Manager, Prospect Research

Manager of Prospect Research

Reporting to the Director of Development Operations, the Manager of Prospect Research is responsible for leading the strategic development and execution of comprehensive prospect research and pipeline management initiatives. This includes overseeing donor data integrity, developing strategies for managing the grateful patient pipeline, and implementing robust research methodologies. The Manager identifies, analyzes, and qualifies prospective donors to support Ascension's fund-raising goals. They provide front-line fundraisers with actionable intelligence, including detailed donor profiles, capacity ratings, and strategic insights that align with organizational priorities. This role also manages the prospect and moves management system, ensuring data accuracy and consistency. In addition, the Manager develops tools, policies, and best practices to enhance research quality and optimize donor engagement, ultimately driving sustained philanthropic growth across the organization.

The Ascension Philanthropy Services team reports to the national philanthropy team in Ascension System Office.

Core Responsibilities :

• Conduct prospect research, create, identify and update biographical profiles of key prospects from all donor constituencies and provide in depth research on individuals and organizations to evaluate their connections, interests, and potential contributions to the Ascension Philanthropy Services organizations, generating detailed profiles for major gift officers and foundation leaders that lead to philanthropic support.
• Perform wealth estimations and assign ratings based on publicly available information, including insider holdings, real estate, salary estimates, and general demographic assessments. Identify prospect capacity, affinity, interest and area of impact to match donors with Ascension fundraising priorities across the entire system. Help determine appropriate solicitation ranges when needed.
• Manage prospecting tools, identify new donor prospects, update the database, prepare research for events and campaigns, and conduct training for the development team.
• Facilitate timely and accurate reports in collaboration with the Sr. Manager Data Operations to the Ascension Philanthropy Services teams based on current needs. Ensure the database records and reports are up to date for contact and meetings with donors and prospects.
• Work with operations leadership to develop and execute strategies for the management and expansion of the pool of prospects and donors through a broad range of proactive prospect identification projects. Develop research methods, goals and strategies, creating all prospect research policies.
• Ensure fundraiser portfolios are robust, contain strong, viable prospects, and are supported by the continual flow of newly identified and effectively rated prospective donors.
• On a regular basis, lead prospect and portfolio review meetings with the development and research teams to ensure prospects are optimally assigned, engaged, solicited, and stewarded, including support of complex internal and external relationship management strategies.
• Performs other duties as assigned to support the Foundation's mission and strategic objectives.

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