Manager, Development Prospect Research, Development

About the role: The Manager, Development Prospect Research plays a vital role in advancing Vera’s ambitious fundraising goals by managing and strengthening our prospect identification, research, and qualification strategies across institutional, major, and principal giving and strategic board development. This role supports frontline fundraisers by delivering strategic insight and timely analysis to build and advance a dynamic pipeline of funders aligned with Vera’s mission. Working closely with the Development and Executive teams, this position leads the development of tools and processes that ensure prospect data is well-curated, actionable, and integrated into the department’s broader strategy. 1. Prospect Identification and Research Lead prospect identification, qualification, and due diligence efforts for individual, foundation, and corporate donors. Conduct and synthesize research on philanthropic capacity, affinity, giving history, networks, and engagement opportunities to support fundraising strategy. Develop clear, actionable prospect profiles, briefing materials, and strategic recommendations for development leadership, executive staff, and board engagement. Proactively identify and prioritize high-potential prospects through wealth screening, database analysis, and external research tools. Provide research support for donor meetings, events, board recruitment, and other strategic engagement opportunities. 2. Strategy and Collaboration Partner with frontline fundraisers, development leadership, and program staff to align prospect strategy with fundraising and organizational priorities. Provide strategic recommendations on donor capacity, inclination, and engagement opportunities to inform cultivation and solicitation efforts. Proactively share prospect intelligence, relationship insights, and emerging funding opportunities with key stakeholders. Lead targeted prospecting initiatives to identify new donors aligned with priority programs, geographies, and fundraising goals. 3. Systems and Tools Development Develop and optimize research systems, workflows, and data management practices to improve efficiency, consistency, and data quality. Partner with Development Operations to maintain accurate prospect data, ratings, and relationship intelligence within the CRM. Evaluate and recommend research tools, subscriptions, and vendors, and train staff on prospect research methodologies and best practices. Lead relationship-mapping and network analysis initiatives while staying current on emerging trends, technologies, and practices in prospect research and philanthropy. 4. Portfolio and Pipeline Management Lead efforts to build, assess, and sustain a diverse, high-quality pipeline of prospective donors. Partner with fundraisers and leadership to develop and optimize prospect portfolios based on capacity, affinity, and readiness. Oversee prospect ratings, wealth screening, moves management, and research tracking to support portfolio growth and fundraising performance. Analyze donor and prospect trends and establish policies and practices that strengthen pipeline management, data integrity, and fundraising effectiveness. What qualifications are we looking for? Required: Bachelor’s degree and 6+ years of relevant experience. In lieu of degree requirement, applicable work or life experience may be considered. 5+ years of experience in development prospect research, donor intelligence, or related nonprofit fundraising roles. Expertise with donor research methodology and practice, including wealth indicators and data analysis. Experience with a broad range of subscription research tools. Preferred: Strong communicator, able to collaborate across teams and present findings in a concise, compelling way. Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you'll bring: Ability to synthesize large amounts of information and provide analysis. Resourcefulness in pursuing knowledge. Highly organized, detail-oriented and adept at follow-up while working effectively to meet deliverable due dates. Demonstrated initiative, resourcefulness, and problem-solving skills. Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively. Strong communication skills, both oral and written. Committed to protecting donor data and sensitive or proprietary information. <span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"