Senior Research Analyst, Development

World Wildlife Fund, Inc.•Washington, DC

2d•$98,500 - $123,100•Hybrid

About The Position

World Wildlife Fund (WWF), a global conservation organization, seeks a Senior Research Analyst for Development. The position leads strategic, proactive prospect development research to expand and strengthen WWF Development’s pool of principal, major, annual giving, planned giving, corporate, and foundation prospects. It serves as a research partner and strategic advisor to frontline fundraisers, translating complex biographical, philanthropic, financial, and reputational information into accurate, actionable intelligence for donor strategy, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and risk-aware decision-making. The role also maintains current information on priority prospects and donors and helps strengthen Development Research standards, tools, training, and data quality. The analyst conducts research using public, subscription, internal, and vendor sources; prepares profiles, briefings, due diligence summaries, relationship maps, and other reports; and supports fundraisers and organizational leaders with research on high-priority prospects and initiatives. The position maintains prospect and donor information in WWF systems, contributes to training and quality control, and collaborates with Development, the Executive Office, Board and National Council Relations, Legal, vendors, and peer organizations. It may guide or coordinate work by temporary staff, interns, consultants, or junior research colleagues as needed. The position is eligible for a hybrid schedule of two days per week in the Washington, DC office or 100% remote. WWF employs remote staff in the United States except in Hawaii, Kentucky, Nevada, and Oklahoma. Relocation is not provided. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States; employment visa sponsorship is not available.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience; alternatively, a master’s degree with five years of relevant experience.
At least six years of relevant experience in prospect development, fundraising research, due diligence, intelligence, library/information science, development operations, or related research; alternatively, a master’s degree and five years of relevant experience.
Advanced knowledge of prospect research methods, including relationship mapping, peer screening, wealth and capacity analysis, philanthropic and affinity analysis, and in-depth news and legal review.
Experience with prospect development and research tools such as LexisNexis/Nexis Diligence, Relationship Science, Candid, iWave, Wealth-X/Altrata, SEC/EDGAR, IRS/Form 990 resources, court and public-record databases, business databases, news platforms, CRM systems, or comparable resources.
Knowledge of fundraising strategy, major and principal gifts, institutional giving, prospect management, moves management, portfolio development, and donor strategy development.
Ability to assess source quality, reconcile conflicting information, document findings clearly, and avoid unsupported conclusions when handling sensitive information.
Strong written, verbal, analytical, organizational, and project-management skills, including the ability to manage priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing needs.
Strong attention to detail and ability to produce accurate, complete, well-edited written materials for leadership, fundraisers, and other internal audiences.
Ability to teach and explain prospect research concepts, tools, protocols, and standards through presentations, documentation, mentoring, and coaching.
Ability to work collaboratively and confidentially with staff at multiple levels and across functions.
Commitment to building and strengthening a culture of inclusion within and across teams.
Alignment with WWF’s core values of Courage, Integrity, Respect, and Collaboration.
Legally authorized to work in the United States; employment visa sponsorship is not available.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of conservation, environmental, climate, biodiversity, or related philanthropic issues.

Responsibilities

Conduct proactive research to identify, qualify, and prioritize individual, corporate, and foundation fundraising prospects, including relationship mapping and special initiative research.
Collect, evaluate, analyze, organize, synthesize, and share information from public, subscription, internal, and vendor sources to inform donor strategy.
Connect information about individuals’ personal, family, corporate, foundation, donor-advised fund, board, and other institutional giving relationships to inform prospect strategy and engagement opportunities.
Prepare accurate, complete, source-grounded research products, including donor and prospect profiles, executive briefings, event research, due diligence summaries, relationship maps, capacity and affinity assessments, and other reports.
Provide deep research support and strategic advice to principal, major gift, corporate, and foundation fundraisers for priority prospects, donor meetings, fundraising initiatives, and leadership engagement.
Monitor news, market trends, philanthropic activity, business developments, nonprofit filings, legal and regulatory records, and other public information relevant to priority donors and prospects.
Maintain accurate prospect and donor records in WWF systems, including CRM and affiliated document storage platforms, with research notes, ratings, source documentation, and relationship intelligence.
Assist with training, mentoring, documentation, and quality control for research products, protocols, database use, due diligence standards, vendor resources, and workflows.
Maintain internal relationships with Development, the Executive Office, Board and National Council Relations, Legal, and other WWF colleagues.
Maintain productive external relationships with vendors, data providers, and peer organizations.
Guide or coordinate project work by temporary staff, interns, consultants, or junior research colleagues as needed.
Perform other duties as assigned.