Prospect Research Specialist

Description

The Prospect Research Specialist (PRS) is a full-time, non-exempt position of Denver Rescue Mission (DRM). The PRS will play a key role in supporting Denver Rescue Mission's fundraising initiatives by identifying and researching prospective donors, foundations, and corporations to build a robust pipeline of major gift donors. The individual in this position will help build a comprehensive understanding of potential supporters by conducting a range of prospect research, data mining and analytics, and analysis of fundraising activity, ensuring that the development team can engage them in meaningful and strategic ways to further the mission of DRM.

The PRS will reaffirm a donor-centric culture in service of our donors while also providing support for other divisions of the Development Department to maintain a consistent and meaningful donor experience at all giving levels.

• Produce clear, concise, and accurate in-depth research on individuals, foundations, and corporations to identify new and current potential donors aligned with the mission of Denver Rescue Mission. Includes capturing and inputting prospect research into development’s CRM (Salesforce), ensuring its accessibility to development staff for future cultivation and stewardship strategies.
• Work closely with Donor Relation and Philanthropy Officers (Relational Giving team) to help prioritize outreach and provide research insights for donor strategies. Includes creating robust reports and other tools to help the officers actively manage their portfolios.
• Prepare research reports, summaries, and briefing materials for donor meetings, board presentations, and fundraising events.
• Interpret, synthesize, and translate research to extract and communicate key information about capacity and affinity to guide leadership and the fundraising team decisions about donor cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation strategies.
• Maintain and update records in Salesforce, ensuring that donor information is accurate and up to date.
• Supporting the elevation and assignment of the best prospects to the Relational Giving team. Includes modifying approaches and strategies to better serve and identify prospects in Northern Colorado for the Fort Collins fundraising team.
• Provide essential research support for annual fundraising campaigns, capital campaigns, and special events to ensure the success of the mission. Includes capturing and regular reporting on fundraising progress/activity and interpreting information to advise senior leadership on fundraising performance.
• Partnering with and training the Relational Giving team on tracking and managing their fundraising activity in Salesforce.
• Always safeguard the confidentiality of constituent information. Uphold department policies and guidelines regarding confidential information. Adhere to ethical and confidentiality polices of both DRM and the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (APRA).
• Stays informed about trends in homelessness, affordable housing, and community needs in the Denver area, ensuring that the research aligns with funding opportunities.
• Assist with segmentation of donor lists for direct mail, major gifts, and campaign outreach.
• Prepare detailed donor profiles, including wealth indicators, philanthropic history, and giving potential, to support fundraising strategies.
• Other tasks as assigned by the Director of Donor Services.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in nonprofit management, social sciences, business, or related field (A combination of education and experience can be substituted).
• Strong research, analytical, and organizational skills with keen attention to detail.
• Familiarity with prospect research tools (such as Wealth Engine, iWave, Lexis Nexis, Foundation Search, etc.) or the willingness to learn.
• Knowledge of the nonprofit sector, 1-2 years’ experience preferred.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and familiarity with donor databases such as Salesforce or Raiser’s Edge.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information…