Articles that inspire
Prospect Research Edge
Kickstart Your Career
If you’re just starting in fundraising research and prospect management, our Career Agent Training is the perfect first step. Designed for beginners, this program gives you the foundational knowledge and practical skills to navigate the world of prospect research with confidence. With expert-led instruction, real-world examples, and hands-on practice, you’ll learn how to identify top donor prospects, manage data effectively, and grow your career from day one. Start strong with training that sets you up for success!
Profile Writing: Who’s in Your Audience?
by Emily Davis Providing a profile report to your development officer is, possibly, the most important action, outside of the actual research and recommendation, that a prospect researcher will ever do. There are generally two schools of thought about the best way to...
Book Review: The Palgrave Handbook of Global Philanthropy
by Sabine Schuller You glance up from your work and then take a deep breath as a colleague walks towards your desk. You see the look in their eyes that telegraphs,“Have I a research challenge for you!” This time they’re contemplating expanding your organization’s...
Prospect Research Month in Review – Nov 2016
Worth Twittering Over #prospectresearch @WorkingLori via @iWavePRO | Very timely and in depth analysis of US political giving and prospect research. The US election is on everyone's mind, and @WorkingLori has some thoughts on political giving and prospect research...
Prospect Research Month in Review – Oct 2016
Worth Twittering Over #prospectresearch A few key resources shared: @HerringtonEnotA @pndblog | Those hours you search and search because the donor, celebrity or MGO said they're philanthropic, but nothing. PhilanTopic Survey: 82% of Americans Say They Give to...
Prospect Research Month in Review – Sep 2016
Worth Twittering Over #prospectresearch A few key resources shared: @ProRInstitute @WealthX | UHNWI have 22% of wealth in cash - the highest percent since 2010. What might that mean for prospect research and philanthropy? Billionaires Have Been Raising Cash In Their...
10 Steps to Deliver on International Prospecting
by Jason J. Briggs International prospect research is commonly considered high risk in the sense that it often fails to bring satisfying results and takes considerably more resources. Therefore, there is extra emphasis for research managers to plan international...
Roundtables on the Road with APRA-PA
The Prospect Research has teamed up with APRA-PA, Villanova University, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art to bring you Roundtables on the Road! Mon | 9/26 | 10-11am | Villanova University Fri | 9/30 | 3:30-4:30pm | Philadelphia Museum of Art Jen Filla, CEO of the...
Prospect Research Month in Review – Aug 2016
Worth Twittering Over #prospectresearch A few key resources shared: @ElizabethHRoma @jeffbrooks | 5 Smart Assumptions to Make About the Way Your Donors Read - Same goes for gift officers too. Keep this in mind when writing prospect research profiles! ...
Data That Can’t Be Dumbed Down
By Jen Filla Our donors and constituents are talking to us through data trails created from actions such as making gifts, liking our Facebook pages, and attending our events. So why aren’t we using that information? An elite few organizations are. The University of...
Prospect Research Month in Review – Jul 2016
Worth Twittering Over #prospectresearch A few key resources shared: @apra_metrodc | Why Donor Advised Funds are a bad deal for society @APRA_NT | How Real Estate Philanthropy Drives Economic Development @APRA_PA | Classic prospect research resource...
New Instructors and Workshop Format
Due in no small part to the generosity of the prospect research community, the Prospect Research Institute continues to innovate to meet the needs of fundraising researchers. As a result of community feedback the Institute has introduced a new two-week workshop format...
Warning: Use These Surefire Social Media Research Tips at Your Own Risk
By Emily Davis Facebook. Twitter. Tumblr. Instagram. Twenty years ago, these words would have sounded like gibberish. Today, they are integral parts of our everyday lives. We use them to keep updated on the latest news, celebrity gossip, and updates from organizations...
Words from happy Researchers
Success Stories
★★★★★
I love your Master Class format – small group, clearly defined curriculum, solid professional information and resources and focus on discussion. But most importantly I was impressed and delighted to see that you incorporated an additional and extremely practical layer of knowledge, through hands on experience with tools (pivot tables) or resources (Candid). This adds real value to the educational experience you offer.
Betsy Mehlman
2020-Master Class
★★★★★
Jen’s course on insider stock and compensation was informative, interesting, and well-thought out. Jen broke down the complicated material into digestible pieces. She showed us resources that I use in my day-to-day research that I wouldn’t have otherwise known about. Jen is always quick to respond and has been helpful even after the class has ended. She answers questions thoroughly and is always pleasant.
I was able to take what I learned from the course and present the material to our front-line fundraisers. One fundraiser told me after my presentation that she discovered one of her donor’s compensation was much higher than she thought. So, already, this information has come in handy! Thanks again Jen!
Kim Anthony, San Francisco CA
Insider Stock and Compensation
★★★★★
The Capacity Rating Workshop was really useful. I was new to the prospect research field when I took the workshop, so it helped to demystify capacity ratings for me. The online classroom provided a great forum for interaction with the other participants and for a robust exchange of ideas. Beyond that though, Jen shared a wealth of information and resources about capacity ratings and other important aspects of prospect research. I highly recommend this workshop whether you’re new to the field or have years of experience in our profession.
David Lloyd, Prospect Research Professional, San Francisco, CA
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