizenship status, family responsibilities, gender identity or expression, genetic information, matriculation, political affiliation, veteran status, or any other prohibited basis of discrimination as required by law.

Development Research Manager (Job ID: 2021-2633)

US-DC-Washington

Job ID: 2021-2633
Type: Regular, Introductory
# of Openings: 1
Category: Development
1. Resident Employee

Please note: This position is based in Brookings' Washington, DC office. In response to COVID-19, Brookings staff are temporarily teleworking. The person hired for this position must be willing to move to or currently reside in Washington DC, Maryland, or Northern Virginia by their date of hire.


Responsibilities
Ready to contribute to Brookings success?

The Development Research Manager (Manager) conducts, manages, and coordinates philanthropic research for the Institution. The Manager responds to research requests from the Office of the President, the Vice President for Development, and development staff across the Institution. S/he supports the fundraising efforts of the institution by identifying and evaluating donor and prospect philanthropic interests and capacity including individuals, corporations, and foundations. The Manager works closely with the Assistant Director of Development Research (AD), the Senior Director of Development, and the frontline fundraisers in Central and program Development by continually recommending new prospects for qualification and cultivation to build the giving pipeline. The Manager oversees a portfolio of fundraisers, projects, programs, and funding initiatives that require research services. S/he also compiles current bio and news on donors and prospects for visit/call briefings for senior leadership.

S/he proactively identifies potential prospects within the guidelines of federal, state and local laws and institutional policies and procedures. Reports to the Senior Director of Development Services.

Prospect Identification and Research (50%)
• Develops research profiles, creates prospect lists, determines philanthropic capacity, pathways, networks, and interests, working closely with Central Development fundraisers.
• Compiles and analyzes biographical, wealth, and philanthropic information from all available resources to identify new prospects for Brookings donor groups, special projects, or core needs support for the programs in her/his portfolio.
• Ensures that all suspects, prospects, and donors are researched and assigned capacity ratings using best practice methods and those ratings are updated regularly.
• Ensures that prospect research activities meet the needs of her/his portfolio of fundraisers in support of their individual, corporate, and foundation revenue goals.
• Works with the AD and the Director of Board Relations on prospective Trustee materials and research for the Nominations and Governance Committee.
• Plans and organizes regular meetings with the fundraising team in her/his portfolio to assign prospects; monitors timely movement through the pipeline; develops and enhances strategies in close partnership with fundraisers to convert prospects to donors.

Research/Data Management and Strategy (25%)
• Works with the AD on the assignment and tracking of suspects and prospects for Central Development and Institution-wide, President-led initiatives.
• Tracks suspects and prospects as they are moved through the pipeline from qualification to cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Responsible for the biographical, wealth, capacity and philanthropic data for the Principal Giving process, coordinating closely with other Development colleagues.

Coordination (25%)
• Oversees the research components—biographical information, wealth and philanthropic information, and recent news/media updates—of the meetings briefing process, coordinating closely with the Assistant Director, Development Manager/ Writer, Development Coordinators, and other key development staff.


Qualifications
Ready to make an impact? In this role, you will support Brookings values of collegiality, respect, inclusion, diversity and community, and bring the following qualifications:

Education/Experience Requirements:

Bachelor's degree required; a minimum of two years of experience researching prospects in a development setting. Experience in a related institution and/or familiarity with public policy organizations is highly desirable. Must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.

Knowledge/Skills Requirements:

Research proficiency, including solid knowledge of research and media resources. Strong analytical and evaluative skills with attention to detail. Ability to extract information from a database and organize, analyze, and present it in Microsoft Excel or other formats for optimal utility. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and submit work products accurately and quickly. Capacity to exercise independent initiative and judgment. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Self-starter with a demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team. Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information appropriately.

Additional Information:

What can we offer you? Brookings provides a generous benefit package that is comprehensive and includes both traditional benefits and unique offerings.

Brookings requires that all applicants submit a cover letter and resume. Please attach your cover letter and resume as one document when you apply. Please note: if you have applied to more than one Brookings job opening you should add a position-specific cover letter as a separate attachment.

Successful completion of a background investigation is required for employment at Brookings.

Brookings welcomes and celebrates diversity in all its forms. We welcome applications that reflect a variety of backgrounds based on ideology, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, first generation college goers, and other factors protected by law. Brookings is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace.

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