Manager, Prospect Research

The Aspen Institute

The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization committed to realizing a free, just, and equitable society. Since its founding in 1949, the Institute has been driving change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the most critical challenges facing communities in the United States and around the world. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Institute has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, and an international network of partners.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

To achieve our mission of a more free, just, and equitable society, we commit to working proactively to advance the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion across our myriad endeavors such as the recruitment, compensation, training, and advancement of staff. The best people-serving institutions make this commitment, and we seek to be a leader in the ways that we do so and learn from others. Visit our website to learn more about our commitment and recent actions taken toward building and nurturing a diverse and inclusive environment.

Division Description:

The Institute’s Office of Institutional Advancement (OIA) is a central division focused on Institute-wide donor and prospect engagement. Areas of practice include: principal and major gift fundraising, corporate and foundation relations, annual giving and membership programming through the Institute’s Society of Fellows, planned giving, trustee engagement, major events, stewardship, prospect research, gift accounting, and Advancement Communications.

Position Overview

The Manager, Prospect Research is responsible for providing prospect identification, research, and analysis of financial and biographical information in support of gift officers and staff to determine cultivation and solicitation strategies for individual and organizational gifts. This position will create concise research profiles distilled from biographical information, financial data, news, philanthropic history, and other sources. They will demonstrate excellent writing skills, an ability to adapt to shifting priorities, flexibility and resourcefulness, professionalism, and strong discretion in working with confidential information.

Duties:

• Employ advanced investigative research, data collection and financial skills (using public records, proprietary systems, purchased or leased databases, published materials and other resources) to proactively identify, research, and assess the philanthropic giving capacity of current and prospective individual and organizational donors.
• Evaluate research requests to determine appropriate level of detail required.
• Accurately write confidential research documents on prospects for use by advancement staff and Aspen Institute leadership.
• Maintain ongoing communication with development staff to meet their research and portfolio needs. Work with gift officers to review prospect assignments, collaborate on strategies around new donors with wealth capacity, review qualified prospects, provide research updates and train gift officers on new research policies and prospect management procedures.
• Track daily news reports especially for top donors, prospects, and board members

Education, Experience and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree and seven years of related experience in advancement research.
• Proficiency in conducting donor research with experience in recognizing and assessing wealth indicators, giving capacity and philanthropic interests.
• Experience with prospect development and moves management best practices.
• Experience navigating large, complex organizations, and collaborating across teams to achieve shared goals.
• Presents a collegial, collaborative and customer-service oriented demeanor that positively reflects the core values of the Aspen Institute and demonstrates tact and diplomacy.
• Passion for the mission of the Aspen Institute and desire to support the advancement of its work.

To apply:

Please submit a resume, cover letter, and 2 prospect research samples (individual and corporate). Applications without requisite material will not be considered.

The Aspen Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all District and federal laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or protected veteran or disabled status and will not be discriminated against.