PROSPECT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

PROSPECT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

A successful fund raising operation demands a steady flow of prospects and a diversified funding stream. A healthy fund raising operation receives most of its support from individuals through annual, major and planned gifts, with gifts and grants from foundations, corporations and government agencies making up the difference.

If your organization is dependent on grants, how do you find the individual supporters who could make a financial investment in your organization's mission? Once you've identified a donor prospect, what should happen next and why? Prospect Development Services offers answers to these questions in the form of prospect identification and prospect research. The results of the identification and research process are then formatted and transformed into clear and concise profiles, strategy recommendations, written proposals and case statements.

PROSPECT IDENTIFICATION AND RESEARCH

Making use of online databases and electronic screening programs and through in depth research, new prospects are identified and then qualified as both capable and interested in giving to your organization. Based on wealth indicators, prospects will be rated for giving capacity. Services used include Alumni Finder, Dun & Bradstreet, Foundation Directory Online, Guidestar, Hoovers, Lexis-Nexis for Development Professionals and WealthEngine.com.

PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT

Once prospects are identified and more is learned about financial capacity and past giving patterns, proposals, case statements and letters of inquiry are prepared for use in making initial contacts. In some cases, a new prospect may have connections with corporations, foundations and government agencies that can be leveraged in seeking new gifts and grants. Deadlines for RFP's (Requests for Proposals) are tracked and matched with your organization's list of individual donors -- current and potential.