Prospect Research Manager

Feb 11

Central Park Conservancy
New York, NY

Anticipated Start Date: March 2026

Description

Prospect and donor research is the foundation of strategic philanthropy, providing the insight and recommendations to the fundraisers that allows them to make strategic, data driven and timely decisions; progressing prospects through the donor’s journey in line with organizational priorities. This role will help empower fundraisers and leadership to make effective, donor-centric decision making.

The primary responsibility of the Prospect Research Manager is to support the operations, infrastructure, and analytics of Central Park Conservancy’s Office of Philanthropy. Some key duties of this role will include: updating and maintaining constituent information, creating and implementing donor and prospect list segmentation strategies, and researching and analyzing individual, corporate, foundation prospects and donors. Additional responsibilities include maintaining research and other key information in our constituent database.

While this individual will report to the Director of Prospect Research, they will also work closely with the Director of Development Information Systems as well as across the Office of Philanthropy to maintain integrity and accuracy of the constituent database and provide critical support for the fundraising initiatives of Central Park Conservancy.

Responsibilities

Essential Duties

Write confidential research profiles on donors for meetings and tactical planning Identify opportunity within the existing donor base by monitoring incoming gifts, conducting timely capacity checks, and running regular gift reports
Prepare research on event attendees and facilitate pre-event strategy sessions for fundraisers under the supervision of the Associate Director, Prospect Management
Monitor news sources and share notable developments of leadership donors and prospects with fundraisers regularly
Conduct comprehensive research on prospects while utilizing public and subscription-based research tools (iWave, Candid/Foundation Directory, SEC and FEC filings, LexisNexis, RelPro, Property Shark, etc.)
Provide background research on donors and prospects to inform the organization’s due diligence and risk-assessment processes
Maintain integrity of prospect records and document research findings in donor database (Raiser’s Edge and RE NXT)
Support the Associate Director, Prospect Management with regular portfolio review process and management of fundraiser portfolios
Coordinate and manage special projects (e.g. electronic screening by vendors, annual scoring projects, etc) and conduct proactive research projects in partnership with the Associate Director, Prospect Management.

Requirements

Position Requirements

3 – 5 years of experience in nonprofit management, research, public relations, or information sciences
Prior prospect research experience or related assessments of wealth
Knowledge of fundraising databases (Raiser’s Edge preferred) as well as research and wealth screening tools
Strong writing, communication, and analytic skills
Familiarity with New York City’s fundraising landscape and prominent philanthropists
Demonstrated ability to work independently while managing multiple strict deadlines
Ability to work with a high degree of flexibility, accuracy, and attention to detail
Sound judgement and discretion in handling sensitive and confidential information
Demonstrated ability to own a research process from start to finish
Collaborative nature and interest in working with members of a complex fundraising team to meet shared objectives

Salary Range and Employee Benefits

$74K - $95,800

How to Apply for this Job

Apply Now

About the Organization

Central Park is one of the most famous and beloved urban public spaces in the world. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in 1857, the 843-acre park was the first purpose-built public park in the country and is a National Historic Landmark. The Central Park Conservancy, a private not-for-profit organization, was founded in 1980 to rescue the Park, which had fallen into serious disrepair.

Since that time, the Conservancy has overseen the investment of approximately $1 billion in the restoration of the Park, which welcomes over 40 million visitors a year. The Conservancy’s mission is to preserve and celebrate Central Park as a sanctuary from the pace and pressures of city life, enhancing the enjoyment and wellbeing of all. The City of New York has formally entrusted the care of the Park to the Conservancy, which is responsible for every aspect of the Park’s care, including landscape maintenance, capital improvements, and the visitor experience.

Committed to sharing best practices in urban park management and public-private partnerships, the Conservancy also serves as a resource for other NYC parks and park partnerships around the world. The Conservancy employs roughly 325 people and has an operating budget of $80 million.

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