Advancement Research Manager

At Feed the Children, we recognize the value of outstanding people, and we are looking for compassionate changemakers to join our team. We pride ourselves on cultivating a collaborative workplace where employees experience productive and rewarding employment and feel engaged in our mission to end childhood hunger. Our passionate team shares a deep sense of purpose, and we dream big to solve complex problems and create positive impact in communities around the world.

Feed the Children is recognized by Candid with its Platinum Seal of Transparency and is accredited by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance. The organization has received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and is consistently recognized on the Forbes Top 100 Charities list.

We are currently in search of an Advancement Research Manager to join our Development team! The Advancement Research Manager plays a key role in advancing major and planned giving by integrating prospect intelligence, portfolio strategy, and high-touch donor stewardship. This position is responsible for leading prospect identification and qualification efforts, providing research-driven insights that strengthen frontline fundraising, and ensuring gift officers are equipped with accurate, actionable information to support donor engagement. In addition, the role oversees the processing and stewardship of complex and high-value gifts, including donor-advised funds (DAFs), IRA qualified charitable distributions, and other non-cash contributions, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and exceptional donor care. Serving as a strategic partner to development leadership and gift officers, the Advancement Research Manager strengthens pipeline development, enhances data integrity within the CRM, and supports a seamless, personalized donor experience throughout the giving lifecycle.

Job Requirements:

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required.

Experience

Required

• 3+ years in prospect research, development operations, or major gifts support
• Experience handling or supporting complex gifts (DAFs, IRAs/QCDs, securities, etc.)
• Strong analytical and research skills

Preferred

• Experience with wealth screening and prospect research tools (e.g., iWave, Kindsight, WealthEngine)
• Knowledge of IRS guidelines related to charitable giving vehicles
• Experience collaborating with finance, legal, or gift processing teams
• Background in stewardship strategy and donor experience design

Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams and SharePoint required.

Any combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of this job may be considered.

Essential Functions:

Prospect Research & Pipeline Strategy

• Manage and lead prospect identification and qualification strategy for Advancement team
• Oversee portfolio analysis and pipeline management
• Lead staff for research consultants, or vendors, if applicable
• Identify, research, and qualify prospective major gift donors using internal and external data sources
• Produce concise, actionable prospect profiles, wealth assessments, and briefing materials
• Support portfolio development through prospect identification, segmentation, and prioritization
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date prospect records within the CRM
• Assign and remove qualified prospects to gift officers in the CRM
• Recommend assignments for Midlevel and Planned Giving teams

Stewardship & Complex Gift Management

• Lead and coordinate stewardship activities for major donors, with a focus on high-capacity and complex gift donors
• Partner with vendors to track gifts made through donor-advised funds (DAFs), IRA qualified charitable distributions (QCDs), stock transfers, and other non-cash vehicles
• Ensure proper acknowledgment, documentation, and compliance for complex gifts in collaboration with finance and legal teams
• Serve as an internal resource on best practices for handling and stewarding complex gifts

Major Gift & Frontline Fundraiser Support

• Prepare high-quality donor briefings, including giving history, affiliations, and strategic recommendations
• Support gift officers in moves management by tracking donor engagement and next steps
• Identify opportunities for donor upgrades, renewals, and re-engagement, especially among complex gift donors
• Assist in the preparation of proposals, impact reports, and customized stewardship materials

Data Entry, Management & Reporting

• Track and report on complex gift activity (DAFs, IRAs, securities, etc.) and stewardship outcomes
• Support both Planned Giving and major giving data entry
• Maintain data integrity across CRM system, ensuring accurate coding and tracking of gift types
• Develop reports and dashboards to support decision-making and portfolio performance
• Provide dashboard with number of qualified major gift prospects added to portfolios, increase in prospects rated and assign, growth in the major gift pipeline value.
• Analyze trends in giving vehicles and donor behavior to inform fundraising strategy

Establish an environment of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning, a commitment to quality, welcomes and encourages collaboration, and fosters both intra and inter-departmental dialogue and respect.

Model the type and level of behavior, professionalism and leadership that is in accordance with the values of the organization.

Perform other related duties as required.

About Feed the Children:

As a leading anti-hunger organization, Feed the Children is committed to ending childhood hunger. For children everywhere, we believe that having enough to eat is a fundamental right.

Feed the Children is a global movement focused on ending childhood hunger in the U.S. and around the world. Working alongside communities, we provide food, essentials, and opportunities to children and families who need them most so every child can survive and thrive.

We are committed to helping families experiencing hunger and hardship so children have what they need to stay healthy, learn, and grow. By uniting people and inspiring action, we work to create a world where no child goes to bed hungry. Compassion has no borders. We believe that every child deserves a chance to thrive.

Our Values:

We are driven by a shared sense of PURPOSE. At Feed the Children, our commitment to the mission is at the heart of what we do and fuels our collective impact in the communities where we serve.

We cannot achieve our bold vision without our talented PEOPLE. We are passionate about fostering a best-in-class workforce that is engaged, respected, and empowered to deliver results.

We believe in CURIOSITY and continued learning. Success requires a culture of discovery, curiosity and continued learning to expand our knowledge, seek new perspectives and challenge the status quo.

We know COLLABORATION is the only way to end childhood hunger. We cannot succeed alone. It will take all of us - our employees, donors, partners, volunteers - working together to accomplish our ambitious goals.

We DREAM big. When we work together, we collectively reimagine what is possible. We dream big to solve complex problems and create deep impact in communities around the world.

We VALUE every donor. We respect our donors' intentions and promote responsible stewardship of the resources they entrust to us.

Join Feed the Children and help create a world where no child goes to bed hungry.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Feed the Children is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for positions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, political affiliation, pregnancy, military and/or veterans' status, genetic characteristics, marital status or any other considerations made unlawful by applicable state, federal, or local law. Feed the Children welcomes and encourages applications from persons with physical and mental disabilities and will make every effort to reasonably accommodate the needs of those persons. Additionally, Feed the Children strives to provide an environment free from sexual exploitation and abuse and harassment in all places where relief and development programs are implemented. Feed the Children expects its employees to maintain high ethical standards, protect organizational integrity and reputation, and ensure that Feed the Children work is carried out in honest and fair methods, in alignment with the Feed the Children safeguarding and associated policies.