Manager, Prospect Research

WETA, the flagship public media station in the nation’s capital, produces and distributes content that informs, inspires, and enriches lives. As the second-largest producing station for the public media system, WETA creates programming to explore history, arts, and culture, partnering with acclaimed filmmakers such as Ken Burns and Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Locally, WETA serves audiences across Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland through television, radio, and digital platforms.

About the role

The successful Prospect Research Manager partners closely with WETA's fundraising teams (WETA Major Giving, PBS News, Foundations and Government Development, National Productions, Corporate Marketing, and Membership) to provide strategic direction on current and prospective donors with major/principal gift capacity. The Manager will support the gift officers and department leaders by taking a leadership role in WETA’s prospect research strategy and analytics. This role is a key member of the Data Strategy & Development Services team, reporting directly into the head of this team.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive research to identify individuals, corporations, and foundations with the capacity and inclination to make major gifts to the organization.
• Utilize various resources including internal and external databases, wealth screening tools, and publicly available information to gather prospect data.
• Identify and conduct baseline research on prospects for the respective fundraising teams and provide research briefs as requested by Gift Officers and Senior WETA Leadership.
• Work closely with the revenue teams to align prospect research efforts with fundraising goals and priorities.
• Provide support to fundraising staff in prospect identification and cultivation strategies.
• Assist with meetings and events preparation including providing detailed prospect profiles and briefing books to Gift Officers and Senior WETA/NHP Leadership.
• Support Gift Officers in tracking donor interactions, solicitations, and outcomes to measure portfolio progress.
• Prepare reports and updates for internal stakeholders and leadership as requested.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of prospect information in the organization's donor database.
• Provide ongoing training on ROI Revolution CRM database’s High Touch Module.
• Ensure data integrity, track prospect interactions, and generate reports to inform fundraising strategies and decision-making.
• Manage DonorSearch and Wealth Engine Data and update records accordingly.
• Serve as primary contact and relationship manager for third-party prospect research platforms.
• Stay informed about trends and best practices in prospect research, fundraising, and philanthropy.
• Attend conferences, workshops, and training sessions to enhance skills and knowledge in donor prospecting and relationship management.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 3-5 years’ relevant experience in prospect research, administrative fundraising, or non-profit capacity building.
• Experience with prospect research platforms such as Wealth Engine, RelSci, Altrata, Lexis Nexis, and DonorSearch.
• Experience with ROI Revolution CRM is a plus.
• Knowledge of fundraising database technology and ability to apply it for fundraising marketing support.

Skills

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret financial data and wealth indicators.
• Strong interpersonal and project management skills with ability to develop positive relationships quickly and work in a team atmosphere with in-person and remote colleagues.
• Ability to respond flexibly and resourcefully to workload fluctuations, demonstrating initiative and problem-solving skills.
• Detail-oriented, organized, and able to handle multiple projects at one time.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and demonstrate motivational skills, professional maturity, and maintain confidentiality of information.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office suite of products.
• Experience in Public Media or similar organizations preferred.

Location

WETA and NewsHour Productions are Washington, DC-based media and news organizations with a largely local workforce based out of the Campbell Place office in Arlington, VA. Most positions are onsite or hybrid, depending upon the role.