Application Guide

How to Apply for Development & Partnerships Prospect Research Associate (Contract)

at Acumen

🏢 About Acumen

Acumen is unique for its pioneering approach of using patient capital and moral imagination to tackle poverty through business solutions, specifically investing in early-stage clean energy for low-income communities. Founded by Jacqueline Novogratz, it operates at the intersection of philanthropy and impact investing, having impacted over half a billion lives globally. Working here offers the chance to contribute to a $250M fundraising campaign that directly supports sustainable markets in underserved regions.

About This Role

This 12-month contract role involves providing operational and research support for Acumen's Development & Partnerships team during a major $250M fundraising campaign. You'll develop proactive prospecting methodologies, conduct data mining, and support individual fundraisers by identifying potential donors and partners. Your work will directly increase Acumen's capacity to secure funding for clean energy projects that serve low-income communities worldwide.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day involves conducting sophisticated data queries in Salesforce to identify potential donors, analyzing wealth indicators and philanthropic patterns of prospects, and preparing research briefs for the fundraising team. You might attend virtual meetings with colleagues across different time zones to align on prospecting strategies, then spend focused time developing proactive methodologies to uncover new funding opportunities for Acumen's $250M campaign.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Acumen Is Looking For

  • Has at least one year of US non-profit fundraising/philanthropy experience, ideally with exposure to impact investing or clean energy sectors
  • Demonstrates strong research skills with specific experience in data mining, constituent data queries, and proactive prospecting methodologies
  • Is a highly organized self-starter comfortable working in a hybrid NYC office environment (3 days/week) and collaborating across multiple geographies
  • Possesses working knowledge of Salesforce and can leverage it for donor research and relationship management

📝 Tips for Applying to Acumen

1

Highlight specific experience with proactive prospecting methodologies in your resume - don't just say 'research skills' but describe how you've identified and qualified prospects

2

Mention any familiarity with clean energy or impact investing terminology, as this shows you understand Acumen's specific sector focus

3

Include examples of working in cross-geographical teams, as the role requires collaboration with colleagues in different locations

4

Quantify your impact in previous fundraising/research roles (e.g., 'identified X prospects that led to $Y in donations')

5

Demonstrate knowledge of Acumen's unique 'moral imagination' philosophy and how it applies to prospect research

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your specific experience with prospect research methodologies in the non-profit sector, particularly for major campaigns', "Understanding of Acumen's dual philanthropy-investing model and how prospect research supports both worlds", "Examples of being a self-starter in entrepreneurial environments, referencing Acumen's stated entrepreneurial culture", 'How your skills align with supporting a $250M campaign for clean energy in low-income communities']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Study Acumen's current portfolio companies in clean energy and understand their impact on low-income communities
  • → Research Jacqueline Novogratz's writings on 'moral imagination' and how it informs Acumen's approach
  • → Review Acumen's previous fundraising campaigns and major donors to understand their funding landscape
  • → Understand the specific challenges of fundraising for early-stage clean energy projects in underserved markets

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk me through your process for developing proactive prospecting methodologies for a major fundraising campaign
2 How would you identify and qualify prospects for a clean energy impact investing fund targeting low-income communities?
3 Describe your experience using Salesforce for donor research and relationship management in previous roles
4 How do you balance thorough research with the urgency of supporting an active fundraising team with immediate needs?
5 What excites you about working at the intersection of philanthropy and impact investing specifically at Acumen?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Applying with generic fundraising experience without highlighting specific prospect research or data mining skills
  • Failing to demonstrate understanding of Acumen's unique hybrid philanthropy-investing model
  • Not addressing the hybrid work requirement (3 days/week in NYC office) or cross-geographical collaboration needs

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Acumen!

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