Prospect Research Manager in Princes Risborough

Responsible to: Prospect Research Team Manager

Based: Hybrid - The Grange, Saunderton, Princes Risborough OR BWC, Bielby, York

Contract: Fixed term - 12 months

We're looking for a Prospect Research Manager to join our Prospect Research Team. This is an exciting opportunity to help grow our high-value fundraising by supporting our Philanthropy, Trusts & Foundations and Corporate Partnerships teams. As part of the Prospect Research Team, you'll provide the research and insight that helps colleagues identify new opportunities, build meaningful relationships and make informed fundraising decisions.

You'll play an important role in identifying new funding opportunities and providing the insight that helps colleagues build successful relationships with donors, trusts, foundations and corporate partners. Through high-quality research and analysis, you'll help fundraisers to understand who is most likely to support our work, enabling them to make informed decisions and deliver personalised stewardship.

Working closely with colleagues across the High Value teams, you'll ensure our fundraising activity is informed by evidence, delivered ethically and supported by accurate data. You'll also help us develop and grow a strong prospect pipeline that will support our fundraising ambitions for years to come.

Key Responsibilities

What you'll be doing:

• Prospect research and identification: Identify and research prospective high-value supporters, trusts, foundations and corporate partners whose interests align with Hearing Dogs' work. Use a range of research tools, databases and publicly available information to assess prospects' philanthropic interests, giving history, networks and potential capacity to give. Prioritise prospects using evidence-based recommendations, helping colleagues focus on the opportunities with the greatest potential.
• Insight and analysis: Produce clear, concise and actionable prospect profiles and briefing papers to support fundraising activity. Provide insight into supporter interests, motivations and relationships to help colleagues develop tailored cultivation and stewardship plans. Monitor trends across philanthropy, fundraising and the wider funding landscape, identifying new opportunities and sharing insight with colleagues.
• Pipeline development: Work with colleagues across Philanthropy, Trusts & Foundations and Corporate Partnerships to support the development and maintenance of a healthy pipeline. Help monitor prospect movement through the fundraising pipeline, identifying opportunities, gaps and areas for development. Maintain accurate prospect information within Microsoft Dynamics, ensuring records are up to date and accessible.
• Ethical fundraising and data management: Carry out research in line with GDPR, fundraising best practice and the Charity's policies on data protection and ethical fundraising. Handle sensitive information with discretion, maintaining the highest standards of confidentiality. Support the development of prospect research processes, due diligence and compliance procedures to ensure best practice across the team.
• Supporting Fundraising Teams: Build positive relationships with colleagues across Income Generation, sharing insight that helps maximise fundraising opportunities. Prepare briefings for meetings, events and senior volunteers, helping colleagues feel confident and well informed before engaging with supporters. Contribute to regular reporting and analysis on prospect research activity, pipeline performance and emerging opportunities to support strategic decision making.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Essential:

• Experience of prospect research, or high-value fundraising, ideally within the charity sector.
• Excellent research and analytical skills, with the ability to turn complex information into clear, practical recommendations.
• Experience using a range of research tools, databases and online resources to identify and evaluate prospective supporters.
• Strong written communication skills, with the ability to produce concise, engaging and accurate briefing documents.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Experience using CRM systems to manage prospect information and maintain accurate records.
• A good understanding of high-value fundraising and the importance of relationship-led fundraising.
• An understanding of GDPR, data protection legislation and ethical fundraising principles.

Desirable:

• Experience supporting major donor, principal gift, trusts and foundations or corporate fundraising.
• Knowledge of prospect research methodologies, including capacity, affinity and propensity assessment.
• Experience using Microsoft Dynamics 365.
• Experience carrying out due diligence and reputational risk assessments in line with ethical fundraising practices.
• Experience analysing fundraising data and identifying trends to support fundraising strategy and pipeline development.
• Confidence using Microsoft Excel, Power BI and other tools to analyse and present data.
• Experience producing reports, dashboards or performance insights for fundraising teams.

Please note: This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 due to its duties involving the protection of children and/or adults at risk. Applicants are therefore required to disclose all spent and unspent convictions, cautions, warnings, and reprimands, as well as any relevant non-conviction information. The successful candidate will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check in accordance with the Police Act 1997 (Part V).

Benefits

• Employee Assistance Programme
• Death in Service Payment
• Annual leave enhancements recognising long service
• Day off for your birthday
• Defined contribution group personal pension plan
• Enhanced sick pay
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Eye care
• Hearing tests
• Learning and Development opportunities
• Discounts on merchandise at Hearing Dog gift shops
• Pet Dog Policy