Who We Are

American Farmland Trust (AFT) is the only national organization that takes a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on the land itself, the agricultural practices used on that land, and the farmers and ranchers who do the work. AFT launched the conservation agriculture movement and continues to raise public awareness through our No Farms, No Food message. Since our founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect nearly 8 million acres of agricultural lands, advanced environmentally sound farming practices on millions of additional acres and supported thousands of farm families. Long a pioneering leader, AFT continues to evolve to meet the needs of farmers and ranchers nationwide, adapting its approach to ensure the continued strength and resilience of agriculture and rural communities nationwide.

Position Summary

The Prospect Researcher and Database Administrator is a critical member of the Development Operations Team at AFT, ensuring the sustainability and growth of the organization through strategic research, data analysis, and CRM management. Reporting to the Director of Development Operations, this hybrid position identifies, assesses, and manages key donor prospects while also serving as the lead administrator of AFT’s Raiser’s Edge NXT database.

Key Responsibilities

Prospect Research & Assessment

• Conduct comprehensive research to identify individuals, corporations, and foundations with the capacity and inclination to make major gifts.
• Evaluate prospect capacity, affinity, and engagement with AFT’s mission and programs; develop detailed profiles and briefing documents.
• Conduct regular wealth screenings and philanthropic analysis using platforms like Donor Search and Lexis-Nexis.
• Support prospect pipeline development and quarterly portfolio reviews in collaboration with the Individual Giving Team.
• Stay informed of philanthropic trends and relevant donor news; identify new prospects on a monthly basis.

Database Administration & Reporting

• Serve as the lead administrator for AFT’s Raiser’s Edge NXT database.
• Ensure database accuracy, consistency, and completeness; uphold data governance standards for both Development and the Membership Program (housed within the Communications and Marketing Team).
• Manage data audits, de-duplication, imports/exports, and compliance with privacy regulations.
• Generate and maintain reports, dashboards, and lists to support KPIs, campaigns, and donor communications.
• Support integration with platforms such as Salsa and wealth screening tools.

Collaboration & Training

• Collaborate with VP, Director of Development, and Gift Officers to inform prospecting and donor strategies.
• Pull mailing and segmentation lists for campaigns and donor communications.
• Provide user support/training on Raiser’s Edge NXT database and research tools to Development and Membership staff.
• Support potential migration from Raiser’s Edge NXT to a new CRM.

Professional Development

• Maintain knowledge of best practices in fundraising operations, donor research, and database management.
• Participate in relevant trainings, webinars, and conferences.

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