March 2009
CONTENTS:
1. Budget Conscious Prospect Research
2. Recession Obsession and Joe the Plumber
3. Resource Spotlight: Budgeting Beyond Google
4. Focus on Aspire Research: Speaking Schedule
Budget Conscious Prospect Research
Greetings!
Budgets are drying up all over the country and organizations are carefully scrutinizing the value of services purchased. It doesn't take a lot of water to get a cactus to bloom; likewise you can pour a little bit of resource into prospect research and nurture big beautiful blooms in the form of major gifts. In this issue of Information Seeking we'll explore how you can determine how much and where to pour resources for the best results.
Jen Filla
President
Aspire Research Group LLC
P.S. Feel free to call me at 610.566.5113 if you have questions about when to use prospect research. Actually, feel free to call me for just about any reason!
Recession Obsession and Joe the Plumber
Remember Joe the Plumber from the presidential race? Turns out he must have been a particularly successful plumber if he anticipated earning more than $250,000. But I would like to discuss what would make a plumber so successful to begin with. And yes, it really does relate to prospect research.
When the bathroom faucet starts dripping, I get my fiancé to change the washers. We pay a few cents for the washers and stop the drip. But if the high-pressure pipe to our toilet needed to be replaced? You can bet we would call Joe the Plumber. Sometimes the time involved and the risk of causing even more expense justifies paying an expert.
There are parts of prospect research that are like a leaky faucet. You can find that businessman's bio on his company website before your first meeting. But what about that meeting with the international businesswoman who is in town for one day and is ready to be asked for a major gift? Maybe you weren't thinking high-pressure toilet piping when you scheduled the meeting, but do you really want to leave it to your untrained staff member to try to find pertinent details about giving and wealth?
If you expect to ask and receive a gift of $10,000 or more from a prospect, paying a professional researcher $350 for a comprehensive profile is a low-cost, no-brainer.
It all comes down to pressure. The best value for prospect research is when the stakes are high. If you know your prospect wants to make a gift and you have a pretty good idea it could be a big one, not getting professional research risks soliciting for the wrong amount at the wrong time. When receiving a major gift counts on getting everything right – use research. It will more than pay for itself.
Resource Spotlight: Budgeting Beyond Google
Google is good, but there is more beyond its reach. Here are some of my favorites:
Newsbank – On your library’s website (and with your library card) you probably have online access to some level of this incredible news resource.
County tax appraiser and Zillow.com – No doubt your county has a searchable property database and Zillow will give you its z-estimate of value.
Donorsearch.net – It costs money, but there is nothing else like it for giving history and a subscription comes with electronic screening options.
Focus on Aspire Research: Speaking Schedule
If you're in the area, I hope you'll consider joining me. Game playing included!
Using Prospect Research to Boost Giving
AFP Nature Coast Chapter
3/24/2009, 11:45 am, Lutz FL
To register and for more info: http://www.afpsuncoast.org/NatureCoast.htm
AFP Polk County Chapter
4/15/2009, 8:30 am, Bartow FL
For more info: http://www.afpsuncoast.org/Polk-Chapter.htm
Matching resources to mission: Timely prospect research
APRA Florida 2009 Spring Conference
4/30/2009, 2:15-3:15pm, Orlando FL
For conference info: http://www.aprafl.org/programs.htm
The only place where success comes before work is in a dictionary.
Vidal Sassoon
Aspire Research Group helps organizations use research to create and maintain meaningful relationships with donors. We provide profiles on people, companies and foundations.
Contact Aspire Research Group and ask how we can help you find and get to know your major gift donors better. Call 610.566.5113 or email jen@aspireresearchgroup.com