Research Track Co-Chair
Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Fundraising Day New York Conference
The Marriott Marquis, New York, NY
Friday, June 17, 2016
8:45am – 5:00pm
Fundraising Day New York is the premier East Coast conference on philanthropy. This one-day event takes over the Marriott Marquis in Times Square, NYC, bringing together the best and brightest nonprofit professionals from around the world to share their thoughts and advice.
Research Track
Parent Research and Fundraising at Educational Organizations
This presentation will provide an overview of how the researcher can successfully direct and shepherd the process of parent identification, research and fundraising at educational institutions from start to finish. Topic areas include interfacing with the Admissions and Financial Aid offices, database segmenting and screening, providing tips on obtaining and conducting the visit, unique characteristics of parents as a fundraising constituency, suggesting potential solicitation amounts, and how to approach parents after the first year.
You will learn to:
Conduct parent identification, research, and fundraising using pragmatic techniques
Consider the unique characteristics of parents as a fundraising constituency
Help train front-line gift officers in how to best navigate parent visits
Speakers:Thomas C. Hampsey, Senior Director of Development Research, Lafayette College; Rebecca H. Heslin, Associate Director of Development Research, Lafayette College
Feeding the Major Gift Pipeline: a framework for effective prospect development
This session presents an effective framework for evaluating prospects using four dynamic measurements. Learn how to effectively feed the major gift pipeline and focus your entire fundraising team around prospect development and major gifts fundraising
You will learn to:
Efficiently and effectively analyze prospects and rate their giving potential.
• Identify the best sources to find prospects and feel ready to begin prospecting at your organizations.
Embrace the critical and highly strategic role researchers play in fundraising.
Speakers: Joseph Gonzales, Advancement Services, St. Olaf College, Alumni Hall; Matthew Perrin, Manager, Prospect Research, Natural Resources Defense Council
Industry Corner: Identifying and Cultivating Prospects from the Law, Pharmaceuticals, and Startup Industries
Prospect researchers should not only be experts on individual donors, but also on the industries where current and future wealth is generated. This presentation provides concise (but meaty) overviews of the Law, Pharmaceuticals, and Startup Industries, including industry outlook/analysis, tips for predicting wealth events, and explanations of select job titles and organizational hierarchies. It also outlines common personality traits of professionals from each field, and how these traits influence their attitudes toward philanthropy.
You will learn:
The current state of the law, pharmaceuticals, and startup industries, what is on the horizon for each and how it will affect the prospects within them.
Best practices for identifying, researching, rating, and qualifying prospects in these industries.
• How your Prospect Research department can partner with your frontline team to provide industry-related expertise and strategic recommendations.
Speakers: Melissa Carpenter, Senior Analyst, Prospect Research, The University of Chicago; Namrata Padhi, Senior Analyst, Prospect Research, The University of Chicago; Lindsey Royer, Senior Analyst, Prospect Research, The University of Chicago
The Strategic Researcher - Positioned to Make a Difference
Advancement researchers are usually well-placed - some uniquely positioned - to significantly impact the strategic direction of fundraising efforts at their organizations. This session for fundraisers at all levels of experience explores ways that advancement researchers can impact the strategic direction of their organization’s development efforts.
You will learn to:
Think critically about the ‘big picture’ for your fundraising operation.
How to be the “Chief Strategic Officer” for your development operation.
Understand the roles and responsibilities of being at the decision table.
Speaker: David M. Sterling, Director of Advancement Operations, Western New England University