Collaboration between Prospect Research Units and Frontline Fundraisers

This report describes aspects of the relationships between research and analytics units and frontline fundraisers, including organizational structures, services offered, and strategies for relationship improvement.

Summary Prospect research and analytics functions have become increasingly more sophisticated in recent years. As these tools’ capacity to inform fundraising strategy improves, development divisions must identify strategies for how best to utilize their prospect research and analytics units. This report describes aspects of the relationships between research and analytics units and frontline fundraisers, including organizational structures, services offered, and strategies for relationship improvement. Key observations from our research: 1. The exact roles and purposes of research and analytics offices shift over time, with shifts attributable to leadership turnover, staff limitations, and the development of new tools or services. 2. Research and analytics administrators utilize both top-down (i.e., leadership-directed) and bottom-up (i.e., peer-to-peer) approaches to encourage stronger relationships between research and analytics staff and frontline fundraisers. 3. To create a collaborative environment between frontline fundraisers and research and analytics staff, administrators implement both formal (e.g., advisory committees) and informal (e.g., happy hours and social events) channels for feedback and relationship-building. 4.Research and analytics offices prefer to develop proactive tools and services, rather than perform reactive research requests. DOWNLOAD THE REPORT