Development Research Manager

Overview

The Brookings Institution is an equal-opportunity employer. Brookings policy provides equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, personal appearance, citizenship status, family responsibilities, gender identity or expression, genetic information, matriculation, political affiliation, veteran status, or any other prohibited basis of discrimination as required by law.

Development Research Manager (Job : ) – US-DC-Washington, Hybrid (at least two days remote per week). This position is included in the Brookings staff bargaining unit, Brookings United, affiliated with IFPTE Local 70, and is covered under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement. Job :  
• Category:
Development • # of Openings: 2.

Overview of role
:
The Development Research Manager conducts, manages, and coordinates philanthropic research for the Institution. The Manager responds to research requests from the President, the Vice President and Chief Development Officer (CDO), and other development staff. They support fundraising by identifying and evaluating donor and prospect philanthropic interests and capacity, with a focus on individual donors. The Manager works closely with other development researchers and frontline fundraisers to identify and qualify new prospects and to advance the giving pipeline.

The Manager oversees a portfolio of fundraisers, projects, programs, and funding initiatives that require research services. They 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 proactively identify potential prospects within federal, state, and local laws and institutional policies. Reports to the Director of Development Research.

Prospect Identification and Research (70%)

• Writes prospect profiles, due diligence summaries, leadership briefings, and other research products; creates prospect lists; determines philanthropic capacity, pathways, networks, and interests; works closely with fundraisers.
• Oversees the research components of the event lookbook process, coordinating with other key development staff as needed.
• Compiles and analyzes biographical, wealth, and philanthropic information to identify new prospects for Brookings donor groups, special projects, or core needs support in their portfolio.
• Ensures that all suspects, prospects, and donors are researched and assigned capacity ratings using best practice methods, and that ratings are updated regularly.
• Ensures that prospect research activities meet the needs of their portfolio of fundraisers in support of their revenue goals.
• Other research projects as needed.

Data Management and Strategy (30%)

• Works with the development research team on the assignment and tracking of suspects and prospects for their portfolio.
• Tracks suspects and prospects as they move through the pipeline from qualification to cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Participates in portfolio reviews with frontline fundraisers.

Education/Experience Requirements

Bachelor's degree required; a minimum of three years of experience researching prospects in a development setting. Experience in a related institution and/or familiarity with public policy organizations is highly desirable.

Knowledge/Skill Requirements

Research proficiency, including solid knowledge of research and media resources. Strong analytical and evaluative skills with attention to detail. Ability to extract information from a database and organize, analyze, and present it in Microsoft Excel or other formats for optimal utility. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and submit work products accurately and quickly. Capacity to exercise independent initiative and judgment.

Excellent oral and written communication skills. Self-starter with a demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team. Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information appropriately.

What can we offer you? Brookings provides a generous benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision benefits, generous time off, and workplace flexibility. For more information, please review Brookings Benefits. Brookings requires that all applicants submit a cover letter and resume as one document when you apply. If you have applied to more than one Brookings job opening, add a position-specific cover letter as a separate attachment.

Successful completion of a background investigation is required. Brookings welcomes and celebrates diversity in all its forms and is an equal-opportunity employer.

Please note:

You must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.