March carries the informal designation as #ResearchPride month and I’m feeling serious #ResearchPride here at Aspire Research Group. After spending two and a half years away from the world of prospect research, I’m really pleased to be back in the thick of it with Aspire.
Even though my time away from the trade was spent doing other kinds of research, it was definitely different from the work I did as a prospect researcher. Granted, once a researcher, always a researcher. When I started in November at Aspire, I definitely felt like I had to stretch my prospect researcher muscles as I began to relearn and expand my knowledge of the trade. I had to remember how to read Form 4s, learn the tricks and methods of getting our research tools to answer my questions, and how to deal with the uncertainty endemic in all research.
It feels good to be back in the world of research where I’m creating a web of information. If I can confirm Fact D, then Fact A, B, and Z are true. But if I can’t, maybe D is true and the rest aren’t…I love that weaving between sources, uncovering the clues to understand people’s relationships to one another, their organizations, and their philanthropic interests.
I also love the challenges that our clients give us. It’s always delightful to see where our research will take us next – whether it’s looking at Proxy statements on a Fortune 500 company or figuring out a person’s connection to Arts & Culture. There’s such satisfaction in finding that elusive address or making the link that might be key to getting a prospect engaged with the client’s organization. It’s immensely satisfying to know that our clients will take this research to help their organizations move forward on strategic decisions.
There’s also the beautiful joy in keeping my skills sharp. Like any researcher who feels research in her bones, the role of a researcher is never to be satisfied or complacent. There’s a need to keep moving, keep learning so that we can make those insights that take our research to the next level.
Reading Chronicle of Philanthropy and other philanthropic publications, mainstream media, listening to webinars and podcasts are all great ways to keep up on the latest developments in philanthropy and the world at large. After all, the world out there definitely impacts what prospects are thinking about and how they engage and express their philanthropic priorities.
I’m looking forward to seeing what other people have to say about their #ResearchPride. I can’t wait to see what delicious challenges we’ll have to face in the rest of 2019.