Director, Research and Prospect Management
- AI
- CRM
- LexisNexis
- Data Visualization
- Tableau
- Power BI
- Excel
Internal Job Description
Reports to: Senior Director, Data Analytics and Operations
Manages: Senior Research Analyst; Research Analyst
Location: WCS Headquarters at the Bronx Zoo (Hybrid)
Department: Development | Scope: Multi-Site | Position Type: Full-Time
Job Summary
The Director of Research and Prospect Management serves as a strategic advisor to frontline fundraisers, Development leadership, and executive leadership, providing prospect intelligence, portfolio strategy, and relationship insights that advance donor cultivation and solicitation. Reporting to the Senior Director, Data Analytics and Operations, the Director analyzes research and fundraising data to inform strategy and leads a team that translates complex information into clear, actionable insights aligned with organizational priorities, campaign readiness, and philanthropic capacity.
The Director oversees a comprehensive donor and prospect research and pipeline management program designed to build the full donor pyramid, including Annual Fund and Planned Giving. The Director serves as a subject matter expert in wealth analysis, AI-powered research, portfolio intelligence, and ethical data practices. The ideal candidate is an experienced research leader with strong analytical and communication skills and a commitment to developing a high-performing team.
Major Responsibilities
Portfolio Intelligence: Partner with Relationship Managers (RMs) to develop and refine portfolio strategies. Use analytics to identify stagnant prospects, uncover major gift potential, and recommend portfolio adjustments as donor circumstances evolve.
Prospect Identification & Research: Lead proactive and reactive identification of major, principal, institutional, and planned gift prospects through data mining, wealth screening, and creative research. Oversee donor profiles, capacity ratings, briefings, relationship mapping, and event invitation lists and biographies.
Pipeline Management: Develop and manage frameworks such as engagement scoring, affinity and propensity modeling, and moves management to provide actionable insight into donor readiness and likely gift range. Contribute to campaign planning, feasibility studies, and annual goal-setting. Partner with Annual Fund and Planned Giving teams on audience modeling and analytics. Maintain current donor intelligence, including net worth, giving propensity, philanthropic interests, and connections to WCS trustees and constituents.
Research & Data Analytics: Analyze research and other data to identify patterns, generate insights, and recommend prospect and donor strategies. Translate complex datasets into actionable recommendations for individual prospects and overall pipeline management.
Executive & Board Portfolio Support: Recommend strategic prospects for Board and Executive involvement in partnership with frontline fundraisers. Manage and track these portfolios, helping fundraisers identify connections and pursue introductions strategically.
Team Management: Lead, mentor, and develop the Research team. Manage workflow, monitor progress against goals, and hold staff accountable for results. Coach team members toward greater expertise, confidence, and independence. Manage the research request queue and communicate with RMs on priorities.
Systems, Innovation & Compliance: Evaluate research tools and vendors for effectiveness, transparency, algorithmic fairness, and accountability. Lead the responsible adoption and evaluation of AI-powered research tools to diversify the prospect pipeline and identify high-net-worth prospects overlooked by conventional screening. Maintain accurate CRM records and uphold strong data integrity and ethical research standards.
Internal Qualification Requirements
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field; advanced degree preferred.• 7–10 years of progressive prospect research or advancement services experience, including 3+ years in a leadership role at a nonprofit or higher education institution.
• Expertise in wealth analysis, capacity ratings, due diligence, and philanthropic trend analysis.
• Proficiency with research tools (iWave, DonorSearch, WealthEngine, LexisNexis, RelSci, Foundation Directory Online) and fundraising CRMs.
• Strong analytical, written, and interpersonal communication skills; ability to distill complex data into clear, strategic recommendations.
• Deep commitment to confidentiality, data privacy, and ethical research practice.
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience managing prospect research through a major capital campaign.
• Familiarity with AI-powered research platforms (DonorSearch Ai, EverTrue, Windfall, Dataro) and ability to critically evaluate outputs.
• Hands-on experience with relationship mapping tools (Prospect Visual, iWave, RelSci, Kindsight, Muckety, DonorAtlas) and translating network data into cultivation strategy.
• Experience with portfolio intelligence frameworks, engagement scoring, and propensity modeling.
• Proficiency in data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI) and advanced Excel.
WCS is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value. EOE/AA/M/F/Vets/Disabled
- Salary Range: 135,000-155,000
Director, Research and Prospect Management · Wildlife Conservation Society