Development Research Manager (Job ID: 2026-3816)

Overview

Join one of the most influential, most quoted, and most trusted think tanks!

The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, D.C. Our mission is to equip decision-makers with nonpartisan research and policy strategies to create a more prosperous and secure country and world.

To advance our mission, we are committed to the following four goals:

• Develop economic growth strategies for a changing world
• Expand economic and social opportunity for all
• Revitalize U.S. democratic institutions
• Advance peace and security worldwide

At the core of our mission is the quality, independence, and impact of our research. We are dedicated to finding bold, pragmatic solutions for societal challenges through open-minded inquiry, diverse perspectives, and holding ourselves to the highest standards of scholastic rigor.

Beyond the pursuit of excellence and intellectual rigor, Brookings places immense value on creating a supportive and collaborative environment where every individual can do their best work, learn, and grow. Because of this, Brookings has been at the forefront of public policy for more than a century.

The Office of Development manages fundraising across the institution. Focused on a constituency-based fundraising model, our team works directly with the research programs and executive office to set an overarching fundraising strategy that supports the important work of our scholars.

In Brookings Development, we aim to: 

• Build and nurture relationships with donors and prospects to raise critical financial resources in support of the institution’s fiscal health and to advance the mission of Brookings.  
• Safeguard Brookings’s institutional values of Quality, Independence, and Impact. 
• Amplify the impact of our scholars’ research and steward our donors’ generosity with compelling and innovative programming for our donor groups.
• Support our Board of Trustees in carrying out its fiduciary responsibilities to protect and sustain the institution. 
• Partner closely with our colleagues across Brookings by providing best-in-class fundraising and fundraising operations to benefit all research programs. 
• In everything we do, strive for excellence, act with integrity, communicate with honesty, show respect and collegiality, be proactive, collaborative, creative, and solutions-oriented.

Position Location: This position is hybrid. Hybrid positions combine regular in-person presence at our Washington, DC office with the option of at least two days of remote work each week.

Please Note: This position is included in the staff bargaining unit, Brookings United, affiliated with the IFPTE Local 70 union, and is covered under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement.

Responsibilities

Ready to contribute to Brookings’ success?

The Development Research Manager conducts, manages, and coordinates philanthropic research for the Institution. The Manager responds to research requests from the Office of the President, the Vice President and Chief Development Officer (CDO), and other development staff. They support the fundraising efforts of the Institution by identifying and evaluating donor and prospect philanthropic interests and capacity with a focus on individual donors. The Manager works closely with other development researchers and the frontline fundraisers in Development by recommending new prospects for qualification and cultivation to build the giving pipeline. The Manager oversees a portfolio of fundraisers, projects, programs, and funding initiatives that require research services. They also compile current biographical and financial information and news on donors and prospects for visit/call briefings and event lookbooks for senior leadership.

The Manager will also proactively identify potential prospects within the guidelines of federal, state, and local laws and institutional policies and procedures. Reports to the Director of Development Research.

Prospect Identification and Research (70%)

• Writes prospect profiles, due diligence summaries, leadership briefings, and other research products, creates prospect lists, determines philanthropic capacity, pathways, networks, and interests, working closely with fundraisers. 
• Oversees the research components of the event lookbook process, coordinating closely with other key development staff as needed.
• Compiles and analyzes biographical, wealth, and philanthropic information from all available resources to identify new prospects for Brookings donor groups, special projects, or core needs support in their portfolio.
• Ensures that all suspects, prospects, and donors are researched and assigned capacity ratings using best practice methods and those ratings are updated regularly. 
• Ensures that prospect research activities meet the needs of their portfolio of fundraisers in support of their revenue goals. 
• Other research projects as needed.
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Data Management and Strategy (30%)

• Works with the development research team on the assignment and tracking of suspects and prospects for their portfolio.
• Tracks suspects and prospects as they are moved through the pipeline from qualification to cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. 
• Participates in portfolio reviews with frontline fundraisers.

Qualifications

Ready to make an impact? In this role, you will support Brookings values of collegiality, respect, inclusion, diversity and community, and bring the following qualifications:

Education/Experience Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; a minimum of three years of experience researching prospects in a development setting.  Experience in a related institution and/or familiarity with public policy organizations is highly desirable.

Knowledge/Skill Requirements  

Research proficiency, including solid knowledge of research and media resources.  Strong analytical and evaluative skills with attention to detail.  Ability to extract information from a database and organize, analyze, and present it in Microsoft Excel or other formats for optimal utility.  Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and submit work products accurately and quickly.  Capacity to exercise independent initiative and judgment.  Excellent oral and written communication skills.  Self-starter with a demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team.  Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information appropriately. 

Additional Information

What can we offer you? Brookings provides a generous benefit package that is comprehensive and includes both traditional benefits and unique offerings. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision benefits, generous time off, and workplace flexibility. For more information, please visit Brookings Benefits.   

Brookings requires that all applicants submit a cover letter and resume. Please attach your cover letter and resume as one document when you apply. Please note: If you have applied to more than one Brookings job opening, you should add a position-specific cover letter as a separate attachment.

Successful completion of a background investigation is required for employment at Brookings.

Brookings welcomes and celebrates diversity in all its forms.  We welcome applications that reflect a variety of backgrounds based on ideology, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, first generation college goers, and other factors protected by law. Brookings is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Please Note: Must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.