Prospect Researcher

Facing History & Ourselves; United States; On-site; USD 58,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical with HRA

Dental

Vision

403(b) retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Facing History & Ourselves is seeking a Prospect Researcher to identify and analyze information on individual and institutional donors to strengthen our Development pipeline. You will produce donor profiles, briefs, and risk assessments to support engagement strategies and board-level insights.

Responsibilities include conducting due diligence on prospects, mapping relationships, and collaborating with institutional partnerships and grant writing teams.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of direct experience in prospect research with a track record of producing profiles, briefings, and risk assessments.
• Experience with both individual and institutional research required.
• Proficiency with prospect research tools (iWave, LexisNexis, Foundation Directory Online, GrantWatch, RelationshipScience) and CRM systems; Salesforce experience is a plus.
• Experience in the nonprofit sector preferred; background in education or nonprofit education is a bonus.

Responsibilities

• Produce a standardized menu of research products including in-depth donor profiles, meeting briefings, and at-a-glance event snapshots.
• Map relationships and identify giving capacity, affinity, and philanthropic history for prospects.
• Conduct due diligence and risk assessment vetting to protect the organization.
• Partner with event leads to prioritize guest lists for signature fundraisers and cultivation events.
• Collaborate with Institutional Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives and grant writing team to sustain a stream of institutional prospects.
• Manage the transition of raw screening data into qualified screening and high-quality donor pipeline.
• Synthesize information into concise summaries for Development leadership and board bios.
• Support proactive prospecting to uncover high-potential individuals and institutions.
• Develop onboarding and training to help staff interpret profiles and use research tools.

Skills

Prospect research

Donor analytics

Communication

Discretion

Tools

iWave

LexisNexis

Foundation Directory Online

GrantWatch

RelationshipScience

Salesforce

Job description

Title: Prospect Researcher

Reports to: Managing Director, Development Strategy & Services

Location: US-Based Home Office

Status: Exempt; Full Time

Salary Range*: $58,000 - $65,000 (IC2/B3)

Start Date: Immediate

Facing History & Ourselves is a global education non-profit organization that challenges teachers and students to use lessons of history to stand up to racism, antisemitism, and other forms of bigotry and hate.

Role Summary

The Prospect Researcher identifies and analyzes information on individual and institutional donors to help the Development team build informed engagement strategies. By delivering a range of research products—from high-level snapshots to in-depth profiles—and conducting critical risk assessments, this role ensures the department has the actionable insights needed to grow the donor pipeline and support strong, well-informed relationship management.

Key Duties & Accountabilities

Prospect Research & Pipeline Intelligence (60%)

• Produce a standardized "menu" of research products, including in-depth donor profiles, meeting briefings, and at-a-glance event snapshots tailored to specific use cases for executive leadership, senior development staff, and regional teams.
• Perform research on both individual and institutional prospects (foundations and corporations) to map relationships and identify giving capacity, affinity, and philanthropic history.
• Conduct thorough due diligence and formal risk assessment vetting to protect the organization and ensure alignment with gift acceptance policies.
• Partner with event leads to prioritize guest lists and identify "must-know" prospects for signature fundraisers and cultivation events.
• Partner with the Managing Director, Institutional Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives and grant writing team to produce a steady stream of institutional prospects that support regional expansion.
• Manage the transition of "Raw Screening" (initial wealth data) into "Qualified Screening" by validating and confirming data to ensure a high-quality donor pipeline.
• Synthesize information from multiple sources into concise summaries for Development leadership and board bios.

Proactive Identification & Strategic Support (25%)

• Dedicate consistent time to proactive prospecting to uncover high-potential individuals and institutions not yet assigned to a portfolio.
• Support specialized strategic needs, such as identifying candidates for Board pipeline growth, expansion into new geographies, and tracking philanthropic trends.
• Monitor external news and financial filings for indicators of new wealth or shifting interests among potential donors.

Training & Staff Enablement (15%)

• Develop and deliver standard onboarding and refresher training to help Development staff navigate basic research tools and interpret profiles.
• Create role-specific guidance for staff on leveraging research tools (e.g., iWave) for local projects and relationship management.
• Establish and manage clear request protocols and turnaround standards to ensure the department understands how to access research services.

Core Competencies For Role

• Strong research and analytical abilities with a skill for synthesizing information from multiple sources into a clear narrative.
• Disciplined self-starter who takes initiative and manages their own research queue and project timelines independently.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a talent for creating brief, readable formats for busy stakeholders.
• Customer-service mindset, characterized by responsiveness, professionalism, and a commitment to meeting established deadlines.
• High degree of discretion and integrity when handling sensitive or confidential donor information.

Other Skills & Qualities

Facing History understands that restrictive job requirements may exclude historically marginalized groups from applying to jobs for which they are qualified. We take an equitable and holistic screening approach. If you feel you have demonstrated experience and expertise relevant to perform this role, please don’t hesitate to apply!

• Minimum 2 years of direct experience in prospect research with a proven track record of producing various research products, including profiles, briefings, and risk assessments.
• Experience with both individual and institutional research required.
• Proficiency with prospect research tools (e.g., iWave, LexisNexis, Foundation Directory Online, GrantWatch, RelationshipScience) and CRM systems required; Salesforce experience is a plus.
• Experience in the nonprofit sector required; background in the education or nonprofit education sector is a significant bonus.
• Demonstrated ability to work both as a collaborative team member and as a focused, independent contributor.

Benefits Summary

In addition to meaningful and rewarding work, Facing History provides an excellent and competitive compensation and benefits package including medical with a fully employer-sponsored health reimbursement account (HRA), dental, vision, life & AD&D, long-term & short-term disability insurance, 403(b) retirement plan with a discretionary organizational contribution, generous paid time off, an employee assistance program, travel assistance plan, pre-tax commuter spending accounts, flexible spending accounts, voluntary Colonial Life group plans, robust wellness programs through aHealthyMe, an employee discounted marketplace through BenefitHub, weekly virtual yoga and meditation, 403(b) advisement, and a friendly work environment.

Facing History values a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture.

We encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Our Commitment to Inclusion.

Our strength as an organization is directly tied to the diversity of our staff, leadership, educators, students, scholars, and volunteers. We strongly encourage each member of our community to be intentional and self-reflective in their attitudes toward others. This intentionality not only makes for a safer, happier, and more vibrant workplace, but it reflects the ethical framework of the content we produce for teachers and students. Our continued dedication to an inclusive work environment includes facilitating group learning journeys throughout the year and making space for optional employee resource groups. Together we show grace and support to ourselves and our colleagues so that we can all contribute in ways which are meaningful and rewarding.

Remote-first/Hybrid Work Model (US Home Based)

Facing History & Ourselves operates in a remote-first/hybrid work model, allowing staff flexibility in both schedules and work locations. This particular position is home-based. Travel is required.

• We strive to offer competitive salaries commensurate with experience in a similar position. New hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary range between the minimum and midpoint depending on experience and in alignment with internal parity.