Development Research Manager

Overview

Join one of the most influential, most quoted and most trusted think tanks!

The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, DC. Our mission is to conduct in-depth research that leads to new ideas for solving problems facing society at the local, national and global level.

We bring together leading experts in government and academia from all over the world, rooted in open‑minded inquiry and representing diverse points of view, who provide the highest quality research, policy recommendations, and analysis. Research topics cover a full range of public policy issues in economics, foreign policy, development, governance and metropolitan policy.

With fair and transparent business practices, clear communication, mutual respect, and a collaborative atmosphere that offers both professional and personal development opportunities, Brookings offers an inclusive and welcoming workplace that values the efforts of all contributors.

The Office of Development manages fundraising across the institution. Focused on a constituency‑based fundraising model, our team works directly with the research programs and executive office to set an overarching fundraising strategy that supports the important work of our scholars.

• Build and nurture relationships with donors and prospects to raise critical financial resources in support of the institution’s fiscal health and to advance the mission of Brookings.
• Safeguard Brookings’s institutional values of Quality, Independence, and Impact.
• Amplify the impact of our scholars’ research and steward our donors’ generosity with compelling and innovative programming for our donor groups.
• Support our Board of Trustees in carrying out its fiduciary responsibilities to protect and sustain the institution.
• Partner closely with our colleagues across Brookings by providing best‑in‑class fundraising and fundraising operations to benefit all research programs.
• In everything we do, strive for excellence, act with integrity, communicate with honesty, show respect and collegiality, be proactive, collaborative, creative, and solutions‑oriented.

This position is hybrid. Hybrid positions combine regular in‑person presence at our Washington, DC office with the option of at least two days of remote work each week.

This position is included in the staff bargaining unit, Brookings United, affiliated with the IFPTE Local 70 union, and is covered under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement.

Ready to contribute to Brookings’ success?

The Development Research 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 and Chief Development Officer (CDO), and other development staff. They support the fundraising efforts of the Institution by identifying and evaluating donor and prospect philanthropic interests and capacity with a focus on corporate donors.

The Manager works closely with other development researchers and the frontline fundraisers in Development by 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. They also compile current biographical and financial information and news on donors and prospects for visit/call briefings and event lookbooks for senior leadership.

The Manager will also proactively identify potential prospects within the guidelines of federal, state, and local laws and institutional policies and procedures. Reports to the Director of Development Research.

• Writes prospect profiles, due diligence summaries, leadership briefings, and other research products, creates prospect lists, determines philanthropic capacity, pathways, networks and interests, working closely with fundraisers.
• Oversees the research components of the event lookbook process, coordinating closely with other key development staff as needed.
• Compiles and analyzes…