As part of an MA in Philanthropic Studies (undertaken at the Centre for Philanthropy at the University of Kent), Nicola Williams completed a study which aimed to identify the role that prospect research plays in major donor fundraising. The study involved a survey, undertaken in 2018, of major donor fundraisers and prospect researchers working in higher education institutions in the UK.
The results of the study cover a number of areas, such as:
- The activities commonly undertaken by prospect researchers
- The purposes or reasons for which fundraisers use prospect research
- How necessary fundraisers feel research is to their work
- The ways in which prospect research contributes to fundraising Prospect research metrics (i.e. what data is being gathered on the output or impact of prospect research)
In particular, the results can be used by non-profit organisations when analysing the use of personal data for prospect research purposes under the GDPR.
https://factary.com/2019/04/role-of-prospect-research-in-major-donor-fundraising/
