Application deadline: May 25, 2025

The associate grants researcher & advisor provides background on prospects and equips the development team—grant advisors, regional representatives, and the mid-level team—to respond to actionable research. This position uses both internal and external data to identify and verify potential prospects for HOPE, creates robust profiles with recommended action plans, and regularly screens HOPE’s database of contacts. A successful researcher & advisor will collaborate with the development team and senior leadership, providing to focus on the most promising prospects—those with an affinity to HOPE, a propensity to give, and a high estimated capacity.

• Location: Lancaster, PA, United States

• Level: Professional

• Salary range: $21/hour - $23/hour

• Type: Full-time

• Department: Development

• Reports to: Director of Grants & Major Gifts

Responsibilities

• Promote and contribute to the fulfillment of HOPE International’s mission and vision.
• Provide research & recommendations on top prospects
• Prepare weekly batch screening reports of all new contacts and first-time givers, proactively highlighting names of interest.
• Create prospect research profiles for potential and identified major donor prospects.
• Partner with advancement leadership to work on strategic planning special projects—such as identifying lead gift prospects during a comprehensive campaign.
• At all times, uphold the ethical and confidentiality guidelines of HOPE, the Donor Bill of Rights, and the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (APRA).
• Manage prospect research processes & tools
• Use industry best practices and methodologies to maintain accurate and up-to-date records of prospect information, interactions, and research findings in the donor database. Regularly update prospect profiles to ensure accurate tracking and strategic planning.
• Design and pilot new research tools and techniques as they arise, such as in the areas of international fundraising.
• Partner with giving product owners—HOPE Global Investments, church engagement, Homes for HOPE, planned giving, and international giving—to identify prospects.
• Through professional development, keep up-to-date with effective prospect research and prospect management techniques as well as trends in the prospect research profession and the advancement/fundraising field.

Qualifications

• Personal confession of Christian faith and commitment to the mission and vision of HOPE International.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field
• Strong research, fact-checking, database, and critical analysis skills, with attention to both minute details and big-picture strategy
• Proven ability to synthesize data, interpret information, and communicate to colleagues in a simple and approachable way
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to manage projects with minimal oversight, and strong organizational skills, including effective time management and prioritization of multiple competing demands—of which most are independently managed
• Knowledge of donor types and cycles of engagement, or a desire to learn the process
• Preferred: 1-3 years’ experience in fundraising prospect research
• Preferred: Experience with CRM and prospect software like iWave and CodeFi
• Preferred: Demonstrated knowledge of and passion for poverty alleviation through Christ-centered financial services