Prospect Research Associate

Position Title: Prospect Research Associate

Location: Remote USA

Salary: $58,000-$65,000

Status: Full-time, salaried, exempt

Reports to: Director of Philanthropy Operations

ABOUT US:

Since 1988, Rainforest Trust has been safeguarding imperiled tropical habitats and saving endangered species by creating and expanding protected and conserved areas. That very much includes supporting rights-based conservation measures such as affirming and securing rights to Indigenous or Traditional Territories, recognizing Conserved Areas (OECMs), and establishing traditional Protected Areas, including those with co-management of Indigenous or local communities. Working in partnership with local organizations and communities, we have protected more than 60 million acres of vital habitat across Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Pacific. Rainforest Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies upon the generous support of the public to successfully implement our important conservation action.

HOW YOU'LL CONTRIBUTE TO OUR MISSION:

• Conduct thorough research to develop high-quality, detail oriented donor profiles to inform cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Identify and preliminarily qualify new donor prospects by analyzing wealth, affinity, and engagement indicators to prioritize highest potential donors (both individual and institutional).
• Partner with fundraising and philanthropy operations to regularly deliver timely, relevant research insights that inform strategy and donor engagement.
• Develop and improve research processes, templates, and workflows to bring prospect research function up to best practice.
• Proactively surface insights and opportunities that strengthen donor engagement and pipeline development
• Achieve these objectives in line with Rainforest Trust's values.

TO SUCCEED IN THIS ROLE, WE'RE HOPING YOU'LL HAVE:

• Prior experience conducting prospect research in a nonprofit fundraising environment (major/principal gifts preferred). This includes a strong ability to translate research insights into clear, actionable donor profiles, briefings, and memos, as well as experience producing leadership-level materials and recommendations for fundraisers and prospect teams. We're also hoping you have strong proficiency with donor research tools and resources (e.g., iWave/Kindsight, RelSci, LexisNexis, Foundation Directory, etc.), experience conducting wealth screenings with medium-sized datasets (100-20,000 records at a time), and the ability to identify and translate key wealth and affinity indicators, including public/private assets, real estate, mission fit, giving history, and donor interests. Experience with relationship mapping across individuals, foundations, funder networks, and associations/collectives is also important.
• Strong analytical, strategic, and process-oriented mindset with the ability to prioritize and surface high-potential prospects for the fundraising team. This includes curiosity and initiative in identifying trends, patterns, and opportunities within donor data, the ability to connect research insights to fundraising strategy and pipeline development, and comfort working independently to build and iterate on systems. We also hope you have experience developing and/or refining SOPs, templates, or research frameworks, and the ability to create structured schedules for recurring work (e.g., updating profiles or rescreening donor segments) while proactively anticipating fundraiser needs.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills across teams, including fundraising, philanthropy operations, and leadership. This includes experience working within a CRM, preferably Salesforce, with the ability to easily navigate donor records and previous engagement/correspondence, as well as the ability to communicate research findings clearly and effectively across departments and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated commitment and enthusiasm for Rainforest Trust's mission and respect for our core values: Partner for Impact; Respect & Empower People; Act with Integrity & Transparency; Lead with Data; Invest Efficiently.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Rainforest Trust values the diversity of our planet and environment and wants our team to reflect the richness of the global population we serve. We believe that striving to maintain a demographically diverse workforce where employees are treated equitably and feel a strong sense of inclusion is not only an ethical imperative but also a key driver of innovation and excellence, enhancing our ability to fulfill our mission of conserving and protecting our natural environment.

We put this belief into action by striving to apply this lens to every aspect of employment, from how we hire and recruit, to how we determine compensation and benefits, to the training and development we offer, and the working conditions we create.

If you think you have what it takes, but don't necessarily meet every single qualification, please still get in touch. We'd love to have a chat and see if you could be a great fit!

We are an equal-opportunity employer and give all qualified applicants consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances.

WORKING CONDITIONS AND TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Rainforest Trust is a remote first organization and the incumbent will be expected to work primarily from home with an excellent internet connection, though part-time office space may be available in Washington DC. Occasional national and/or international travel may be required for organizational meetings and other events.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by a teammate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Ability to remain in a stationary position at a computer terminal for an extended period. The person in this position frequently communicates with colleagues both verbally and in writing and must be able to exchange accurate, neat and thorough information.

ANTICIPATED SALARY

The salary range for this position is $58,000-$65,000 commensurate with experience. This base compensation range represents the anticipated low and high range of wages for this position. Salaries will vary and will be based on various factors, such as the candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies, and proficiency for the role. Information on other benefits may be found on our Careers Page.