In working with some of my clients over the past year, I have to reflect on how important a culture of cooperation is to meaningful and productive implementation of any fundraising program or specific endeavor.  I think our most successful clients have thoughtful and clear processes outlined, coupled with open lines of communication between various [...]

As many of you may know I am the president of APRA.  For those of you who are not familiar with APRA, it stands for the Association for Professional Researchers for Advancement.  I am not only honored to be in this position but I am fortunate to be the president during the 25th anniversary celebration.  [...]

Note from ProspectResearch.com: Roy Jones has more than 30 years of marketing, fundraising and development experience. In addition to consulting and advising some of the nation’s top human services charities, Jones serves on several not-for-profit boards including the Ronald Reagan Institute, Recovery for the City, and the Economic Development Council. We invite you to check [...]

I was honored and excited to be part of Ron Lieber’s New York Times column, Taking Fund-Raising To a New Level. Some of you might now be wondering why, since it did raise some questions about the scope of my passion in support of my vocations – professional fundraising and prospect research. The simple reason [...]

As we wind down the year 2011, we reflect on a year of challenges, both with the economy and its affect on philanthropy.  One of the most daunting challenges our clients deal with seems to be what to do about their lapsed donors.  Lapsed donors are generally considered those who have not given a gift [...]

I was working with a client the other day and I was reminded once again that perception plays such a large role in fundraising.  We all carry perceptions of how non-profits work.  If our perception of a non-profit stops at which sector they are in then we are not doing due justice to our donors.  [...]

A common mistake that I encounter with clients is the assumption that data analytics is an absolute process.  It is not.  It is a highly effective process in helping identify, segment and prioritize, allowing non-profits to focus their energy strategically.  However, as I wrote about in a previous post On the Importance of Qualifying Prospects [...]

Meredith Hancks, MBA, uses data daily to uncover hidden gems in the database at Western Illinois University, where she is the Director of Prospect Research and Management. She is serving the wider nonprofit community as Chair of the Best Practices in Prospect Development subcommittee for the Association of Advancement Services Professionals. She is currently a [...]

The holidays are nearly here and, for many of us, the joy of the season can be overshadowed by the exasperation of endless expectations.   When we consider all that is expected of us these days, it is amazing more of us aren’t simply going crazy.  And, when you factor in that fundraising professionals have the [...]

In a time when non-profits are tightening their belts, both with budgets and staff, it is a good time to take stock in what has been accomplished in this very tenuous year with our economy and in the world of philanthropy.  We have been dealing with many challenges, and most likely will be dealing with [...]