Prospect Researcher

The fact that 1 in 4 people in the world today don’t have clean water is unacceptable, and we need you to help change that.

We’re the #1 international non-profit exclusively focused on bringing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene education (WASH) to the children and families who need it most. These people are the 2.2 billion reasons we do what we do. Our global WASH programs, led and maintained by the communities where we work, aren’t a quick fix. We strive for long-term access to WASH that truly transforms people’s lives."

To fuel WaterAid’s programs and advance our global mission, WaterAid America is seeking an experienced Prospect Researcher to strategically harnesses and translates data into actionable strategies for income generation.  The Prospect Researcher works as a partner with and across fundraising teams to build, replenish and monitor a pipeline of prospects; inform and optimize donor strategies; and equip fundraisers to successfully engage, cultivate and solicit philanthropic gifts that add value to WaterAid’s mission and strategy.  

Prospect research is a new area of practice at WaterAid,  This role is the rare opportunity to use your skills and experience to build an entirely new body of work, to create a foundation from which WaterAid will drive its philanthropic missions to a new level - all in the name of safe water, sanitation and hygiene education for communities that need it most.

The ideal candidate will be curious, analytical, persistent, and detail-oriented in their work.  As part of a hybrid team, the Prospect Researcher should be an experienced professional and a strong communicator capable of overseeing a comprehensive project cycle of a broad portfolio with a high-degree of autonomy. To build collaborative relationships and get the best out of others, the Prospect Researcher must be able to adapt his/her/their personal style and possess an inclusive approach.

As with all WaterAid staff, the ideal candidate will be someone who sets high personal expectations, who takes ownership of their work and provides quality control across the portfolio. All WaterAid staff are expected to demonstrate honest and ethical practices, and champion WaterAid's values (respect, collaboration, accountability, innovation, courage, and integrity).

Responsibilities

Reporting to the CDO, the Prospect Researcher is responsible for using industry best practices and methodologies to conduct prospect research and management.

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Identify high-impact donors within and beyond the organization’s current donor poo by conducting in-depth financial and biographical research to assess networks and affiliations, philanthropic interests, giving capacity assessments, propensity, and readiness. Validate and evaluate findings, recommend solicitors.
• Synthesize information into insightful, comprehensive, and accurate research profiles to drive cultivation and solicitation strategies. Present qualified prospects and work with ‘frontline fundraisers’ as a partner in formulating and implementing strategies and “ask” amounts.
• Employ knowledge of moves management concepts including basic donor solicitation cycles stages and expectation for activity at each stage to provide appropriate support to fundraisers at each stage.
• Assist in reporting, tracking progress to goal (revenue and KPIs) and developing remediation strategies in connection with portfolio metrics.
• Produce fundraising and market landscape analysis, stay up-to-date and disseminate resources about donor trends, and analyze patterns of giving and characteristics of the current donor pool to inform leadership.
• Conduct regular wealth screenings and validate wealth screening data; lead on donor and prospect relationship mapping exercises.
• Work closely with the Data & Insight Officer to develop protocols and processes that support the robust use of the CRM and ensure integrity of our data. Update donor and prospect records to add new donor data, scrub old/outdated data, and create new/additional records as needed.
• Provide routine data quality control reviews, ensuring that all donor-related information in the CRM is correct and up to date.
• Manage research tools and serve as point person with external vendors to remain up-to-date with products and services.

Skills and experience

Essential skills and qualifications

• Undergraduate degree
• Minimum of 5 years’ relevant work experience in a not-for-profit organization.
• Strong qualitative and quantitative analytical and research skills; expertise in donor research methodology and practice including wealth indicators, move management, prospect management, and data analysis.
• General knowledge in major gifts, planned giving, corporate and foundation relations. Ability to think critically, assess, and synthesize information.
• Strong writing skills and attention to detail.
• Proven ability to handle confidential and sensitive information responsibly and with discretion.
• Experience with fundraising databases (preferably Salesforce), and with a broad range of research tools.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage long-term, trusting, and collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Sound judgment, a strategic outlook, and a passion for research and results.
• Inclusive mindset and excellent interpersonal skills, a proven ability to listen and engage with authenticity.
• Collaborative working style to create innovative and strategic propositions and work positively in a team environment, towards shared goals.
• Proficiency with MS Office (Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel) as well as a CRM (Salesforce); comfortable with understanding and analyzing budget and project reporting information.
• Commitment to model and champion WaterAid’s values: respect, collaboration, accountability, innovation, courage, and integrity.
• Flexibility to work across time zones (with varied work hours) and maturity to achieve and maintain work/ life balance.

Desired skills and qualifications

• Experience in an international organization or context.
• Knowledge of prospect research ethics (APRA).
• Spanish language proficiency is helpful but not required.

Employment & Benefits 

WaterAid offers a generous vacation and benefits package available to its full-time employees:  

• Health (medical) insurance (WAA offers several options, ranging from 70-100% employer-paid for you and your dependents), dental & vision insurance (100% employer-paid for you and your dependents), and pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for childcare, medical and commuter expense  
• Participation in WaterAid’s 403(b) deferred contribution plan (with personal contributions matched after 1 year of service, up to 5% of gross annual salary).  
• Paid time off (PTO) including: 13 public holidays + a ‘floating’ holiday to be used at your discretion; 120 hours of PTO upon hire (with new and increased hours awarded annually), 3 paid days for volunteering, and additional PTO available for "Summer Fridays" and office closures, such as between the Christmas and New Year's holidays. 
• Employee Assistance Program including Health Advocate, OneMedical, TalkSpace, and other services  
• Professional development investment 

WaterAid America's US workforce is currently 65% remote and 35% hybrid, with a physical office in New York, NY. 

For all candidates, any offer of employment will be commensurate with market rate criteria of your specific years experience, skillset qualifications, and geographic location. Salaries and benefits will vary in line with the location of the successful candidate and depending on experience.

For US-based candidates outside of major metropolitan areas, such as New York, NY or Washington, DC, the minimum salary for this position is $85,0000 USD. For US-based candidates inside major metropolitan areas, such as New York, NY or Washington, DC, the minimum salary for this position is $97,750 USD. 

Equal Opportunity Employer  

We celebrate, support, and thrive on diversity and difference for the benefit of our employees, our mission, and the communities we serve.  WaterAid is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from suitably qualified candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.  We value diverse experiences and will also consider qualified applications from those who have had prior contact with the criminal legal system in accordance with the NYC Commission on Human Rights’ Guidance on the Fair Chance Act. 

WaterAid is committed to the safeguarding and wellbeing of all individuals, including the people in communities in which we work, staff, volunteers, contractors, and partners. Any form of abuse is not tolerated. 

Apply:  

Please submit your CV and cover letter no later than September 30, 2024.  Only candidates shortlisted for interviewing will be contacted within two weeks.