The Prospect Research Associate works in close partnership with gift officers to support proactive prospect identification, prospect research, portfolio development, and moves/prospect management. Reporting to the Assistant Director of Research and Relationship Management, this position requires a strong understanding of key principles of major gift fundraising, moves management concepts, prospect management best practices, and Raiser’s Edge.
About Your Work
- In partnership with the Assistant Director of Research and Relationship Management, develops, documents, and implements policies and procedures for managing and communicating prospect information. Reviews and updates constituent records with information culled from research, periodical review, and office correspondence. Ensures accurate, consistent, and timely recording of research within Raiser’s Edge.
- Prepares fundraising staff and volunteers materials needed for solicitation calls, maintains appropriate tracking reports, and distributes contact reports.
- Provides briefings and strategic invitation lists for advancement-related meetings, trips, and cultivation events.
- Identifies new prospects at all levels by researching local, national, and international news and industry trends, as well as collaborating with colleagues.
- Responds in an accurate and timely manner to research inquiries for fundraising opportunities which may include financial assets, potential for philanthropic support, business and professional affiliations, areas of interest, and other Chautauqua affiliations.
- Coordinates/facilitates Advancement’s proactive use of the Raiser’s Edge database as a tool to support moves management, including moves tracking, proposal tracking, and task management.
- Regularly reviews the prospect pipeline to identify new prospects to include in portfolios.
- Plans and coordinates prospect strategy and portfolio management meetings with fundraisers. Establishes and coordinates agendas for these meetings with input from management and senior leadership in Advancement.
- Prepares for and attends meetings with gift officers to review portfolios to identify gaps and opportunities. Maintains an understanding of gift officers’ fundraising metrics and works with them to reach collaborative goals.
Experience
Required experience: Minimum of 3-years of demonstrated experience in prospect management or research in a fundraising environment or equivalent combination of education/work experience.
Preferred experience: Experience in prospect management or research using Raiser’s Edge.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Technical savvy using relational databases and reporting systems with the ability to anticipate, recognize, troubleshoot and resolve technical problems.
- Systems thinking to understand data relationships and reporting within complex software systems.
- Logic and reasoning to order data to apply rules, combine data points, arrange data, and find patterns to extract relevant information and apply that information to strategies for successful operations.
- Active learner and listener to understand implications of new information for problem-solving and decision making, as well as to ask questions as appropriate.
- Attention to detail and perceptual speed to quickly and accurately compare similarities/differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. Selective attention to concentrate on a task without being distracted.
- Relationship-building to provide cross-functional leadership and support across interworking teams in Advancement.
- A consultative and collaborative approach to process, procedure, and problem-resolution in teams.
- Project management capabilities and skills to navigate multiple projects, full cycle, simultaneously.
- Self-starter who will be a strategic partner focused on independent work that builds a foundation of process and procedure, accomplishes routine responsibilities with minimal instruction, adheres to prescribed routines and practices, and maintains research/data to meet goals. Personal integrity and ethics when dealing with highly confidential and sensitive information.
Total Rewards
Chautauqua Institution’s competitive compensation and a benefits suite that includes health insurance with Blue Cross Blue Shield, flexible spend (or health savings) account options, dental and vision insurance, complimentary life insurance, wellness incentives, and fitness options, an employee assistance program, and supplemental life insurance and long-term disability options. The Institution supports planning for retirement through a discretionary employer pension contribution, which has recently been (10%) of gross compensation following a designated service period.
Discovering Your Chautauqua Experience
There are countless ways that our talent will engage with our mission, vision, and diverse communities, and you are invited to immerse yourself in our programming as a gateway to this experience. Employees will receive a traditional Chautauqua gate pass, free of cost, which provides access to many of our programs at the Amphitheater. In addition to a traditional gate pass, employees and their families will receive full access to our current and historical programs online at CHQ Assembly.
Join our talent community online at http://chq.org/employment/.
Commitment to Values of IDEA
Chautauqua Institution values Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) as a priority in our strategic plan, 150 Forward. One of our five core values is “The dignity and contributions of all people.” We are committed to creating conditions in which everyone feels that they can engage as full and valued participants in the Chautauqua experience. The Institution is an equal opportunity employer committed to equitable and inclusive hiring practices and applicants will not be discriminated against based on any status protected under federal, state, or local law. We especially welcome applications from those who can demonstrate past experience, engagement, and professional expertise in IDEA.
Vaccination for COVID-19
Chautauqua Institution has adopted a mandatory vaccination policy to safeguard the health of our employees, patrons, and our shared community from COVID-19. By applying for employment, candidates acknowledge that they will comply with Chautauqua Institution’s Mandatory Vaccination Policy requiring all employees to provide proof of full vaccination immediately upon hire or be approved for a medical or religious accommodation and before physically starting work.
Joining Our Talent Community
You are encouraged to learn more about Chautauqua Institution at https://chq.org and view the 150 Forward Strategic Plan at https://150fwd.chq.org.