November 2009
CONTENTS:
1. Letter from Jen
2. Prospect Screening Vendors do Battle!
3. Resource Spotlight: Bing Maps
4. Focus on Aspire Research: Another article published
Greetings!
What a great year! I have had the opportunity to get out of the office this year and meet so many fabulous people doing great things for amazing organizations. You have been generous in sharing your successes and challenges and Aspire Research Group has been listening. In addition to our core profiling services we have helped small offices with data analytics to streamline their appeal efforts and facilitated wealth screenings to fuel campaigns and ongoing major gift programs.
Thank you for your business and for the incredible work you do in our communities. As you enter this busy holiday giving season, we wish you wild success!
Jen Filla
President,
Aspire Research Group LLC
P.S. Are you in Tampa Bay, Florida and need prospect research education at no cost? The Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement in Florida is planning a series of brown-bag luncheons at the West Tampa Library in 2010. To sign-up for the invite list, email me at jen at aspireresearchgroup.com
Prospect Screening Vendors do Battle!
The prospect screening vendors are fiercely competing for your business, which can mean great deals and sometimes a bit of confusion. Many organizations are looking for ratings they can count on to improve fundraising. Vendors create their own proprietary rating systems to identify "best prospects".
A fight among the vendors is whether we should look at wealth first or giving first in determining a donor prospect's rating. It may not sound like a sizzling topic, but when you have to explain your cost to raise a dollar you won't be yawning!
If you have ever heard me speak you will know that I strongly encourage fundraisers to call prospects FIRST to determine if they are interested in giving to your organization and order a prospect research profile after you know they like you. Lots of people have money they never give away.
But what about screenings? I can imagine a situation where I might want to look at wealth first - really scraping for campaign prospects or a heavy front-end investment where there is experienced staff and plenty of resources - but for most situations and most budgets a rating weighted first on giving is powerful. It can balance discrepancies between wealth and a person's inclination to give it away.
When you have limited time to spend on in-person fundraising, meeting with those most likely to give makes the most sense.
Bing as a search engine is interesting, but not earth shattering. Bing Maps however is worth bookmarking. Zillow has been using its Bird's Eye view of houses and if you check it out, you will see why. Happy flying!
Focus on Aspire Research: Yup! Another new article published
We have a new article published on the website and you will no doubt be shocked at the topic. It is entitled Get Ready for a Prospect Screening! Even if you are not thinking about it now, you probably should be.
You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts.
-Khalil Gibran, mystic, poet, and artist (1883-1931)
Aspire Research Group helps organizations use research to create and maintain meaningful relationships with donor prospects.
Contact Aspire Research Group and ask how we can help you find and get to know your major gift donors better. Call 727.231.0516 or 610.566.5113 or email
jen at aspireresearchgroup.com.