Prospect Research for the Non Researcher

In partnership with the Association of Fundraising Professionals – Northern New England, NEDRA presents :"An Introduction to Prospect Research for Fund Raisers"

Register for one or both of the following sessions and get an overview of the field, reasons it is an essential part of development, and some great instruction in finding wealth for those who need to rely on themselves for quick research before meeting a prospect.

Morning Session: 10:00am-Noon

Introduction to Prospect Research

Join two seasoned research professionals in an overview of the prospect research profession. They will introduce participants to the role of the researcher within a development operation. This role includes the use of publicly available sources as well as the evaluation of evidence of wealth in determining the amount of “the ask.” In performing this role, the researcher must be mindful of ethical concerns and how legal considerations impact his or her choices. All this will be discussed within the framework of a presentation on the basics of the profession and with ample time available for questions on how to construct and implement the best research solution for your organization.

Morning Speakers:

Heather Reisz is the Director of Research and Prospect Development at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.  Previously, she ran the research program at the Museum of Science in Boston and was a researcher at Northeastern University and the San Francisco Jazz Festival.  She began her career in fundraising as a grant writer for the AIDS Memorial Quilt in San Francisco.  Heather is a former board member of NEDRA.  She is a frequent speaker and has presented sessions at APRA, NEDRA, and AFP events.

Rick Snyder is Director of Research for the Helen Brown Group. He was most recently director of research at St. Paul’s School in Concord, New Hampshire. Based in Portland, Maine, Rick has worked in development since 1996, both in prospect research and major gifts fund raising. His experience includes the University of Vermont, Phillips Exeter Academy and St. Paul’s School. Rick is a past president of NEDRA and is a member of and frequent volunteer for APRA.

Afternoon Session: 1:00 pm–3:00pm       

Out the Door Essentials: Beyond the Basics to Finding Wealth

Building on this morning’s overview of the research profession, this session will feature live searches with a more narrow focus. The session will focus on problem solving with approaches to finding that one critical but elusive nugget of information. Learn how to findemployment information, how to craft news alerts that will bring results, and learn how to find the value of real estate holdings locally and in high market areas such as New York City. In addition, participants will learn strategies to value “toys” owned by the affluent such as art, planes, and yachts. These three aspects of determining donor information are meant to give the gift officer the tools that they can take “out the door” to meetings with prospects so they will feel confident that they understand crucial details in the cultivation and solicitation.

Afternoon Speakers:

Joyce Newton is a Senior Strategic Analyst at Dartmouth College. Before entering the development field in 2002, Joyce spent more than thirteen years in the biotechnology industry as an Information Specialist at Millennium Pharmaceuticals and Chiron Corporation. In addition, Joyce spent six years as a Market Research Analyst in the direct marketing field. Her current responsibilities include monitoring the financial services industry, as well as evaluating new technologies/resources in the field of prospect research. Joyce holds a BA from the College of Our Lady of the Elms, is a contributor to www.supportingadvancement.com, a founding member of Chase Solutions' Freelance Prospect Research Network, and a past panelist and presenter at  APRA and NEDRA.

David Sterling is the Director of Advancement Operations, Western New England College. Before joining WNEC in 2003, David served as Director of Research at the University of South Florida for seven years. Previously, he held management positions in the development offices of The George Washington University and Dartmouth College. David has presented at APRA, APRA-Florida and NEDRA meetings, and has edited and written for APRA’s Connections. He is a member of the NEDRA’s board of directors and formerly served as the organization’s treasurer. He also was a founding member of APRA-Florida and served as the chapter’s second President. David graduated from the University of Maine and the University of Rochester.

Location

Dartmouth College

Development Office

41 Centerra Park

Lebanon, NH (note: this is off the main campus)

For a printable version of this information, please click here.