Propsect Researcher

Status: Full time, Term (4-6 years)

Location: Hybrid, Vancouver, BC

Schedule: 35 hours per week

Salary Range: $65,626 – $94,337, with a midpoint of $82,032.

The Organization:

Coast Mental Health Foundation (the Foundation) raises funds to support innovative and enhanced recovery programs at Coast Mental Health.

Coast Mental Health (Coast) is one of the largest mental health non-profit societies in Canada and operates a large array of innovative housing and community-based rehabilitation services for people with mental illness. Coast operates in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia providing approximately 1,100 people with supportive housing and thousands of clients living in the community with a wide range of mental health and support programs and services.

Coast fosters a client-driven, recovery-oriented environment that promotes restoring health, personal growth, and a return to society for individuals with a mental illness, through advocacy and providing direct programs and services.

The Foundation team is a group of dedicated individuals who believe that recovery and achieving one's potential, despite a mental illness diagnosis, are possible. The Foundation and Coast are currently considering embarking on a significant project aimed at increasing the organizations' ability to impact the lives of people living with mental illness.

Summary of Responsibilities

The Prospect Researcher supports Coast Mental Health Foundation's annual fundraising and East 11th capital campaign priorities by conducting prospect research and providing information to support fundraising activities. The position researches and identifies potential individual, foundation, corporate and community prospects who may have an interest in supporting the Foundation's mission.

Working collaboratively with fundraising staff, the Executive Director and volunteer leadership, the Prospect Researcher gathers, reviews and organizes information on prospective and existing donors and translates research findings into clear and useful prospect profiles, briefing notes and recommendations. The role supports fundraising activities across Mid-Level, Major, Leadership and Principal Giving, as well as campaigns, corporate and foundation relations, and grant-seeking activities.

The Prospect Researcher also supports prospect and portfolio management by maintaining accurate and up-to-date information in Raiser's Edge and related systems, assisting with pipeline tracking and monitoring relevant philanthropic and community trends. The position provides timely research and information to help fundraising staff identify opportunities, prepare for donor conversations and support ongoing donor engagement.

Reporting

• Reports to the Manager, Fund Development Operations, Coast Mental Health Foundation.

Key Responsibilities

Prospect Management

• Support ongoing prospect research and development activities to help build and maintain a strong prospect base for the Foundation's annual fundraising and campaign priorities.
• Conduct research to identify potential individual, corporate, foundation and community prospects.
• Assist with maintaining accurate and up-to-date prospect and relationship information in Raiser's Edge and related systems.
• Support the maintenance of prospect pipelines, account assignments and portfolio information.
• Assist fundraising staff with prospect tracking, portfolio updates and related reporting.

Prospect Identification and Research

• Research and identify new and existing individual, foundation, corporate and community prospects aligned with Foundation and campaign priorities.
• Conduct research using internal records and reputable external sources, including biographical, philanthropic, corporate, financial, legal and publicly available information.
• Gather and organize information about prospects' philanthropic interests, relationships, areas of giving and potential capacity.
• Monitor relevant business, financial, philanthropic and community developments and share information that may be useful to the fundraising team.
• Assist with research projects such as campaign prospecting, event attendee research, peer screening, sponsorship research, genealogy, and Board or committee nominee biographies.

Prospect Analysis and Research Support

• Prepare clear and concise prospect profiles, briefing notes, research summaries and other materials to support fundraising activities.
• Review and summarize financial, corporate, foundation and philanthropic information to assist with understanding prospect capacity and interests.
• Support the fundraising team by providing relevant research and background information for donor cultivation, solicitation and stewardship activities.
• Respond to research requests in a timely manner and prioritize assignments based on fundraising and campaign needs.
• Maintain and update prospect lists, including prospects with potential for Mid-Level, Major, Leadership and Principal Giving.

Prospect Management and Pipeline Support

• Support the ongoing development and maintenance of the Foundation's prospect pipeline.
• Participate in weekly moves management and pipeline meetings by providing relevant research, updates and follow-up information.
• Assist with prospect review activities and provide research and information to support the movement of prospects through qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.
• Assist with pipeline tracking, prospect clearance, relationship assignment and portfolio updates.
• Identify new information, potential opportunities or changes in prospect circumstances and bring relevant findings to the attention of fundraising staff.
• Support prospect identification and research activities involving staff, Board members, campaign volunteers and other Foundation stakeholders.
• Assist with the development and maintenance of prospect research tools, templates and resources.

Data Integrity, Privacy and Knowledge Management

• Maintain accurate, complete and current prospect research, ratings, relationships and other relevant information in Raiser's Edge and related systems.
• Assist with maintaining consistent documentation, coding, tracking and reporting practices for prospect information.
• Ensure confidential and sensitive information is handled with discretion and in accordance with privacy legislation, ethical research practices and Foundation policies.
• Assist with reviewing and updating prospect research templates, processes and documentation to support consistent and efficient research practices.

Organizational Contribution

• Build positive and collaborative working relationships with fundraising staff, leadership and volunteers.
• Provide research and administrative support for Foundation and campaign projects as priorities evolve.
• Stay current with relevant fundraising, philanthropic and prospect research trends and share useful information with the team.
• Participate in team meetings, projects and initiatives that support the Foundation's fundraising objectives.
• Perform other related duties consistent with the scope and level of the position.

Education and Experience

• A diploma or bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in prospect research, fundraising, advancement, research, data analysis, business intelligence, or a related field.
• Experience conducting research using a variety of reliable internal and external sources.
• Ability to organize, analyze, and summarize information clearly and accurately.
• Basic understanding of fundraising, donor engagement, prospect development, or stewardship practices; experience in a fundraising environment is an asset.
• Experience with Raiser's Edge or another donor database is an asset.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to maintaining accurate and confidential information.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple requests and meet deadlines.
• Experience in a non-profit, health care, mental health, social services, or community-based organization is an asset.

Skills and Knowledge

• Exceptional research, critical-thinking and analytical skills, with the ability to identify philanthropic patterns, connections and opportunities among individuals, corporations and foundations.
• Demonstrated ability to assess and interpret complex financial, corporate, legal and philanthropic information for wealth and affinity analysis.
• Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to produce concise, accurate and audience-appropriate profiles, briefings and recommendations.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines and adapt to changing needs.
• Sound judgement, initiative, curiosity and discretion, with a strong commitment to confidentiality, accuracy and ethical research practices.
• Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively, build trust with colleagues and senior volunteers, and contribute effectively in a team environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365, including Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams and SharePoint, and the ability to learn and apply new research tools, platforms and technologies.
• Professional and/or lived expertise and a demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, belonging and Reconciliation.
• A strong commitment to Coast Mental Health Foundation's mission and to advancing mental health, addictions and housing solutions.

Compensation & Benefits

This is a full-time term role for a period of up to 4-6 years.

The successful person can expect a competitive yearly base salary between $65,626 – $94,337, with a midpoint of $82,032. depending on skill and experience.

Upon hire as a full-time term role, most new employees will be placed at a starting salary between the minimum and midpoint of the stated salary range. In some circumstances, candidates may be eligible for compensation beyond the midpoint. Factors influencing salary decisions include qualifications and years of experience in similar roles. We offer a hybrid work arrangement, with the flexibility to work remotely depending on operational requirements. The candidate must be able to commute to our head office in Vancouver for donor meetings and other in-person meetings and events as required. Flexible working hours can also be offered, depending on operational requirements.

Benefits for the full-time term role include:

• 100% employer-paid benefits for employees and their families.
• Vision Care, Dental Care, Prescription Drugs, Naturopath, Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Group Life, Massage therapy, Physiotherapy, and Unlimited Out-of-Province and Out-of-Country Emergencies.
• General sick-leave accruals.
• Employee and Family Assistance Program, which includes personal counselling, Life Coaching, Financial Coaching, Legal Referral and Advisory Services, and Health Coaching. In addition, Coast provides a cognitive behavioural therapy program through Telus Health and other psychological health and wellbeing supports.

We welcome applications from Indigenous persons, visible minority group members, persons with disabilities, people of all sexual orientations, genders and gender identities, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and others with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities.

NOTE: Successful completion of a Criminal Records Check will be required.

Coast Mental Health thanks all applicants, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.