Prospect Research and Philanthropic Systems Manager

Description:

Reports to: Director of Annual Giving and Development Operations

Compensation: $60,000 - 65,000 annually, depending on qualifications

Benefits: Benefits Eligible

Position Summary

The Prospect Research and Philanthropic Systems Manager reports to the Director of Annual Giving and Development Operations. This position will research, evaluate, rate, and maintain a qualified pool of major, planned and high-level individual annual fund prospects to assist in meeting department fundraising goals. In addition, this role supports the work of all relationship managers in analyzing the donor pipeline, developing dashboards, and managing processes for tracking donor moves and relationship manager/volunteer fundraiser performance metrics. The Prospect Research and Philanthropic Systems Manager will oversee integration of external data and research into Tessitura (the CRM database) to then evaluate and assist in portfolio creation and optimization. Executes donor research for donor strategy documents.

The Prospect Research and Philanthropic Systems Manager also provides administrative support to the Development team as directed by the Director of Annual Giving and Development Operations. This includes partnering with the Development Operations Manager to oversee the complexities of campaign gift administration and various related reports and analytics, as well as scheduling and taking committee meeting minutes. This person also coordinates numerous major donor meetings and events in collaboration with the Stewardship Events Associate.

This position is a part of a highly collaborative Development Team; there will be times of high-volume team activity when this role will be called upon to flex in support of other activities, such as supporting Opening Night Celebrations and gift entry at fiscal and calendar year end. All employees are expected to center, model and champion the Guthrie’s core values of Artistic Excellence; Community; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility; and Fiscal Responsibility.

The schedule for this role will be Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. but must also have flexibility to accommodate occasional evening and weekend work for special events and productions, based on the dynamic schedule of a theater. This position is eligible for hybrid work.

The Guthrie is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building an equitable environment that finds strength in diversity of identity, experience and perspective. We are dedicated to hiring and developing talented teams which are inclusive and welcoming to individuals with different backgrounds, thoughts, and abilities. Applicants from populations underrepresented in the theater field are strongly encouraged to apply.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

1. Prospect Research & Management (40%)

• Identify prospective major donors through data mining, demographic searches, and patron referrals; analyze giving patterns, wealth screening data, and engagement history.
• Lead the discovery program to qualify major gift prospects and maintain a robust pipeline for both annual and campaign giving.
• Review and track constituent information from electronic and paper sources; enter and maintain key data in Tessitura.
• Oversee the prospect assignment process, ensuring alignment with Relationship Managers and conducting regular portfolio reviews.
• Manage the creation and tracking of proposals in Tessitura.
• Partner with fundraisers to develop and support individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Monitor donor contact reports and integrate findings into moves management strategy.
• Evaluate and recommend research tools and databases to support prospect identification and analysis.
• Actively participate in prospect management meetings to optimize the moves management process.

2. Campaign & Major Gift Operations (30%)

• Support all phases of campaign execution, including communications development, marketing material production, and timeline management.
• In collaboration with the Director of Annual Giving and Development Operations, implement volunteer fundraiser assignments and follow-up processes.
• Provide administrative and logistical support for campaign committee meetings, including materials prep and meeting facilitation.
• In collaboration with the Director of Annual Giving and Development Operations, provide follow up materials to major donors, including personalized correspondence, recognition collateral, and event support.
• Create and manage pledge documentation and ensure database accuracy.
• Partner with Development Operations to ensure reliable campaign reporting and analytics.
• Track and analyze major gift and individual giving data to assess performance.
• Collaborate with the Stewardship Events team on the planning and execution of campaign-related events.

3. Data Analytics (20%)

• Develop and maintain dashboards and reports that highlight donor trends, campaign progress, and overall fundraising performance.
• Collaborate across teams to ensure clean, consistent, and actionable data that informs strategic decisions.
• Identify and analyze key fundraising KPIs, offering insights and recommendations to improve performance.
• Maintain expertise in Tessitura and other tools used for data analysis and donor management.
• Stay informed on industry trends in data analytics and their application to fundraising and prospect research.

4. Administration (10%)

• Serve as a Tessitura superuser for the Development team, ensuring accessible and accurate reports for staff and volunteers.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of research and volunteer processes through professional development.
• Provide support during peak fundraising periods (e.g., fiscal and calendar year-end), including gift entry and acknowledgement.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support the Development department’s overall success.

Requirements:

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working in a non-profit, development or administrative support position.
• Experience conducting prospect identification and research to support development goals.
• Prior experience working on or supporting a fundraising campaign preferred.
• Experience using a CRM database required; Tessitura experience preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office® products, specifically Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Knowledge of basic accounting principles required to enter and balance gifts accurately and ensure accurate reporting.
• Experience developing and maintaining filing systems to manage the volume of information needed to be organized.
• Skill in writing, proof-reading, and editing.
• Strong desire to contribute towards the success of the performing arts.
• Skilled in thinking creatively to anticipate and solve problems.
• Demonstrated experience in taking initiative.
• Excellent interpersonal and analytical skills to remain calm and diplomatic under pressure and be flexible to handle last minute changes.
• Experience communicating with diverse groups to make them feel welcome at the Guthrie Theater regardless of their level of experience in the field.
• Must be willing to work Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and have flexibility to accommodate occasional evening and weekend work for special events and productions, based on the dynamic schedule of a theater.
• Experience with and commitment to working with individuals and teams that exemplify diversity of identity, experience, and perspective, including but not limited to race, color, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, family and/or marital status, creed, religion, ancestry, disability, national origin, sexual orientation or sexual identity, veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, body size/type, status with regard to public assistance or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law.

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

The Guthrie relies on the talents of many artists and staff, both on and off the stage, to create powerful works of theater at the Guthrie. We are dedicated to building an equitable environment that is mixed across lines of difference. Acknowledging that there are many identities that are underrepresented in the theater overall, the Guthrie strongly encourages candidates who bring diversity of identity, experience and thought to apply. We also acknowledge that candidates can have unique and non-linear and transferable skills. We encourage you to apply even if you do not meet every single qualification but have transferrable skills and passion for our mission and vision.

WHY SHOULD I APPLY?

Be a part of a leading non-profit organization that is committed to serving not only the local Twin Cities community but the industry as a whole. The Guthrie offers top-notch employee benefits and staff perks which includes:

• Competitive Benefits: Health, Dental, Vision, Health Savings Accounts (HSA), Employer contributions to HSA, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Dependent Care FSA, Group Life Insurance, Voluntary Life Insurance, Long Term Disability, Short Term Disability, Employee Assistance Program, 403(b) Retirement Plan (with employer match up to 4.5% after one year of service)
• Transportation: Subsidized passes for Metro Transit buses and trains, discounted pre-tax monthly ramp parking
• Paid Time Off: Generous Paid Time Off (PTO), Volunteer Time Off (VTO)
• Complimentary Tickets: To Guthrie productions
• Discounted Tickets: To all shows produced by the Guthrie and to some performances hosted by the Guthrie
• Classes and Camps: Discounts to Guthrie classes and camps
• Other Perks and Resources: Guthrie Store discount; Employee Affinity Groups

ABOUT THE GUTHRIE

The Guthrie Theater engages exceptional theater artists in the exploration of both classic and contemporary plays connecting the community we serve to one another and to the world. Through its extraordinary artists, staff and facility, the Guthrie is committed to the people of Minnesota, and from its place, rooted deeply in the Twin Cities, influences the field as a leading 21st century arts organization. Every year more than 500 people, both on stage and off, help ensure our success in creating and supporting the highest level of theater. As an organization, we are committed to our values of Artistic Excellence, Community, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and Fiscal Responsibility. The Guthrie Theater is located in the historic Mill District along the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As the largest city in the state, Minneapolis offers a large variety of parks, lakes, great food, festivals, malls and more.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The Guthrie Theater would like to acknowledge that we gather on the traditional land of the Dakota People and honor with gratitude the land itself and the people who have stewarded it throughout the generations, including the Ojibwe and other Indigenous nations.

Applicants must submit a resume and cover letter to be considered for the position.