Manager of Prospect Development and Research

United States

Full Time

Manager/Supervisor

The Manager of Prospect Development and Research will serve as a strategic partner in shaping and executing the Whitney’s Advancement Operations prospect development and research program. Reporting to the Director of Advancement Operations, the Manager will ensure that fundraising portfolios, pipeline tracking, and prospect research are aligned with institutional priorities. This role combines insightful analysis, systems thinking, and collaboration across teams to support data-informed fundraising strategy.

Primary Responsibilities:

Advance the Whitney’s prospect development program by partnering across Advancement to implement clear policies, procedures, portfolio frameworks, and data standards including systems for prospect identification, qualification, and portfolio assignment.
Proactively identify, qualify, and prioritize new prospects across donor constituencies to expand and strengthen the prospect pool.
Support the Director of Advancement Operations in leading portfolio and pipeline review meetings, providing actionable analysis to guide fundraiser activity and align portfolios with goals.
Develop and maintain systems for tracking proposals, moves management, and portfolio performance, ensuring data accuracy and visibility across teams.
In partnership with Business Systems, oversee strategy and implementation of wealth screening and analytics projects, ensuring insights are integrated into CRM system and inform portfolio and campaign strategies ensuring data accuracy, visibility, and the consistent tracking of key performance metrics.
Produce prospect briefings and capacity analyses that support donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
Conduct board and committee candidate research and share relevant prospect intelligence with Advancement leadership.
Stay current on best practices, emerging tools, and trends in prospect research and data management, with a particular focus on the use of AI to enhance prospecting, analysis, and strategic decision-making.

Requirements:

Bachelor’s Degree required
3-5 years’ experience in prospect development, research and/or advancement operations; experience in museums or cultural institutions a plus.
Strong analytical and research skills with the ability to synthesize biographical, financial, and philanthropic information.
Experience with fundraising CRMs (Raiser’s Edge preferred)
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, meet deadlines and work collaboratively across multiple teams.
Proven discretion in handling sensitive and confidential information.
Self-starter with intellectual curiosity and a proactive, solutions-oriented approach.

Compensation & Benefits:

Salary range of $75,000 - $83,000 per annum
Medical, Dental, Vision, 403(B) elections
Generous PTO benefits
Commuter benefits - parking and mass transit
Admission to world-renowned museums across the city and nationally
Pet insurance and discounted membership for Citibike
This position may be covered by UAW Local 2110

If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates. Whether you’re new to arts and culture administration, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or take the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar. Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interest in the arts and culture space and what you hope to bring to this role.

About the Whitney:
The Whitney Museum of American Art, founded in 1930 by the artist and philanthropist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, houses the foremost collection of American art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. From her vision arose the Whitney Museum of American Art, which has been championing the most innovative art of the United States for 86 years. The core of the Whitney’s mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit American art of our time and serve a wide variety of audiences in celebration of the complexity and diversity of art and culture in the United States. Through this mission and a steadfast commitment to artists themselves, the Whitney has long been a powerful force in support of modern and contemporary art and continues to help define what is innovative and influential in American art today.

EEO Statement:

The Whitney Museum of American Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Museum does not discriminate because of age, sex, religion, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital status, pregnancy, partnership status, caregiver status, veteran status, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, genetic information, predisposition, or carrier status, arrest or conviction record to the extent required by applicable law, credit history, domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking victim status, or any other factor prohibited by law. The Museum hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled. The Museum encourages all qualified candidates to apply for vacant positions at all levels.

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