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!
Linda Smith and the Confessions of a Sin City Fundraiser
Whatever you do, don’t say “No” to Linda Smith! She is the kind of woman who gets energized whenever she is told “no,” or that something can’t be done – or that her newborn baby can’t be a U.S. citizen because he was born with a disability. Sometimes not knowing, or...
Job Relocation? How to Find an Accessible Home for Barrier-Free Living
Pursuing a career in prospect research can sometimes mean relocating to a new geographic area with new opportunities. Relocating is challenging for everyone! In this guest post, Patrick Young examines the unique challenges faced by those with disabilities, providing...
Research Pride Meet Fundraising Celebrities
This year in celebration of Research Pride Month, the Institute reached out to partner with Apra Florida Chapter and Staupell Analytics to celebrate all month-long by promoting and advocating in social media and crafting educational and fun events. For those of you...
#CareerCurious with Miguel Angel Hernández at Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico
If you’ve ever been curious about prospect research in Mexico, Miguel Angel Hernández at Tecnológico de Monterrey is bursting with the best ideas for prospecting and researching, as well as insights on how the profession is developing there. Like many in the prospect...
Dr. Russell James reveals the secret behind major gift growth – psychology!
Dr. Russell James has been studying charitable financial planning for more than 15 years, and that followed 11 years living in the fundraising space as Director of Planned Giving and later President of Central Christian College of the Bible. His love for charitable...
Predictive Insights a la carte with Shawn Olds at boodleAI
With so many new software products on the market for nonprofit fundraising, it’s tough to keep up. So how did I end up with Shawn Olds, Founder and CEO of boodleAI in the guest seat on #ChatBytes? Word of mouth. Natalia Pierson, a Prospect Research Institute member,...
Crypto and Decentralized Finance as Vehicles for Philanthropy with Melody Song
When I first encountered Melody Song, she was a wiz prospect researcher willing to demonstrate relationship mapping with NodeXL to the Prospect Research Institute’s ad hoc working group on the subject. A few career iterations later she is doling out grants at the...
Dr. Phildra J. Swagger on building the life you want, not just a career
Do you wish your paid work was more fulfilling? Does your job feel like a heavy weight dragging you down every day? Maybe you were deliberate at the start of your career and searched for a job that matched your interests, but now you are discontented. Maybe you “fell”...
Book Review | Bitcoin and the Future of Fundraising
By Elisa Shoenberger We’ve all heard about Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies in the news. Most recently, El Salvador adopted Bitcoin as legal tender in June 2021, and China is cracking down on cryptocurrencies even as it is working on creating its own cryptocurrency. While...
#CareerCurious with Vanessa Boyle and Kelly Douglas at Caltech
Kelly Douglas, Senior Data Analyst, Development Analytics at Caltech, didn’t anticipate a career in analytics, but was drawn to it by leaning into her interests and strengths. Vanessa Boyle, Associate Director of Prospect Management at Caltech, followed her interests...
Unleash your creativity for board prospecting
WARNING! Christal Cherry is an expert and like most experts she isn’t always aware of how much she knows. When you listen to her tell her stories, grab a pen, because you are going to find yourself taking notes and getting excited with new ideas! Christal is a natural...
Backstory and Trends in Prospect Management
Where do you get started with prospect management? How many prospects should a development officer have in a portfolio? What’s the lynchpin of a successful prospect management program? If you are curious about any of these questions, you need to hear what Karen Greene...
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.