 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Sign up to receive PND e-newsletters. |
|
| |
|
| Re: How to get started as a funding researcher?
Posted by Tony Poderis   on 3/5/2009, 1:01 pm, in reply to "How to get started as a funding researcher?"
VIP Poster
Maxine: Do you think it’s better to start your prospect research career with a beginning job at a non-profit organization? Experience can be gained in an atmosphere of shared resources. Such positions are generally only to be available in large organizations. From what I have observed, your chances are much better for such employment than looking to begin a consulting career looking for clients.
It is tough enough to make a living exclusively as a prospect research professional, and even tougher with no track record. In our large geographic area, with a good overall knowledge of consultants and non-profits, prospect research professionals were only to be found working as staff in organizations.
Maybe in time, with several years of experience working in an organization, you may find the right time and accommodating culture to go off as a consultant.
While prospect researchers seek to identify, rate and evaluate prospects who may give for the right project at the right time with the right people asking, there is much more, and that comes from gaining experience over at least three years.
--- To know that focus only on the grantors’ financial data, cannot stand alone. You must look at the entire picture, that is to make sure the organization has a sound and active cultivation program in place. It’s more than how much money, or even just simply asking for it. It is relationship building, and a good prospect research professional goes that extra mile to help see to it that the first contribution is not the last contribution.
--- To understand that not only does a prospect research professional want to know where the money is to be found, it leads to greater efficiency to know where the money is not to be gotten. No spinning of the wheels, and certainly no stubborn pursuing of prospects when we know there is no chance. (I was once strongly criticized by a top leader of my Cleveland Orchestra because I did not do prospect research and seek donations from people living in Chicago. He could not understand that Chicago, having its own great Orchestra, would have few, if any, giving to an orchestra in another city. He simply thought ours was the best orchestra, and that people out of our service area would support us. Admirable pride, but unrealistic expectations.)
--- To guard against a total dependence on a prospect’s net worth. We may know that a given prospect may have, say, a net worth of $5 million from public records, word-of-mouth, etc. But, it is important that we recognize that for the same prospect, we have no idea of her or his liabilities.
I think I can reduce the comprehensive practice of prospect research and the next steps in the solicitation process with answers to the following simple questions:
1. Does the prospect have it?
2. Can the prospect afford to give it?
3. Is the prospect sold on the benefit of what we're doing?
4. Who in our organization is best to do 'the ask'?
5. Will the prospect give it to us when we ask for it?
Finding a job:
Network and inquire for possible jobs and counsel with contact to your nearest chapter of the. Association of Fundraising Professionals
AFP: US
http://www.afpnet.org/country.cfm?cntry=USA&folder_id=932
Actual example of a job opening:
Assistant Director of Prospect Research: American Museum of Natural History
http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/job-JAGEDL5VY8J
SupportingAdvancement.com for job descriptions
http://www.supportingadvancement.com/employment/job_descriptions/job_descriptions.htm
(See the Prospect Research section for many job descriptions.)
nonprofitOyster for job opportunities
http://www.nonprofitoyster.com/
Best prospect finding wishes,
Tony
Tony Poderis
http://www.raise-funds.com
- Fund Raising Forum Library: 50 feature articles
- Exhibit & Document Library: 98 items
- Potpourri Library: 10 Incidental/essential articles
• Permission to reproduce any material is not required
|
| |
