Research Associate (Philanthropy Accountability & Data)

About the Position

As a Research Associate, you’ll take ownership of projects that hold philanthropy accountable—designing and executing analyses that explore how elite giving reinforces influence, mapping funding flows across movements, and surfacing stories that fuel advocacy for equity and justice. You’ll set goals, manage timelines, and proactively communicate progress while wrestling with big questions: How do foundations’ investment portfolios align with their public commitments? Which communities are underfunded, and why? How do we turn raw data into insights that shift narratives and power in a famously hidebound sector? If you’re energized by making sense of complexity and using research to drive systemic change, this is your chance to make an impact that matters.

About NCRP

Since 1976, NCRP has been the independent watchdog for philanthropy, pushing the sector to serve the public good and prioritize communities with the least wealth and opportunity. We advocate for transparency, equity, and accountability through research, campaigns, and partnerships with social movements. Our work has helped shape sector standards, challenge harmful practices, and inspire funders to invest boldly in justice. Learn more at ncrp.org.

At the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP), we dig deep to uncover the patterns behind philanthropy’s glossy narratives—revealing who truly benefits and who’s left behind. Our research team transforms messy IRS Form 990 datasets and other sources into meaning, spotting trends others miss and challenging the status quo of wealth and power. Founded in 1976, NCRP is a nimble, mission-driven nonprofit that punches well above its weight in impact and influence. Learn more: https://www.ncrp.org/ 

Role Summary

As a Research Associate, you’ll be more than task-driven—you’ll be goal-oriented and self-directed. You’ll design and lead research initiatives that use data to challenge entrenched systems in philanthropy. This means digging into IRS Form 990 filings, foundation websites, and other sources to uncover patterns of giving and investment, then translating those findings into clear, actionable insights for advocates, funders, and the public. You’ll collaborate across teams and with external partners, ensuring research informs strategy and drives impact.

What You’ll Do

• Lead analyses of philanthropic behavior: Work with large, messy datasets (especially IRS 990s) to identify trends in grantmaking and investments, and explore how these patterns affect movements for democracy, racial justice, immigrant rights, climate, and more.
• Spot trends others miss: Use programming tools and creative problem‑solving to surface insights that challenge conventional wisdom—whether it’s mapping networks of influence or highlighting gaps in funding for marginalized communities.
• Turn data into stories: Develop memos, visualizations, and briefs that power advocacy campaigns and sector conversations.
• Collaborate across teams and partners: Proactively engage with NCRP colleagues and external allies to ensure research informs strategy, communications, and movement priorities.
• Maintain rigor and ethics: Document your methods, communicate limitations, and uphold NCRP’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

Required Qualifications

• 2–3 years of experience in research or data analysis in the public or nonprofit sector, or an advanced degree in a relevant field.
• Proven ability to manage projects independently, set goals, and deliver results on time.
• Comfort working with unstructured datasets and curiosity about what they reveal.
• Skills in data wrangling and analysis (Python, Excel, or similar).
• Demonstrated capacity for effectively visualizing data.
• A demonstrated commitment to NCRP’s values.
• Strong writing and synthesis ability—turning numbers into narratives that matter.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with IRS Form 990 data or other administrative datasets.
• Experience with network analysis, text mining, or survey design.
• Experience working for social justice (e.g., democracy, racial equity, immigrant rights, climate, abortion access, LGBTQ+ inclusion, etc.).
• Comfort presenting findings to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Experience with and understanding of the philanthropic sector.

What Success Looks Like

• 90 days: You’ve taken ownership of a research project, scoped goals with your supervisor, and delivered initial findings or visualizations that make messy data legible.
• 6 months: You’ve led a major research product to publication—designing methodology, analyzing trends, drafting insights, and collaborating with communications to share findings widely.
• 12 months: You’re independently producing analyses, spotting patterns others miss, and co‑authoring pieces that advance NCRP’s accountability agenda across movements.

Benefits: NCRP works a 4-day week; NCRP pays 100% of each employee’s health insurance premium and 75% for dependents; NCRP contributes 8% of each employee’s salary to their 403(b) with no matching requirement; all NCRP employees are entitled to 4 weeks of paid vacation each year in addition to paid wellness and 16 weeks of family leave.

NCRP is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages people of color, people with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ identified candidates to apply. NCRP will provide, excepting any undue hardship, reasonable accommodation, on request, for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. Some travel, as well as work on weekends and evenings, to attend conferences and meet with philanthropic and movement groups is required for this position.

NCRP works a 4-day week; NCRP pays 100% of each employee’s health insurance premium and 75% for dependents; NCRP contributes 8% of each employee’s salary to their 403(b) with no matching requirement; all NCRP employees are entitled to 4 weeks of paid vacation each year in addition to paid wellness and 16 weeks of family leave.