Prospect Research Coordinator at the Central Park Conservancy

Job Title: Prospect Research Coordinator 

Job Status: Full-time

Location: New York, NY

Salary: $65,000 to $81,000

About Central Park Conservancy
Central Park is one of the world’s most famous and beloved public spaces. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in 1858, the 843-acre Park was the country’s first purpose-built public park and is a National Historic Landmark and a New York Scenic 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 then, the Conservancy has overseen the investment of over $1.5 billion in the restoration of the Park, which now hosts over 40 million visitors a year.

The Conservancy is one of the largest and most successful public private partnerships in New York City and is considered a major civic institution given its impact on the health and vibrancy of both the Park and the City.  The Conservancy’s mission is to preserve and celebrate Central Park as a sanctuary from urban life. The City of New York has formally entrusted the care of the Park to the Conservancy which is responsible for every aspect of its care, including landscape maintenance, capital improvements, and the visitor experience. The Conservancy employs roughly 400 people and has an annual operating budget of $100 million. 

Job Summary
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. Under the supervision of the Associate Director, Prospect Management, the primary responsibility of the Prospect Research Coordinator is to manage the day-to-day functions of a growing prospect pipeline. The Prospect Research Coordinator will support fundraisers and leadership in qualifying, cultivating, and soliciting donors as they keep up with growing department goals and plan for the longevity of Central Park Conservancy. This position will work closely with other members of the philanthropy operations team to maintain the integrity and accuracy of the constituent database and provide critical support for the fundraising initiatives of Central Park Conservancy.

Key responsibilities of this role will include identifying new prospects or existing donors with increased capacity, researching individual, corporate, and foundation prospects in advance of upcoming meetings or events, monitoring public information for developments on current major donors, and updating and maintaining prospect information in the philanthropy database.

Summary of Essential Job Functions:

  • Monitor incoming gifts for existing donors with further capacity for mid-level and leadership giving and recommend cultivation strategies
  • Write confidential research profiles on donors for meetings and tactical planning
  • Prepare research on event attendees and support Associate Director, Prospect Management in leading pre and post-event strategy sessions for fundraisers
  • Identify individual philanthropists as well as corporate and foundation donors capable of significant financial support with interest in Central Park
  • 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, 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 Associate Director, Prospect Management with regular portfolio review process and management of fundraiser portfolios
  • Produce key reports to monitor fundraiser performance metrics and assess effectiveness of prospect research and management processes
  • Coordinate special projects (e.g. electronic screening by vendors, annual scoring projects, etc) and conduct pro-active research projects with the mentorship of Associate Director, Prospect Management

Position Requirements:

  • 2 – 5 years of experience in nonprofit management, research, public relations, or information sciences
  • Prior prospect research experience or related assessments of wealth preferred
  • 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
  • Collaborative spirit and interest in working with members of a complex fundraising team to meet shared objectives
  • 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

Salary range: $65K to $81K (based on experience)

Please submit a cover letter and resume with your application.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION:
The Central Park Conservancy’s work is guided by the belief that Central Park, and all public parks, must be managed and actively protected as an inclusive and democratic space for all.

Working closely with our New York City partners, we will always strive towards creating and sustaining a sense of belonging for all visitors and advocating for equitable and accessible public use of the Park.

In service of this belief, we are committed to fostering a workforce and organizational culture that is as diverse as Central Park itself and the dynamic city it serves.

Safety Requirements:
Establishment and maintenance of a safe work environment is the shared responsibility of this organization and employees at every level. The Conservancy will make every effort to assure a safe environment and follow federal, state, and local safety regulations. Employees are expected to obey safety rules and to exercise caution in all their work activities. Accordingly, employees should be aware of any hazards which could cause an injury or accident (e.g., spills, obstacles in walkways, etc.). If an employee discovers a potentially dangerous condition, he/she/they should alert other employees and notify his/her/their supervisor immediately.

Disclaimer:
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

To Apply:

Apply via NYFA