ABOUT US

The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization whose purpose is to ignite human potential to build understanding and create new possibilities for a better world. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve society’s greatest challenges. It is headquartered in Washington, DC, and has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, as well as an international network of partners.

OFFICE OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

The Institute’s Office of Institutional Advancement (OIA) is a central division focused on Institute-wide donor and prospect engagement. Areas of practice include principal and major gift fundraising, corporate and foundation relations, annual giving and membership programming through the Institute’s Aspen Society, planned giving, trustee engagement, major events, stewardship, research, gift accounting, and advancement communications.

ABOUT THIS ROLE

The Research Advisor will play a critical role in supporting the Aspen Institute’s efforts during its busiest season in the summer. This position focuses on providing information on individuals, corporations, and foundations to identify prospects for increased engagement with the Institute. The Research Advisor will work approximately 30 hours a week.

Working across a fast-paced calendar of more than 30 summer events, the Research Advisor will gather, synthesize, and deliver timely, actionable insights on attendees and prospects to inform engagement strategies and strengthen relationship-building efforts.

The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, highly organized, and skilled at distilling complex information into clear, strategic summaries. This position requires strong research, writing, and analytical skills, along with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and collaborate effectively with other members of OIA Operations team and frontline fundraisers.

The Research Advisor will report to the Senior Manager, Partnerships and Operations and be a part of the OIA Operations team. This is a termed position running 14 weeks in the summer, with the possibility to transition to full-time pending performance and manager approval. The proposed rate for this position is $60 -$75/hour.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Perform research, conduct financial analysis, and prepare briefs and profiles on individuals, corporations, foundations, and other organizations to support Aspen Institute fundraisers, including OIA and the Office of the President.
• Research, assign philanthropic capacity ratings, and write short biographies on attendees at OIA events in collaboration with other members of the Prospect Research team.
• Update and maintain donor and prospect profiles and database records, including biographical, financial, and philanthropic information.
• Identify new donor prospects for the Institute as a whole, as well as specific initiatives, through proactive and reactive prospecting.
• At all times, uphold the utmost integrity and sensitivity while working with donor’s information and interacting with Institute staff.

WHAT YOU NEED TO THRIVE

• Undergraduate (Bachelor’s) degree and 10+ years of relevant work experience required.
• Strong research and analytical skills.
• Extremely detailed and process oriented, with the capacity to see the bigger picture and make connections among projects and people.
• Ability to synthesize large quantities of data into a user-friendly and concise format.
• Proficiency working with databases, prospect research tools, and internet-based research.
• Understanding of fundraising best practices and procedures. Familiarity with current trends in philanthropy.
• Experience with keeping a positive attitude while in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Capacity to learn quickly and adapt to new teams well.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Discretion when dealing with confidential and personal information.
• Commitment to producing work of exceptional quality and dedication to superior customer service with an emphasis on relationship building.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Aspen Institute offers a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, and prescription benefits, retirement benefits, and paid leave.

The Aspen Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all District and federal laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or protected veteran or disabled status and will not be discriminated against.

The Aspen Institute welcomes individuals with disabilities to participate in its programs, including the interview process. If you would like to request accommodations or hav questions about accessibility, please email hrsupport@aspeninstitute.org or call 202-736-2127 in advance of your visit. Requests for ASL or CART services should be made at least two weeks in advance when possible. We will make every effort to fulfill requests, subject to availability.