If you have to accomplish something really big, you break it into little pieces and get started. But what if you have to define that really big project before you can even take your first step? This is what Kelyn Klein, Director of Prospect Research and Portfolio Management at the League of Conservation Voters, had… Read More »
At the Prospect Research Institute, we train researchers at nonprofits of all sizes and shapes. Some have a team of major gift fundraising professionals while some may have only one staff dedicated to individual giving. One thing we have learned over the years is that nonprofits of all sizes can leverage research for major gifts…. Read More »
Erik Hoover comes from the world of competitive intelligence. Although the industry is different, many of the research objectives are remarkably similar. When working in competitive intelligence, Erik tried to answer, “What motivates an investor to make significant investments and can “significant” be quantified with as much specificity as possible?” With donor prospects we seek… Read More »
Chris Mildner, Prospect Research Analyst at The Nature Conservancy, has worked in higher education, healthcare, and now an environmental nonprofit, honing her skills and refining her research practices. One of the practices she has successfully implemented is Sphere of Influence research, which is also sometimes referred to as relationship mapping. This research is where Chris… Read More »
Peggy Calhoun is a passionate, enthusiastic, and driven fundraiser. Among the first to receive the ACFRE designation, the highest level bestowed by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), she has spent more than 25 years helping organizations achieve their fundraising potential. These days, some of her favorite projects are capital campaigns. I sense that Peggy… Read More »
Which number sounds more impressive: 6% or $29.48 billion? According to Giving USA, corporate philanthropy was only 6% of total giving in 2022. But that translates to collective corporate giving of $29.48 billion. Companies may not be the largest source of donor dollars, but $29.48 billion is nothing to sneeze at! How do organizations go… Read More »
Do you follow Jim Langley on LinkedIn? You should! He posts the best thoughts and visuals on major gift fundraising and fundraising in general. And I feel pretty confident that he is the one penning all those quips and quote-worthy phrases. Because as you’ll discover in his #ChatBytes interview, Jim started out as a writer…. Read More »
When I first started in prospect research, a profile was just a profile. There weren’t different kinds or different levels. I was the first person to hold the role of researcher in my organization and I learned as I went along. Which is exactly why I wanted to ask John Cerniglia, Senior Vice President and… Read More »
Are you looking for comprehensive job training? Want to excel in the field of fundraising prospect research? Whether you are trying to break into the field, just got hired on a team, or are a solo researcher supporting your organization, take this quiz to find out if you have what it takes to jump-start your… Read More »
If you could raise $2.3 million from one donor or $2.3 million from 61,508 donors, which would you choose? It’s kind of like asking whether you would prefer to take a magic diet pill to lose and keep off 20 pounds or spend the rest of your life doing moderate exercise and eating a balanced… Read More »