The Aspen Institute

The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization committed to realizing a free, just, and equitable society. Since its founding in 1949, the Institute has been driving change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the most critical challenges facing communities in the United States and around the world. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Institute has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, and an international network of partners.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

To achieve our mission of a more free, just, and equitable society, we commit to working proactively to advance the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion across our myriad endeavors such as the recruitment, compensation, training, and advancement of staff. The best people-serving institutions make this commitment, and we seek to be a leader in the ways that we do so and learn from others. Visit our website to learn more about our commitment and recent actions taken toward building and nurturing a diverse and inclusive environment.

Division Description:

The Institute’s Office of Institutional Advancement (OIA) is a central division focused on Institute-wide donor and prospect engagement. Areas of practice include principal and major gift fundraising, corporate and foundation relations, annual giving and membership programming through the Institute’s Society of Fellows, planned giving, trustee engagement, major events, stewardship, research, gift accounting, and Advancement Communications.

Position Overview

The Manager, Research & Relationship Management leads the Office of Institutional Advancement’s relationship management system, building a best-in-class service, while proactively identifying and seeking creative solutions to intricate issues. The incumbent works in close partnership with gift officers and other stakeholders to lead the creation of a formal practice for prospect development and relationship management at the Aspen Institute. The Manager, Research & Relationship Management ensures the highest quality information for all clients by providing quality assurance; guiding data analysis strategies; and aiding and supporting staff in their day-to-day work. This includes proactively identifying prospects, developing relationship-based prospect research, strategic planning, and reporting, and creating, implementing, and managing policies and procedures related to prospect management and research.

Duties:

• Perform research on prospective and existing donors which captures and analyzes wealth, capacity, and donor interest areas.
• Synthesize research into reports to inform donor meetings or other donor engagement.
• Identify new major gift prospects. Suggest strategies for obtaining new prospects to ensure the ongoing expansion and renewal of the prospect pool.
• Develops local and national prospect lists and generates profiles in support of various campaigns, projects, events, and meetings.
• Train Advancement staff on various functions within Salesforce, iWave, and other prospect research tools (for ex: WealthX, RelSci, Foundation Center Directory).
• Prepare materials and attend meetings with fundraisers to review prospects and portfolio composition.

• Organize information around relationship management successes and opportunities, philanthropic patterns, data trends, etc.
• Conceptualize and guide or develop documentation and communication of policies, protocols, and business practices around prospect research and relationship management.

Education, Experience and Knowledge

• Bachelor’s degree and seven years of related experience in research and relationship management; 5 years of required experience working in and analyzing prospect research/management information systems; Salesforce and iWave experience are a must.
• Proven research and analytical techniques, emphasizing the ability to gather, evaluate and synthesize complex and large sets of data from various sources and present information in a clear and cohesive manner.
• Experience with audience segmentation, donor modeling, and analysis. Knowledge of and experience with Predictive Modeling a plus.
• Experience with prospect development and moves management best practices.
• Experience navigating large, complex organizations, and collaborating across teams to achieve shared goals.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Prior experience with a focus on building and maintaining cohesive, positive team environment; comfort and aptitude in delegating appropriate work and providing feedback to staff. Experience in visionary leadership (constantly drives own learning and motivates team to do the same).
• Passion for the mission of the Aspen Institute and desire to support the advancement of its work.

To apply:

Please submit a resume, cover letter, and writing sample. The writing sample should ideally show evidence of the candidate's competency with research and/or data analysis.

The Institute has implemented a mandatory COVID vaccination policy for all employees who will work at one of our physical locations, attend any of our in-person events or travel on behalf of the Institute. Staff unable to be vaccinated may request an exemption under certain circumstances.

The Aspen Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all District and federal laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or protected veteran or disabled status and will not be discriminated against.