Prospect Research Officer, Foundations

About MSF-USA | Doctors Without Borders

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international humanitarian organization providing medical care to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from health care in over 70 countries. We were formed in France in 1971 as an association by a group of doctors and journalists to go to emergency situations and to treat patients with dignity while bearing witness independently of geopolitical boundaries. MSF is now a global movement of more than 25 MSF organizations, working in over 70 countries. We cooperate as an international, independent, medical humanitarian association that offers medical assistance to populations in distress, victims of natural or manmade disasters, and civilian victims of armed conflict, without discrimination and irrespective of race, religion, age, gender/sex, national or ethnic origin, color, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, or political affiliation and provides assistance to the population in distress and intervenes worldwide. MSF staff also “bear witness” by speaking out about our work and what is experienced on the ground, not only to draw the world’s attention to crises, but to stand in solidarity with our patients and colleagues who are experiencing these emergencies firsthand.

We welcome candidates who bring a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences to join us in working toward MSF’s social mission.

About the Development Department

Our dynamic Development Department is responsible for raising over $600 million annually to support the mission of the organization. The Integrated Channel Marketing team leads innovative direct response marketing programs in collaboration with the Audience teams to drive donor-centric integrated marketing efforts, including prospect, renewal, and cultivation fundraising campaigns.

The Prospect Research Unit seeks to bring about transformative change by building partnerships to deliver income, increase influence and impact, and raise the profile of MSF-USA. The department works across trusts and Foundations, major donors, corporate donors, and some institutions, and has seen remarkable growth in recent years.

About the Project

This critical role is responsible for helping to drive quality leads and improve the impact of fundraising and engagement for High Touch Audiences of MSF-USA, while also looking for new, integrated ways to build and better engage our current audiences.

With strong qualitative and quantitative skills, the Prospect Research Officer, Foundations will bring an innovative and enthusiastic approach to expanding the field of donors, with particular focus on Foundations.

The role will work collaboratively with audience managers and gift officers in the identification of Foundations to evaluate potential for philanthropic partnership and affinity toward MSF-USA.

ROLES SPECIFIC ACCOUNTABILITIES

Daily Activities & Responsibilities

• Meet regularly with Foundations officers, keeping abreast of their activities and the initiatives and programs underway, to assist with developing strategies for prospects.
• Maintains and analyzes prospective donor data and develops current and prospective donor lists and data. Work in collaboration with Market Research & Data Analysis units to mine and analyze data as needed.
• Reviews and refreshes prospect pool adding leads and prospects to relationship manager portfolios.
• Manage the Foundations Team portfolios regarding movement of qualified/disqualified leads, treatment in database, communication streams, etc.
• Proactively identifies new and high-level Foundations leads and prospects through electronic alerts, analysis, screening information, data mining techniques, push technology, demographic searches, etc.
• Stay abreast of prospect research trends and use both standard and novel prospect research techniques and tools to identify new prospects and complete donor background requests, including periodical and electronic screening and/or information provided by the prospect or his/her organization.
• Work alongside officers from other high-touch teams (Principal Gifts, Major Gifts, Corporate and Mid-level) to share information, ideas and suggestions on preferred donor-centric approach
• Demonstrable knowledge of qualitative and quantitative analysis to understand prospect potential
• Maintain all prospect research fields of data in the database.
• Proven library, research, and analytical techniques, emphasizing the ability to gather, evaluate and synthesize complex data from various sources and present information in a clear and cohesive manner
• Review local and national news and business publications, as well as other internet sources, keeping abreast of prospect information and local and regional business developments and economic trends. Send articles to staff as appropriate. Advise Development staff about new prospect possibilities as appropriate or requested.
• Assume primary responsibility for meeting the prospect identification and research needs of Foundation staff, enabling them to meet fundraising goals; provide research-based analysis to inform cultivation and solicitation strategies, pipeline and caseload development, and effective moves management
• Create reports and queries in database; assist with general analysis of data as it relates to needs of Foundations team

Other/Misc.

• Safeguard the confidentiality of donor information at all times. Must adhere to ethical and confidentiality guidelines.
• Maintain the professional and ethical standards set forth for the field by the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (APRA).
• Works with other development staff to improve the organization’s fundraising strategies.
• Rate donors and prospects in terms of capacity and inclination to give, and develop strategic recommendations (e.g., timing and type of donor ask; donor interest areas) in consultation with fundraising colleagues.
• Deliver thought leadership and strategic recommendations that supports the strategic and tactical planning of the Foundations team, consulting with audience leads regarding fundraising strategies, key challenges, and decision-making to inform research and insights work.
• Evaluate, acquire, and integrate new datasets to support prospecting and file analysis.
• Remain competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses when available.
• Monitor external environments including direct/indirect competition and key prospect research trends.

• Build strong relationships across teams within Development and across the organization.
• Collaborate effectively with other data and research professionals within MSF-USA.

Who You Are

• Knowledge of Microsoft Office is required
• Interest in Fundraising and Non-Profits
• Ability to interact professionally with multiple and diverse cross- departmental stakeholders
• Commitment to the work of MSF-USA and Our Social Mission
• Must be pro-active, self-directed, detail-oriented and organized, as well as work independently in a virtual setting. Curious and creative approach to problem solving.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Background Required

• Sharing relevant information in a clear, timely and concise manner
• Ability to adjust priorities to address changing situations and conditions
• Ability to deal calmly with pressure and deadlines and to communicate with diplomacy
• Strong interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills and comfort working in a high-energy, fast-paced and collaborative environment
• Strong track-record of developing proactive prospecting methodologies that support organizational goals including data mining, sophisticated constituent database queries, etc.
• Ability to work independently; move projects from conceptual stages to launch; and handle multiple and often competing deadlines
• Outstanding, proven time management and organizational skills
• Minimum 3- 5 year experience in prospect research in a nonprofit organization making actionable recommendations to frontline fundraisers
• A strategic fundraising mindset with a service-oriented approach
• Proven aptitude for analyzing, interpreting, and synthesizing data
• Understanding of current trends in nonprofit fundraising and prospect management
• Deep, demonstrated commitment to principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion

Background Preferred

• Knowledge of and interest in emerging concepts and practices in the fields of strategic philanthropy, corporate social responsibility, public private partnerships, and impact investing,
• Familiar with industry guidelines and standards from the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (APRA), prospect research toolkits and best practices, and ethics around prospect research.

• Familiarity with Salesforce platform a plus
• Experience leveraging data warehousing, business intelligence, ETL, and analytics tools

Expected to work in a hybrid work environment with the ability to come into either the NYC office or regional hub (Washington, DC or Bay Area, California) a minimum of 2 times a week.

We offer a generous comprehensive benefits package inclusive of Wellness initiatives to support a healthy work life balance

We do not accept phone calls or emails during the recruitment process. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted

Our staff works a hybrid schedule of two days a week in the office, three days remote. The required in-office days are Tuesdays and Wednesdays from January to June and September to December.

Summer months of July and August are fully remote. In office work attendance during July and August is optional.

Application Deadline: Open Until Filled

Your Safety Matters: Vaccination and booster against COVID-19 is a requirement at MSF - USA.

Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination

MSF-USA is committed to building a diverse, unbiased, and inclusive workforce. MSF- USA is an equal opportunity employer; we recruit, hire, train, promote, develop, and provide other conditions of employment without regard to a person’s gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, age, national origin, disability, marital status, pregnancy status, veteran status, genetic information, or any other differences consistent with applicable laws. This includes providing reasonable accommodation for disabilities, or religious beliefs and practices. Members of communities historically underrepresented in the Humanitarian Aid sector are encouraged to apply.

If you have a disability of some kind and are interested in applying for employment and need special accommodations to use our website to apply for a position, please contact Human Resources by emailing us: [email protected].

Reasonable accommodation requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.

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Type

HQ

Pay Class & Contract Type

Regular FT Salaried Exempt

Compensation

Starting salary $87,400.04 to $93,520.18 (commensurate with experience)

Working Time (Hours Per Week)

35