Development Research Manager (Job ID: 2026-3816) at The Brookings Institution – Washington, District of Columbia
About This Position
Equal-Opportunity Employer: It is Brookings policy to provide equal employment opportunity for all of its employees and applicants without regard to their actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, personal appearance, citizenship status, family responsibilities, gender identity or expression, genetic information, matriculation, political affiliation, veteran status, or any other prohibited basis of discrimination as required by law.
Development Research Manager (Job ID: 2026-3816)
US-DC-Washington
Job ID: 2026-3816
Type: Regular, Full-Time
# of Openings: 1
Category: Development
1. Resident Employee (Hybrid)
Overview
Join one of the most influential, most quoted and most trusted think tanks!
The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, DC. Our mission is to conduct in-depth research that leads to new ideas for solving problems facing society at the local, national and global level.
We bring together leading experts in government and academia from all over the world, rooted in open-minded inquiry and representing diverse points of view, who provide the highest quality research, policy recommendations, and analysis. Research topics cover a full range of public policy issues in economics, foreign policy, development, governance and metropolitan policy.
With fair and transparent business practices, clear communication, mutual respect, and a collaborative atmosphere that offers both professional and personal development opportunities, Brookings offers an inclusive and welcoming workplace that values the efforts of all contributors.
The Office of Development manages fundraising across the institution. Focused on a constituency based fundraising model, our team works directly with the research programs and executive office to set an overarching fundraising strategy that supports the important work of our scholars.
In Brookings Development, we aim to:
- Build and nurture relationships with donors and prospects to raise critical financial resources in support of the institution’s fiscal health and to advance the mission of Brookings.
- Safeguard Brookings’s institutional values of Quality, Independence, and Impact.
- Amplify the impact of our scholars’ research and steward our donors’ generosity with compelling and innovative programming for our donor groups.
- Support our Board of Trustees in carrying out its fiduciary responsibilities to protect and sustain the institution.
- Partner closely with our colleagues across Brookings by providing best-in-class fundraising and fundraising operations to benefit all research programs.
- In everything we do, strive for excellence, act with integrity, communicate with honesty, show respect and collegiality, be proactive, collaborative, creative, and solutions-oriented.
Position Location: This position is hybrid. Hybrid positions combine regular in-person presence at our Washington, DC office with the option of at least two days of remote work each week.
Please Note: This position is included in the staff bargaining unit, Brookings United, affiliated with the IFPTE Local 70 union, and is covered under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement.
Responsibilities
Ready to contribute to Brookings’ success?
The Development Research Manager conducts, manages, and coordinates philanthropic research for the Institution. The Manager responds to research requests from the Office of the President, the Vice President and Chief Development Officer (CDO), and other development staff. They support the fundraising efforts of the Institution by identifying and evaluating donor and prospect philanthropic interests and capacity with a focus on corporate donors. The Manager works closely with other development researchers and the frontline fundraisers in Development by recommending new prospects for qualification and cultivation to build the giving pipeline. The Manager oversees a portfolio of fundraisers, projects, programs, and funding initiatives that require research services. They also compile current biographical and financial information and news on donors and prospects for visit/call briefings and event lookbooks for senior leadership. The Manager will also proactively identify potential prospects within the guidelines of federal, state, and local laws and institutional policies and procedures. Reports to the Director of Development Research.
Prospect Identification and Research (70%)
Writes prospect profiles,due diligence summaries, leadership briefings, and other research products, createsprospect lists, determinesphilanthropiccapacity, pathways,networks,and interests,working closely withfundraisers.
Oversees theresearch components of the event lookbook process, coordinatingcloselywith other keydevelopment staff as needed.
Compiles and analyzes biographical, wealth, and philanthropic information from all available resources to identify new prospects forBrookingsdonor groups, special projects, or core needs supportin their portfolio.
Ensures that all suspects, prospects,and donors are researched and assigned capacity ratingsusing best practice methodsand those ratings are updated regularly.
Ensures that prospect research activities meet the needs oftheir portfolio of fundraisersin support oftheir revenuegoals.
Other research projects as needed.
Data Management and Strategy (30%)
Works with thedevelopment research team onthe assignment and tracking ofsuspects andprospects fortheir portfolio.
Trackssuspects and prospectsas they aremoved through the pipeline from qualification to cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
Participates in portfolio reviews with frontline fundraisers.
Qualifications
Ready to make an impact? In this role, you will support Brookings values of collegiality, respect, inclusion, diversity and community, and bring the following qualifications:
Education/Experience Requirements
Bachelor’s degree required;a minimum oftwoyears ofexperience researching prospects in a development setting.Experience in a related institution and/or familiarity with public policy organizationsis highly desirable.
Knowledge/Skill Requirements
Research proficiency, including solid knowledge ofresearch andmediaresources. Strong analytical and evaluative skillswith attention to detail. Ability to extract information from a databaseandorganize,analyze, and present it inMicrosoftExcelor other formats for optimal utility. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment andsubmit work productsaccurately andquickly.Capacity to exercise independent initiative and judgment. Excellent oral and written communication skills.Self-starter with a demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team.Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information appropriately.
Additional Information
What can we offer you? Brookings provides a generous benefit package that is comprehensive and includes both traditional benefits and unique offerings. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision benefits, generous time off, and workplace flexibility. For more information, please visit Brookings Benefits.
Brookings requires that all applicants submit a cover letter and resume. Please attach your cover letter and resume as one document when you apply. Please note: If you have applied to more than one Brookings job opening, you should add a position-specific cover letter as a separate attachment.
Successful completion of a background investigation is required for employment at Brookings.
Brookings welcomes and celebrates diversity in all its forms. We welcome applications that reflect a variety of backgrounds based on ideology, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, first generation college goers, and other factors protected by law. Brookings is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace.
Please Note: Must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.