Donor Database and Prospect Research Senior Manager

The Organization

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History (GLI) is the nation’s leading American history organization dedicated to K–12 education. The Institute’s mission is to promote the knowledge and understanding of American history through educational programs and resources. Since its founding in 1994, GLI has created powerful and meaningful ways to teach and learn history. Focusing on primary sources, the Institute offers teacher seminars, online courses, exhibitions, digital materials, and print publications that enable students of all ages and backgrounds to study the nation’s past.

The Institute brings the work of today’s leading historians into classrooms and homes worldwide. Through public events, publications, posters, videos, exhibitions, essays, and a dedicated website rich in primary sources, GLI brings every period of American history to life. Diverse education programs, including the acclaimed Hamilton Education Program, provide opportunities to explore five centuries of American history. The Gilder Lehrman Affiliate School network comprises more than 14 million students and 97,000 educators from more than 36,000 schools worldwide.

The Role

Are you passionate about leveraging data and insights to drive positive change? Do you enjoy uncovering new donor prospects with the potential to fuel a cause that you truly care about?

We are currently seeking a Donor Database and Prospect Research Senior Manager, reporting to the Associate Director of Development, to support fundraising activity by leading the optimization and execution of database management and reporting, data analysis, and prospect research. The Manager will be an integral member of GLI’s Development team, with influence on overall fundraising strategy and room for growth in the future. This role is responsible for leveraging data analysis to drive revenue expansion, conducting individual and institutional prospect and donor research to direct moves management, and managing the database to amplify engagement strategies. The ideal candidate will be a skilled, detail-oriented database manager and prospect researcher with a strong background in fundraising.

The newly created position of Donor Database and Prospect Research Senior Manager will be joining GLI at a dynamic time as we continue to enhance our nonpartisan K–12 and public programming in response to the urgent needs of the moment. We are looking for a “development operations wiz” who can establish new fundraising systems and processes in our Salesforce database to help lead our team to achieve the next level of revenue growth and deepen donor engagement in our cause. This position will benefit from working closely with GLI’s technology team, which oversees organizational uses of Salesforce beyond its fundraising functions.

This role will be based in New York City and currently requires working in person at least one day per week in GLI’s midtown office.

Position Overview

The Donor Database and Prospect Research Senior Manager will lead all data analysis and reporting, database management, and prospect research for the Development team.

Specific responsibilities will include

Data Analysis and Reporting to Drive Revenue Growth (40%)

• Leverage data within Salesforce to recommend prospect and donor engagement strategies and to guide the moves management pipeline for both the President and the Development Team.
• Partner with senior Development staff to develop a comprehensive reporting dashboard in Salesforce and a plan around data extraction to track revenue, goals, and metrics and identify trends, patterns, and opportunities for growth and improved donor stewardship.
• Analyze and strengthen current Salesforce processes for projecting annual revenue targets, including methodologies for setting, managing, and tracking opportunity targets for low-dollar and major donors and lapsed, active, and prospective donors.
• Generate regular and ad hoc reports for the Development and C-Suite teams, including metrics on donor retention and acquisition and progress toward annual revenue targets.
• Segment donor lists for targeted digital communications, appeals, and stewardship efforts to tap into donor behavior patterns and increase donor engagement and contributions.

Individual and Institutional Prospect and Donor Research to Direct Moves Management (30%)

• Lead research and identification for individual prospects and donors using data sources like Salesforce and WealthEngine to inform pipeline priorities for the Development team.
• Lead research and identification for institutional prospects and donors using data sources like Candid’s Foundation Directory to inform pipeline priorities for the Development team.
• Prepare detailed prospect and donor research briefings and present recommended cultivation priorities and engagement strategies in key decision-making meetings.

Database Management and Maintenance to Optimize Fundraising Performance (30%)

• Manage and maintain prospect and donor records in the Salesforce CRM, ensuring accurate data entry and upkeep.
• Oversee gift processing and production of acknowledgment letters, supported by data entry from staff and/or interns; lead weekly and quarterly income reconciliation with the Finance Department.
• Work with the Development team’s Events Coordinator to create and implement effective systems for managing event invitation, attendance, and follow-up data.
• Conduct regular audits to maintain data integrity, including cleansing, de-duplicating, and updating contact information.
• Train current and onboard future staff members on database tools and processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Commitment to GLI’s mission and enthusiasm for leveraging data and research to amplify our impact
• Progressive experience in a nonprofit or mission-driven organization with a focus on donor data management and engagement
• Expertise in Salesforce CRM specifically as used to support fundraising (Nonprofit Success Package or similar package preferred)
• Outstanding project, time management, and problem-solving skills with a strong attention to detail and demonstrated ability to drive projects forward independently
• Strong analytical skills with experience in data management, reporting, and trend analysis
• Team oriented with a desire to participate in creating a strong team culture
• Strong skills in written and verbal communication and in Excel
• Understanding of fundraising principles and practices