Grants and Prospecting Specialist

Join the Adventure at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum!

Are you ready to embark on a wild journey with a team that's as passionate about the desert's wonders as you are? The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is seeking a motivated, driven, and collaborative individual to join our Philanthropy team as an Grants and Prospects Specialist.

Application review will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Please understand that if offered a position, you will be required to provide a satisfactory 3-year Drivers History Record, successfully complete a criminal background check, and pass a pre-employment drug screen as a final condition of employment.

Job Title: Grants and Prospects Specialist

Department: Philanthropy

Reports To: Director of Philanthropy

FLSA Status: Exempt

Compensation:  Anticipated Starting Salary $48,025 - $50,850 per year, plus a comprehensive benefit package, which includes medical, dental, vision, life and LTD insurance, FSA, HRA, 403(b) retirement plan, paid holidays, personal business, sick leave, and vacation.

Summary

The Grants and Prospects Specialist works under the direction of the Director of Philanthropy and is a key member of the Philanthropy and Development Team who plays an important role in the Desert Museum achieving its annual funding objectives. Key responsibilities include: grant administration including research, planning, writing, editing of proposals and reports; prospect research including identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and communicating with donors, business, and foundation funders; entering data about, tracking, and reporting on donors and donations, supporting Philanthropy Department activities and events; and meeting and exceeding annual revenue goals.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Grant Writing & Prospect Research

• Lead the development of grant proposals, budgets, and other application materials, compile information for, write, and edit grant inquiries and proposals, and review applications to ensure they are complete and meet all submission requirements consistent with each funders’ priorities, preferences, and guidelines.
• Identify opportunities for new funding and collaborations, create relationships, and steward.
• Conduct prospect research to identify propensity to give, and potential funding opportunities from governmental organizations, businesses, private foundations, and individuals; identify, research, screen, track and rate these prospective donors.
• Review grant budgets and reporting to ensure they meet all guidelines regarding use of funds, coordinate with other departments and colleagues to track the progress on funded projects, and work with the Finance department for compliance on expenditures and reporting requirements,
• Monitor progress towards annual goals, perform tracking, and reconcile information with Finance.
• Acquire and maintain a sound understanding of the Desert Museum’s history and programs; use that familiarity to better understand funding needed to accomplish projects and activities.
• Develop and manage a grants calendar, including deadlines and restrictions; ensure all submission and reporting deadlines are met; maintain accurate records of all grant activities.
• Schedule keeping in contact with grant-making entities, representatives, and contacts, providing additional supportive materials when requested.
• Provide expert prospect research analytics and satisfy the information needs of the philanthropy team by providing proactive research, preparing briefings, profiles, and prospect reports, verifying research data, and analyzing data on constituents of interest to the Museum.
• Export, sort, and maintain Excel tracking lists, enter repetitive data into software, perform online and social media research and information extraction.
• Review local and national periodicals, news, business publications, lifestyle media, social media, economic trends, and business development to keep abreast of prospect information; create lists, and provide relevant information to development staff.
• Develop and maintain internal guidelines for prospect research activities, consult on the feasibility of research strategy and special projects, maintain a user-friendly, standardized prospect reporting system.
• “Mine” wealth screenings, high-income zip code regions, c-suite titles, board connections, school attendance, etc. to identify potential donors
• Track and research funder questions, resolve complaints, and provide other information to funders in person, on the phone, by email, and in writing.
• Share the responsibility of coordinating article production and editing the Desert Museum's donor and member newsletters; provide development input for other institutional materials (including annual report, website, collateral, etc.) as directed.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of all information, with particular emphasis on donor and donation information.

Database Maintenance and Reports

• Work in Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge donor database system. Maintain accurate and current donor tracking and acknowledgement systems (including data entry of donor information and gifts; documentation of all identification, qualification, screening, cultivation, solicitation, actions, and stewardship activities; generation of donor acknowledgement letters; and articulation of gift impact and benefits to funders), ensure timely data entry and acknowledgement of gifts, and develop analytical and tracking reports needed by Philanthropy and other end-users.
• Work in WealthEngine or similar prospect screening software, and any other research software.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This job may supervise interns and volunteers.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

• Associates degree or equivalent, preferably in business, philanthropy, or communications.
• Previous experience in nonprofit fundraising, prospect research, and grant writing.
• Preferred: 2 years of relevant grant and contract management experience to include previous successful grant awards and knowledge of post-award grant management process.

Language Skills

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, professional email communications, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, donors, members, and the general public.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as fair market value, tax deductible amounts, discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to professionally deal with high-stress situations and deadlines. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Computer Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual should be proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook); donor management software (Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT is a plus); Internet-based donor research (WealthEngine or similar software experience preferred), e-communications, and Audio/Video meeting capabilities.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong verbal and written communications skills; ability to write and edit clear, structured, articulate, and persuasive proposals.
• Attention to detail and accuracy of all information.
• Strong organizational skills, including meeting deadlines, prioritizing tasks, and managing multiple priorities at once.
• Knowledge of fundraising techniques and strategies.
• Familiarity with prospect research techniques; ability to compile, review, and interpret multiple sources of information/data and draw sound conclusions.
• Willingness and availability to work a flexible schedule to meet deadlines, including nights and weekends when necessary, as well as work remotely.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to use hands to handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk and sit. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This is a hybrid position, with a large portion of this position being remote and/or online, along with in-office work days and occasional special events at the Museum. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet when in-office, and can be moderate when assisting special events.

The above description reflects a general overview of the responsibilities, reporting relationships, and position requirements for this job classification. It is not intended to be a complete description of all duties and requirements that may be inherent in the position.

IDEA Commitment
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is committed to fostering a welcoming space and a diverse, inclusive team that reflects the communities in which we live and work. We understand that inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) are integral to the fulfillment of our mission, and to our success as an organization. To that end, we are working to build the structures, policies, hiring practices and organizational culture that ensure representation and opportunity for all, and create an environment of belonging where everyone feels respected, safe, and understood. Additionally, as we continue to engage in this work, we are working to integrate the core values of IDEA into our programs, exhibits, communications, and other public offerings. Valuing each other’s differences brings us together to create a thriving workplace and fair work culture, allowing us to fulfill our mission more effectively.

We believe inclusion is everyone’s responsibility. Ways in which commitment is demonstrated include continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively addressing bias. Visit the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum’s IDEA page to learn more.

The Museum’s IDEA Coalition consists of staff members who are driving our efforts to build a culture where people feel they belong and have a voice.

ABOUT US
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a non-profit institution dedicated to the conservation and research of the Sonoran Desert region with the goal of making the Sonoran Desert accessible, understandable and valued. We are a fusion experience zoo, botanical garden, aquarium, art gallery, natural history museum, and research institute. The Association of Zoos & Aquariums has recognized the Desert Museum for over 25 years of continuous accreditation.

The mission of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is to inspire people to live in harmony with the natural world by fostering love, appreciation, and understanding of the Sonoran Desert.