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In Translation: 4 Common Misunderstandings Between Major Gift Officers and Prospect Researchers

We’ve heard it many times before; fundraising is all about relationships. But it’s not just about the relationships between an institution and its prospective donors. It’s also about the relationships between fundraisers, like prospect research and gift officers. Having a good connection with gift officers will benefit everyone. Researchers can provide the right information to major gift officers who are best prepared to cultivate and solicit prospective donors.

5 Reasons Why You Can’t Find a Prospect’s Giving

When meeting a new prospect, it’s quite exhilarating to find out that they are philanthropic and have given generously to other organizations. But occasionally, fundraising professionals may find a gap between what the prospect says and what is publicly available. Why? This article addresses that question!

The Great Puzzle of Corporate Philanthropy

The Great Puzzle of Corporate Philanthropy

Corporate sponsorships – they are everywhere you look! The concept seems simple: in exchange for advertising and branded materials at the event/location, the company financially sponsors the occasion. It has been the bread and butter of the corporate world for decades. But if that is all you are asking for, you are only touching one piece of the big puzzle of corporate philanthropy. There is so much more to corporate fundraising than just sponsorships.

Review of 2024 Reports on Donor Advised Funds

Review of 2024 Reports on Donor Advised Funds

By Elisa Shoenberger

In the past few weeks, two big reports on donor advised funds (DAF) in the US were released. The findings are pretty fascinating and can help reorient your thinking of how to approach DAF advisors for your organization.

The 2024 National Study on Donor Advised Funds (NSDAF) undertook the largest study of DAFs in the US so far by working with 111 DAFs to parse their data from 2014-2022. One of the most interesting findings is that 81% of DAFs in the study were opened after 2010 with 25% or more opened after 2020. That is astonishing! That means that most DAF advisors are relatively new to having a DAF.

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How Prospect Research Brings Confidence to Your Prospect Meetings

How Prospect Research Brings Confidence to Your Prospect Meetings

We know that the best way to raise money for our organizations is through face-to-face relationships with our prospects. Like any relationship, we must put in time and effort. But sometimes, you need more than a company biography or what is in your organization’s database to establish that connection and maintain it. Knowing how to find the right information can be a struggle.

Strategic Research for Transformative Gifts

Asking for a major or transformative gift is a little bit like asking someone to marry you. You’ve (likely) been dating one another for a while and know quite a bit about your respective interests. Maybe you’ve discussed marriage; perhaps you haven’t. Ideally, you have an idea that the other person will actually say “yes.”

Learning to Drive: Using Prospect Research for Early Cultivation Meetings

Remember the first time you got behind the wheel of a car? Maybe you had taken your learner’s permit test or not; maybe you had watched your parents closely as they drove. But when facing the wheel, pedals, and all those buttons for the first time, it might have been really daunting. I was frustrated the first time I got behind the wheel; no matter what I did, I could not get the car to go. I soon realized that no one had told me to push the brake while starting the car!