How many times have you heard a prospect research professional tell a story about how they dug just a little deeper out of curiosity and found the key piece of information that their gift officer used to make a successful solicitation?

We all want to be the hero researcher who expertly identifies the right information. But the truth is that most of the profile research we do is pretty routine. And for many of us craving the excitement of a scintillating find, we spend far too much time unraveling threads of information that have no substantial benefit to our work.

This year I tested out a new work schedule that included four weeks of no meetings. I scheduled them in two-week blocks of time. It didn’t go smoothly. But it did give me a new perspective on the remote vs. hybrid vs. in-office debate.

Because I remember way back to when I first switched from multi-tasking work as an administrative assistant and then program manager to a full-time prospect research role. It was a challenge to sit still all day and work on the computer. I broke up the hours by regularly getting up from my desk to refill my water glass.

In my first prospect research job I was asked to identify new prospects for a satellite office. I found people who had recently made a pledge of $1,000 or more at a fundraising event as first-time donors. I did a little research and discovered they all lived in the same Florida neighborhood on a golf course. Bingo!

And yet, not a single one of those donors was called or visited.

Researchers complain all the time about these kinds of scenarios. But could we be contributing to the problem? What could we do to help make our development officers more effective?

A lot!

Is there anything that artificial intelligence (AI) can’t help us do better, faster, and cheaper? Businesses and the fundraising profession have clearly embraced AI as evidenced by the articles, webinars, and courses springing up to teach us all how to use various AI tools. For example, Coursera has a course on using ChatGPT with Excel to clean up your data and Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy has a course entitled, “AI & Fundraising: Revolutionizing Your Fundraising Efforts.”

Many good things are coming out of AI models, but there is a dark side, too. Inevitably, bias creeps into our algorithms and decision-making processes. Bias can lead to unfair outcomes, damage an organization’s reputation, and even have legal consequences.

How can I source great major gift prospects but include more types of people? Especially if I don’t have authority to do anything but research and certainly not make systemic change at my organization?

My Aspire Research Group team member, Elisa Shoenberger, is fascinated by the topic of cryptocurrency and philanthropy. I like to say that she has “gone all Alice in Wonderland” on the subject – falling down rabbit holes and getting curiouser and curiouser.

She has written more than 70 pages of a book – Volatile Opportunity: A Guide to Cryptocurrency and Fundraising to publish in August — and will be presenting on topic at the Apra Prospect Development conference that starts on August 28, 2023, in Indianapolis.