Prospect Researcher

Prospect Researchers identify and profile individual, corporate, and foundation donors, and researches prospects for major gifts, endowed gifts, special project funding, and annual/sustaining support.

Prospect Researchers provide written reports about specific donors and prospects, containing an analysis of information gathered from public sources.

Researchers are expected to use initiative and sound judgment in carrying-out related responsibilities within the framework of Development polices and procedures.

He/she strategizes with development staff regarding prospect identification, and collaborates to develop donor prospect reports appropriate to departmental needs. 

Prospect Researchers perform the following responsibilities:
Assume primary responsibility for meeting the prospect identification and research needs of development staff, enabling them to meet fundraising goals.
Meet regularly with these individuals, keeping abreast of their activities and the initiatives and programs underway within their departments.
Regularly collaborate with development staff to develop prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and overall fundraising strategies.
Consult with development staff to determine feasibility of research requests and special projects.
Advise development staff about new prospect possibilities as appropriate or requested.
Use both standard and novel prospect research techniques and tools to identify new prospects and complete donor background requests, including periodical and electronic screening and/or information provided by the prospect or his/her organization.
Create profile reports tailored to needs of individual development programs.
Maintain policies and procedures for the prospect research program.
Review local and national news and business publications, keeping abreast of prospect information and local and regional business developments and economic trends.
Send articles to development staff as appropriate.
Maintain and develop professional relationships with local prospect researchers, as well as national and local associations.
Manage research information services and negotiates annual contracts.
Utilize central Development database (Raiser's Edge) to track/store profile data.
Safeguard the confidentiality of donor information at all times.
Adhere to ethical and confidentiality guidelines.
Maintain the professional and ethical standards set forth for the field by the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (APRA).
Perform other responsibilities as required.

Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree and five to six years of experience in the role of Prospect/Donor Researcher.
This position requires the ability to make sound judgment, demonstrate the ability and fortitude to identify unknown sources.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, an attention to detail, an aptitude for logical thinking, a commitment to professional ethics, and the ability to interact with development staff as well as experience working in non-profit sector and with sensitive and confidential information.
Extensive computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft office software, Raiser's Edge, searching on-line databases and the Internet. Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment and meet goals in a timely manner.

source : supportingadvancement.com

Prospect Research Officer

To identify, collect, organize, analyze, and disseminate information on stakeholders, stakeholder groups and issues of strategic importance to the School in order to enhance the ability of development officers, senior faculty, and administrators to successfully acquire support for the activities of the school, as well as to contribute to the school's intellectual capital on key business markets and issues.

Key result areas: 
Develop, implement, and manage systems and procedures to meet the information needs of alumni and development staff and other members of the School, such as the Dean, the Associate Deans and faculty, in preparation for contacting, cultivating, and soliciting major gift prospects (individuals, corporations, and other organizations, such as foundations).
Qualify major gift prospects by researching and analyzing individuals and corporate entities for: connections to Ivey and to other organizations, giving potential, and propensity to donate in order to establish priorities and strategies for the successful solicitation of donors.
Devise strategies for obtaining new prospects in order to ensure the ongoing development, expansion, and renewal of the prospect base, to which the school will turn for current and future support.
Prepare detailed and up-to-date research briefings on prospects and/or groups of prospects for development staff, senior faculty and administrators, in advance of calls and events in order to obtain optimal outcomes.
Participate in and contribute to the formulation of the School's development planning as it pertains to: information systems developments; the processes and procedures of prospect management; and related infrastructure support services.

Responsibilities:
Manage department information resources, including identification and selection of sources of information and information vendors. 
Identify, research, and qualify major gift prospects. Provide concrete recommendations to development officers on prospect strategy and priorities.
Populate, organize, and maintain prospect information files, both electronic and paper.
Determine content of briefing materials prepared for calls.
Prioritize research activities.
Populate, organize, and maintain shared information systems.

Education, Skills & Abilities:
The incumbent should possess a university degree, preferably an MLIS or equivalent, extensive investigative and research skills.
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the domestic and international business environments and corporate management structures.
Demonstrate proficiency in the methods of information acquisition, including use of online sources (InfoGlobe, Infomart, Lexis-Nexis, World-Wide-Web), CD-ROM sources (Who's Who in Business, Compact Disclosure), and print directories (Directory of Directors, Thornton guide to Asian Companies). Show initiative in identifying new sources of information, as they become necessary and/or available.
Ability to organize and manage a diverse range of assignments and projects with high efficiency, yet thorough attention to detail and follow through.
Demonstrate strong communication skills, both oral and written.
Resourceful and independent, but comfortable working within the framework of an integrated development program and team-oriented environment.
Ability to adjust to changing priorities and meet deadlines.
Familiarity and appreciation of the mission, purpose and values of a comprehensive university, and more particularly a teaching business school and its responsiveness to the educational and research requirements of a sophisticated international business community.
Demonstrate competence in a variety of computer applications, including database, spreadsheet and word processing programs.
Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information appropriately and with discretion.
Be proactive in anticipating and seeking out information related to the immediate priorities of the development office.
Demonstrate ability to analyze and synthesize data from a wide variety of sources, and present the resulting information in a clear summary.

source : supportingadvancement.com

Manager of Prospect Research

REPORTS TO:

Director of Advancement Services

SUPERVISES:

Four Staff Members - 1 Full Time
3 Part Time

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Manager of Prospect Research is a full-time, exempt member of the Institutional Advancement staff.

The Manager is responsible for the overall coordination and production of information on the prospects and donors to the Foundation and to the School, for tracking cultivation and solicitation progress, and for prospect identification.

The Manager works with all members of the development staff, the President's office, faculty, and administration.

Prospect Research (45%)

Evaluates, organizes, and edits verified and extrapolated data into comprehensive reports on major gift and campaign donors and prospects (individuals, corporations, and foundations).

Provides leadership, data entry, and training for computerized prospect management system.

Reviews journals and periodicals for new prospects as well as information pertinent to current prospects, donors, trends, philanthropy, and education; improves and contributes to donor's files.

Fields miscellaneous donor research and computer system questions on a daily basis.

Management and Administrative (30%)

Provides direction for prospect research program; supervises research staff; manages the production of and distributes research reports needed for prospect identification, cultivation and solicitations; prioritizes, determines research strategy, and assigns research requests; reviews, proofs, and edits all written work; supervises central filing operation and data entry on the system's research screens.

Plans and administers an annual program with goals and objectives.

Is part of the team that reviews and updates data entry, data integrity, and filing procedures.

Monitors research materials budget; oversees library holdings.

Responsible for the selection, training, annual evaluation, and professional growth of the research staff.

Is primary liaison between the research program and other O.I.A. and campus departments.

Special Projects (25%)

Works on special campaign-related projects, assigned by the Campaign Director, and other projects assigned by Director of Advancement Services.

Assists with development of computerized reports needed for prospect research program.

REPORTS PROVIDED:

Profiles, Attendee Information Sheets, Research Memos

Special Campaign Project Reports

Prospect Tracking Reports

EDUCATION:

Bachelor's Degree in English, Journalism, or related liberal arts field preferred.

EXPERIENCE:

Three years of prospect research experience

Knowledge of computer data base systems and software packages, especially in a Windows environment for personal computers

Electronic data-base search experience

Non-profit, fund-raising, or relative experience preferred

Supervisory experience preferred

SPECIAL SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS:

Must demonstrate understanding of the function of prospect research in a development office, of prospect/library research methodology, and of the use and availability of a variety of hard-copy and computerized sources; skilled in reading and interpreting financial, technical, and trade documents and journals, including annual reports, real property files, and court records.

Must be persistent and resourceful, especially in exploring and adapting research methodology.

Ability to maintain sensitive and confidential information; follow and promote the American Prospect Research Association's ethical guidelines for the collection and use of information.

Must be highly organized, able to work independently, and have an ability to work under pressure to coordinate multiple requests and meet competing deadlines.

Must possess excellent writing, editing, and communication skills.

source : supportingadvancement.com