Campaign and Research Associate

Farnsworth Art Museum; Rockland (ME); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Farnsworth Art Museum seeks a Campaign and Research Associate to drive prospect development and data operations for a major capital campaign. You will identify high-capacity prospects, maintain donor records, and process gifts, enabling front-line fundraisers to solicit 5- to 8-figure gifts.

The role blends research with data integrity, requiring CRM proficiency, wealth screening familiarity, and meticulous attention to detail. Hybrid onsite presence is required occasionally.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred; 2+ years of post-secondary education required.
• 2+ years of experience in a nonprofit development office, focusing on prospect research, gift processing, or database management.

Responsibilities

• Conduct in-depth biographical and financial research on individuals, corporations, and foundations.
• Prepare prospect briefings for Major Gifts Team and Chief Advancement Officer.
• Enter interactions and contact reports on behalf of the Chief Advancement Officer.
• Process campaign contributions and manage pledge schedules with gift officers.
• Draft sophisticated, personalized acknowledgement letters for major gifts within 48 hours.
• Maintain donor records and ensure data hygiene across Altru and related systems.

Skills

Prospect research

Data management

Attention to detail

Discretion with sensitive data

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Altru

Raiser's Edge

Excel

WealthEngine

iWave

DonorSearch

Job description

Campaign and Research Associate Reports to: Manager of Development Operations Classification: Full-time, Non-exempt

Position Summary

The Campaign and Research Associate is a vital member of the Advancement team, providingthe foundational data and research necessary to drive the Museum's capital campaign. Reporting to the Manager of Development Operations, this role is responsible for identifying new high-capacity prospects, maintaining the integrity of donor records, and executing the high-volume gift processing required during a major campaign. The Associate works at the intersection of prospect development and data operations, ensuring that front-line fundraisers have the "intelligence" they need to successfully solicit 5- to 8-figure gifts.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct in-depth biographical and financial research on individuals, corporations, and foundations using wealth screening tools and public records.
• Prepare comprehensive "prospect briefings" for the Major Gifts Team and Chief Advancement Officer to inform 7- and 8-figure solicitations.
• Monitor news and philanthropic trends to identify new prospects with an affinity for Maine, American art, or the museum's specific campaign projects (e.g., the Olson House).
• Process all campaign contributions in Altru.
• Maintain the "Prospect Moves" system in Altru, ensuring that the donor pipeline is accurately reflected and updated in real-time.
• Enter interactions and contact reports on behalf of the Chief Advancement Officer.
• Execute the timely and accurate entry of all campaign-related gifts and multi-year pledges, following the protocols set by the Manager of Development Operations.
• Draft and produce sophisticated, personalized acknowledgement letters for major and principal gifts, ensuring a 48-hour turnaround.
• Coordinate with the Finance Department to ensure proper gift coding and reconciliation for restricted campaign funds.
• Monitor pledge payment schedules for multi-year campaign gifts ensuring timely pledge fulfillment in coordination with gift officers.
• Assist the Manager of Development Operations in generating weekly and monthly campaign progress reports for Chief Advancement, Board, and Director.
• Perform regular "data hygiene" audits to ensure that donor contact information, relationships, and wealth attributes are current and accurate.
• Manage guest lists and registration data for high-level campaign cultivation events, parlor meetings, and exhibition openings.
• Provide on-site support for donor events to assist with guest check-in and data capture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred; 2+ years of post-secondary education required.
• 2ñ4 years of experience in a non-profit development office, with a focus on prospect research, gift processing, or database management.
• Proficiency in Altru, Raiser's Edge, or a similar CRM is required. Strong skills in Microsoft Excel (e.g., VLOOKUPs, pivot tables) are highly desirable.
• Familiarity with wealth screening tools (e.g., WealthEngine, iWave, or DonorSearch) and the ability to synthesize complex information into concise reports.
• Exceptional attention to detail, a high degree of discretion regarding sensitive financial data, and a commitment to the Farnsworth's mission.
• This hybrid position requires occasional onsite presence.

Founded as a bequest of Lucy Copeland Farnsworth, the Museum opened its doors in 1948 in Rockland, Maine, with a singular mission to celebrate Maine’s role in American art. The Farnsworth’s primary purpose is to be a repository for American art objects related to Maine and a resource for all, including local and state residents, as well as tourists visiting from throughout the United States and abroad.

Throughout the Museum’s history, it has championed the unique role that Maine plays in the larger story of American art. The Farnsworth’s collection of approximately 15,000 works focuses on American art from the 18th century to the present, in all media, with a special emphasis on artists with deep connections to Maine. From purchasing works by a young Andrew Wyeth–becoming the first museum to do so–to collecting pieces by pivotal Maine artists such as Fitz Henry Lane, George Bellows, Rockwell Kent, Lynne Drexler, Lois Dodd, Daniel Minter, Ann Craven, and Jeremy Frey, the Museum has and will continue to represent the excellence of the arts in Maine. We are also broadening and diversifying collections to more fully reflect the breadth of Maine artists working today and the interests of our growing and multicultural audience.

The Museum also cares for two historic properties: the Farnsworth Homestead, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, and the Olson House, joining the campus in 1991 and designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2011.

Welcoming approximately 75,000 visitors each year, the Farnsworth has a $58 million economic impact on the mid-coast and surrounding areas and has revitalized the creative capital of Rockland. It is the first art museum in Maine to receive accreditation by AAM.