Description

Ducks Unlimited, Inc., the continent’s leader in waterfowl and wetlands conservation, seeks a Prospect Research Analyst to identify, research, and analyze information on current and prospective donors. The position reports to the Director of Prospect Development, who is based out of our Memphis, TN headquarters. Partial or full remote work may be available for the right candidate. Applicants not located in the Memphis area are welcome to apply.  

The Analyst provides research support to DU leadership, as well as to development staff members, to inform development strategies and advance potential donor relationships. The Prospect Research Analyst qualifies, screens, and rates potential donors, and proactively identifies new prospective donors. Primary responsibilities include:

• Conduct proactive research to identify new potential major and principal gift donors using news alerts, a review of weekly gift reports, wealth screening, and other methods.
• Conduct quarterly prospect review sessions with assigned fundraisers to ensure accurate and up-to-date opportunities, status information and portfolio size and health.
• Support wealth screening and predictive modeling projects. Help to independently verify screening results.
• Update information in Blackbaud CRM following established data standards.
• Using a variety of electronic resources, develop and synthesize information on prospects to produce informative profiles/background biographies with information on career, financial capacity, philanthropic interests, and relationship to DU.
• Undertake financial analysis of prospects' and donors' known wealth indicators to assess potential philanthropic capacity.
• Proactively track and disseminate donor and prospect-related information to development staff and selected DU leadership for cultivation and solicitation.
• Monitor news and publicly-available financial information on current major and principal gift donors and prospects from SEC filings, press releases, and major newspapers.
• Strategize and partner with development staff to support the development of high-capacity portfolios.
• Develop supportive and productive relationships with development staff and other DU staff involved in fundraising.
• Maintain proficiency with standard prospect research resources (electronic, print, and other) and stay abreast of new resources and technologies.  
• Use the database to track research activity for internal prospect research metrics.
• Seek opportunities for professional development to enhance job performance.
• Safeguard the confidentiality of constituent information at all times by adhering to ethical and confidentiality guidelines of DU and APRA, the professional organization for prospect research professionals.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Requirements

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of two years of related experience in prospect research or related role, preferably in a fundraising environment.   The successful candidate will have an affinity for Ducks Unlimited’s mission and programs, a strong work ethic, and a commitment to establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.   Additional qualifications include:

• Bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited college or university.
• Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly, technological tools available to DU, including Blackbaud CRM, Microsoft Windows computer environment, and Microsoft Office suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint required).
• Familiarity with Internet search strategies and experience using, or ability to learn quickly, electronic databases and online search tools such as LexisNexis for Development Professionals, GuideStar, Foundation Center, etc.
• Demonstrated ability to retrieve, manipulate, analyze and synthesize information gathered from a variety of sources (electronic, print, and personal accounts).
• High attention to detail and follow-up, and excellent organizational skills required – including the ability to prioritize and multi-task several projects simultaneously.
• An aptitude for critical thinking and problem solving.  
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage confidential information with discretion and tact.
• Understanding of philanthropy (mission, practice, trends) and fundraising practices (the development cycle, general prospect management policies and practices).
• Flexible and adaptable to new programs in an emerging and changing environment.

Candidates must be willing to work hours that extend outside of the typical workday and workweek throughout the year; some overnight travel is required.