“Every capital campaign requires a unique blend between the art and science of philanthropy. Our campaign cabinet had been working on 25 top prospects- we knew them, they knew us- but we had no idea what to ask for. By accessing a wide array of public information, Aspire Research helped us verify the interest and capacity of several prospects and confirmed that no public information was available on the rest. Aspire provides us with good data, the science, which we are using to build stronger relationships- the art of philanthropy.”

Steve Dickie, Oklahoma Methodist Manor

Prospect Research for Fundraisers: The Essential Handbook

Jen Filla, president of Aspire Research Group, teamed up with Helen Brown to write Prospect Research for Fundraisers: The Essential Handbook.

“Congratulations to the authors on producing a book that should be in every development officer’s library.” -Linda Lysakowski, ACFRE

From essential overviews to how-to-search skills, this practical book gives the development team the tools to understand how to use prospect research in ways that best fit their goals for each stage of the fundraising cycle.

prospect profiles

Can You Really Trust Prospect Research? 10 Things You Should Know

by Jennifer Filla
October 6, 2026October 6, 2026
prospect research

Spoiler alert: Yes! You can trust prospect research. Big institutions used prospect research long before the internet turned the field… Read More »Can You Really Trust Prospect Research? 10 Things You Should Know

Your Prospect Profile Shouldn’t Feel Like a Vending Machine Transaction

by Aspire Research Group
February 2, 2026January 29, 2026
Profiles

You hit the “submit request” button. Three days later, a prospect profile lands in your inbox. You open it eagerly,… Read More »Your Prospect Profile Shouldn’t Feel Like a Vending Machine Transaction

Will a Wealth Screening Really Help Me?

by Aspire Contributor
May 11, 2024October 18, 2024
Research in Fundraising

When you are looking to find qualified major gift prospects in your database, want to segment your donor database for… Read More »Will a Wealth Screening Really Help Me?