Prospect Research Analyst

Summary: The Prospect Research Analyst is a key member of the Missouri Botanical Garden's Institutional Advancement team, using advanced research and analytical methods to identify, qualify, and rank high-potential prospects, current donors, and leadership volunteers in support of the Garden's fundraising initiatives. This role is essential to enhancing the effectiveness of annual/membership, planned, major, and leadership giving programs. The analyst will gather, synthesize, and present prospect research data and profiles to inform donor strategies, develop moves management plans, and support portfolio assignment and review. Collaborating closely with division leadership, the research analyst will help drive data-driven decisions and ensure a targeted approach to prospect engagement.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Prospect Identification and Research: Conduct comprehensive research to identify and assess potential and current donors through various databases, public sources, and advanced research methodologies.
• Donor Profiles, Lists, and Strategy: Prepare written donor profiles, philanthropic capacity assessments, and qualified lists to inform cultivation, solicitation, stewardship strategies, and board identification.
• Portfolio Management Support: Partner with development staff to assign prospects to appropriate portfolios based on capacity, strategic alignment, and staff expertise. Support regular review of portfolios with Director of Major and Institutional Giving and gift officers and provide data-informed recommendations regarding next steps.
• Moves Management and Data Tracking: Maintain and update prospect data in Tessitura, the Garden's CRM, ensuring research findings, moves management steps, contact reports, and targeted communications are documented consistently. Create and monitor donor engagement scores
• Audience Segmentation Strategy: Provide data-driven insights to support the development of audience segmentation strategies for broader donor and member communications.
• Internal Collaboration and Project Management: Provide research support and exceptional service for fundraising leadership and internal partners. Actively manage research-related projects by coordinating tasks, monitoring follow-up actions, and ensuring timely completion of deliverables across multiple initiatives.
• Research Trend Awareness: Stay updated on the latest trends in donor behavior and research methods and tools to ensure that prospect research is current and effective.
• Ethical Standards and Compliance: Ensure all research is conducted ethically, maintaining confidentiality and adhering to guidelines set by the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (APRA).
• Other Duties as Assigned: Collaborate with the Fundraising Data team on assignments beyond prospect research and moves management, supporting donor engagement strategies and broader departmental needs as necessary. Occasionally assists division colleagues during onsite events such as Garden Glow, weekend festivals, and fundraisers.
• Meets expected attendance guidelines.
• Follows and adheres to established policies and procedures, including but not limited to Employee Handbook, Garden Safety Guidelines and Department Policies.
• Behave and communicate in a manner that promotes and fosters a culture of teamwork, cooperation, and respect within our division and throughout the Garden with all employees, supervisors/managers, volunteers, visitors and others.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Competencies:

• Communication - Listens to others and asks questions for clarification; Writes clearly and presents information accurately; Speaks professionally and responds well to questions; Supports positive visitor relations.
• Collaboration - Demonstrates teamwork and promotes respect in the workplace; Engages in problem solving and group initiatives; Cooperates in implementing procedures and process improvements; Strives for positive visitor experiences.
• Accountability - Demonstrates commitment to responsibilities and adaptable to changes; effectively prioritizes, troubleshoots and takes appropriate actions; Follows policies and procedures, meets deadlines, quality, and safety standards; Strives to proactively, address visitor and internal colleagues' concerns.
• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems; Includes supervisor before taking action as necessary; Recommends solutions, demonstrates creativity and resourcefulness; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment in decision making process; Includes appropriate people in making decisions.
• Stewardship - Promotes and adheres to sustainability, safety and security protocols; Fosters a culture of respect, diversity and inclusion; Demonstrates effective and prudent use of Garden resources; Maximizes contributions during work hours.

Qualifications/Experience:

• A minimum of 3 years of employment experience in Prospect Research, Fundraising, Higher Education, Library Sciences, or related field.
• Solid experience with Tessitura or similar constituent relationship management system (CRM) to track prospect and donor information and engagement.
• Experience with online information and screening services such as iWave/Kindsight, LexisNexis, Wealth Engine, Foundation Search, etc.
• Demonstrated research and analytical skills to initiate and perform complex analyses and organize information to identify philanthropic patterns, capacity, inclination, and relationships among individuals, corporations and foundations.
• Ability to read and interpret complex legal, business, and government documents for the purposes of wealth assessment (IRS Form 990, SEC filings, property assessments, etc.).
• Knowledge and understanding of fundraising processes and principals, giving vehicles, and prospect portfolio development.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and proven project management skills; skilled at navigating shifting priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment, with a strong capacity to define processes and strategies in this newly created role.
• A strong aptitude for logical thinking and intellectual curiosity. Strong problem solving, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to translate analysis into an accessible format when interacting with non-technical audiences. Proficiency in delivering information clearly to others in both oral and written forms.
• Ability to recall, recognize, and communicate interrelated information pertaining to donors and prospects.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain strict confidentiality; handle sensitive information and material in a discretionary manner. Compliance with ethical standards and guidelines set forth by the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (APRA).
• The Garden is committed to the safety and wellbeing of our employees, volunteers and guests. All staff are strongly encouraged to receive all vaccinations as recommended by your healthcare provider prior to hire date. The Garden reserves the right to require future proof of current vaccination status, based on local health department guidelines. When international travel is necessary for Garden business, staff must be able to obtain required travel clearances, driving permits, and vaccinations for all countries where travel is required.
• The requirements and duties listed are representative and not exhaustive of the knowledge, skill, and/or abilities required.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree with relevant coursework in Research Principals, Library Science, Writing, Communications, or related field required.

Language Skills:

• Ability to communicate effectively in English (verbal and written).

Mathematical Skills:

• Requires ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; calculate percentages and decimals.

Reasoning Ability:

• Requires ability to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to problem resolution.

Computer Skills:

• High-level proficiency in using Microsoft Office suite, with particular emphasis on Excel.
• Experience with Tessitura or CRM and their native portfolio management tools.
• Experience with online information, research, and screening services (iWave, LexisNexis, Foundation Search, etc.)

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

• Membership or familiarity with Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (APRA) a plus.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to utilize computer keyboard (typing) and sit for extended periods of the work day.
• May be required to perform tasks at varying heights (i.e., step stool ladders, etc.).
• Ability to move up and down stairwells (multiple MBG buildings have stairs); walk about facility frequently throughout work day; frequent standing, reaching and stooping - 25% or more of the workday may be spent standing on feet

Work Environment:

• This position will occupy assigned desk/office and have access to dual-monitor computer, telephone, fax machine and other standard office equipment.

• Comfortable occasionally working in immediate proximity to general public, in a safe and friendly manner.

• Ability to occasionally work outdoors in all weather conditions (i.e., in temperatures over 100F as well as temperatures below 0F, in rain, snow and other inclement weather conditions as needed).