Research updates and Jobs

Coordinator, Prospect research

Shedd Aquarium

Summary: 
The Prospect Research Coordinator is a member of the Development Operations team. The Coordinator provides research and participates in identification strategies to seek out qualified prospects in support of institution-wide audience and donor development goals. The Coordinator enters and reviews information in the Tessitura Database, ensuring consistency with documented business practices. This position synthesizes information from multiple sources to create comprehensive briefings; prepares profiles and prospect lists; and analyzes and evaluates information in support of the prospect pipeline and fundraising goals. 
 
The Coordinator will be a steward of Shedd Aquarium’s data and research and plays an important operational role in donor and audience development strategy; the best-suited candidate will demonstrate the ability to synthesize and distill information and will be a clear and intuitive communicator. This position reports to the Manager, Prospect Development.  
 
Essential Duties & Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.   

• Demonstrate commitment to Shedd’s vision, mission and values 

• Perform proactive and reactive research in support of all fundraising areas (individual, corporate, and foundation); provide clear and effectively written briefings, including assessments of wealth and philanthropic interests, for President’s office, volunteer leadership, and fundraisers 

• Gather and prepare administrative materials to participate in external and internal meetings related to donor and prospect development strategies (portfolio reviews, prospect strategy meetings, etc), including documenting and recording decisions, next steps, and processes  

• Conduct research in support of Aquarium events, travel, and engagement efforts; lead preparation sessions for gift officers, staff, and donor liaisons prior to these initiatives and ensure post-event research and supplemental information is appropriately documented  

• Maintain organized records and copies of all research requests and outputs; work in conjunction with the Manager to prioritize and meet institutional needs for all requests 

• Understand and adhere to the organization’s prospect and portfolio management procedures in Tessitura Plans; educate staff on these procedures and clarify as needed; maintain and update Plans Training documentation on an ongoing basis  

• Ensure Gift and Engagement officers have the resources to maintain and build important relationships, including but not limited to Plans updates and process development to build and manage engagement portfolios for donors outside of active solicitation.  

• Assist in data management and prospect identification analysis (utilizing Tessitura CRM, iWave, and other tools) to identify and move prospects into and up the pipeline  

• Complete high-volume data entry and audit in Tessitura in a timely fashion from both internal and external sources 

• Maintain research resources and records, including digital and print materials; regularly assess research tools and methods 

• Provide recommendations for maintenance and improvement of processes; collaborate as needed in support of Development Operations team efforts  

• Maintain a high standard of professional ethics, adhering to institution-wide data standards and ethics policies, including but not limited to privacy, confidentiality, and dissemination of research information. 

• Other duties as assigned 

 
Qualifications 
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 
 
Education 

• BA or BS in Nonprofit Administration or related field; or Equivalent Experience.  Relevant experience will be considered in lieu of a degree. 

Experience 

• 1-2 years’ related experience 

• Experience with databases and Excel, preferably in fundraising 

• Knowledge and experience in data integrity, prospect research, research or related area of fundraising 

• Knowledge of Tessitura CRM preferred but not required 

 
Special Skills & Characteristics 

• Intellectually curious, with excitement for building new strategies and business insights 

• Detail oriented mindset resulting in high quality work and a strong, proactive follow through 

• Collaborative problem-solving approach with the ability to work individually or with a team 

• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build trust with diverse internal and external stakeholders 

• Effective writing skills and ability to convey and distill complex concepts into a clear and concise narrative 

• Effective communicator and listener 

• Ability to gather data and analyze for meaningful insights 

• Ability to analyze and document complex business processes 

• Very strong organization and time management skills with the ability to prioritize and meet frequent deadlines 

We strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ community, veterans and active duty military, parents, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from all cultural backgrounds to apply. Shedd Aquarium is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes everyone to our team. If you need a reasonable accommodation at any point in the application or interview process, please let us know. In your application, please feel free to select which pronouns you use (For example – she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/theirs).

How to Apply

Apply online - https://sheddaquarium.applicantstack.com/x/detail/a23xwy51o069

Shedd Aquarium
1200 S. DuSable Lakeshore Dr
Chicago, IL 60605