Prospect Researcher [The Menil Collection]

General Responsibilities:

The prospect researcher is responsible for providing proactive research that identifies and profiles individual, corporate, and foundation donors/prospective donors capable of making leadership/major gifts for the capital campaign and annual fund.  Prepares comprehensive background summaries to identify capability and interest, and estimation of financial capacity in order to guide the cultivation and gift request strategies utilized by advancement staff.

Specific Duties:

1. Identify and qualify potential leadership/major gifts donors capable of upper level annual fund, major and capital campaign gifts from online database, internet sources, newspapers, business reports, art-related periodicals, printed and electronic annual and donor reports and other resources as appropriate.
2. Analyze current donor base for leadership/major gift prospects.
3. Conduct biographical and financial research on donors utilizing in-house files and a variety of on-line, electronic and printed sources.
4. Evaluate, organize, edit, verify and extrapolate data into comprehensive, dynamic reports on leadership/major gifts, campaign, and annual donor prospects.
5. Work with the manager of development services to update and maintain biographic information in Raiser’s Edge database.
6. Produce and coordinate distribution of comprehensive biographical, financial and philanthropic reports on prospective donors in support of staff and volunteer solicitation efforts.  Respond to inquiries from senior management and key fundraising staff to support ongoing front-line cultivation, qualification and identification efforts.
7. Prioritize and determine research strategies and requests.
8. Participate in prospect review meetings with development staff, as well as strategy meetings for specific fundraising initiatives and institutional priorities.
9. Write confidential research profiles on individual and institutional donors for meetings and strategic planning and prepare background briefing for their cultivation, solicitation and participation in special events.
10. Assist in rating donors and prospects in terms of inclination and capacity and consult members of the advancement team on cultivation and solicitation strategies.
11. Adhere to recognized fundraising and research ethics policies and standards as set forth by the Association of Professional Researchers of Advancement (APRA).
12. Maintain highest standards of professionalism and customer service in all interactions within the office.

Qualifications, Skills, and Competencies:

Bachelor’s degree in English, Journalism, or related liberal arts field preferred, with three years of prospect research experience.  Extensive computer skills including knowledge of the Raiser’s Edge software, Microsoft Office Suite; search engines and other online databases.  Must demonstrate understanding of the function of prospect research in an advancement office, of prospect/library 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.

Salary and benefits competitive and commensurate with experience.  Please send resume, cover letter and salary expectation to:  Director of Human Resources, the Menil Collection, 1511 Branard Street, Houston, Texas 77006. Application materials may also be emailed to:  smmaloch@menil.org.