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What is prospect research?

Prospect research is, according to Wikipedia, a 'process in fundraising wherein a researcher identifies and provides relevant information about potential donors to an organization.'    Many medium to large-sized nonprofits - and even some small ones - have on-staff prospect researchers.  Researchers are tasked with compiling of donor reports using information found in the public records about a prospect.   

Prospect researchers are firstly experts on public records.  Their primary knowledge-set is concerned with where to look, how to use online and print resources (and proprietary databases), how to interpret raw data into information, and how to churn that information into useful knowledge that will help front-line fundraisers (professionals who ask donors for gifts).   A special effort is made by every prospect researcher to highlight the prospect's philanthropic inclination (their charitable interests and willingness to get involved) and giving capacity (how much a donor may be solicited for a contribution).

What is a donor profile?

A donor profile on an individual, for example, usually consists of public records information about that person's career, community activities, charitable giving, financial assets and, if applicable, family history.   A prospect researcher is trained to take all of the information he/she finds from hundreds of sources and piece it together into the above categories.  For an inside look into a donor profile strategy, read our 'primer on doing profiles.'  

Donor profiles are useful for a variety of applications.  Although they are usually best suited for determining 'giving capacity,' they also help fundraisers in figuring out which donors are best suited to join a board, volunteer or serve in another important role in your organization. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Links to State Campaign Contribution Records

State campaign contribution records can be a great resource for finding an unlisted home
address, business address, or even occupation for a prospect. 

Note: the Federal Election Commission does not permit the use of individual political contributor information for political or charitable solicitation purposes - so please don't download or copy any lists for charitable (or any other) mail solicitations.

Searchable for Prospect Research

online searchable database of contributions

p/n p/n p/n

city campaign finance website

$$

minimum contribution threshold for online disclosure of itemized contributor information

AOE

address/occupation/employer info is disclosed online

$$

Threshold for disclosure of Occupation &/or Employer

C

Corporation contributions prohibited

 

If there is no p/n p/n p/n next to the State, then there is no searchable database for individual contributions.  

Alabama

Alaskap/n p/n p/n AOE C

Arizonap/n p/n p/n AOE C

Arkansas

California p/n p/n p/n $0 AOE

p/n p/n p/nLos Angeles p/n p/n p/n

p/n p/n p/nSacrementop/n p/n p/n

p/n p/n p/nSan Franciscop/n p/n p/n

Colorado p/n p/n p/n $20 AOE C
Click here

p/n p/n p/nDenverp/n p/n p/n 

Connecticut p/n p/n p/n $30 AOE
http://www.ct.gov/seec/cwp/view.asp?a=2861&q=332462&seecNav=| searchable database is gone?


Delaware

Florida p/n p/n p/n AOE $500

Georgia  p/n p/n p/n $101AOE

p/n p/n p/n Atlanta p/n p/n p/n

Hawaiip/n p/n p/n

Idaho p/n p/n p/n $50 AOE

Illinois p/n p/n p/n $0 AOE$500

Indiana p/n p/n p/n AOE

Iowa C
 (click on Ethics)

Kansas  p/n p/n p/n AOE

Kentucky p/n p/n p/n $0 AOE C

Louisiana p/n p/n p/n $0 AOE

Maine p/n p/n p/n $0 AOE

Maryland  p/n p/n p/n $51 OE

Massachusetts p/n p/n p/n $0 AOE C

Michigan p/n p/n p/n $100 OE C

Minnesota p/n p/n p/n $100 OE C

Mississippi  $100 OE

Missouri p/n p/n p/n $100 OE

Montana $35 OE C

Nebraska p/n p/n p/n $250 OE

Nevada $100 OE

New Hampshire p/n p/n p/nnew!  $25 OEC

New Jersey p/n p/n p/n$300 OE

New Mexico $0 OE

New York  p/n p/n p/n $99 AOE n/a

p/n p/n p/nNYCp/n p/n p/n
NYC and click Public Disclosure tab or Here

North Carolina $0 OE C

North Dakota p/n p/n p/n$200 OE C
Click here

Ohio p/n p/n p/n $0 OE C

Oklahoma p/n p/n p/n $50 OE C

Oregon $50 OE

Pennsylvania p/n p/n p/n $50 OE C

p/n p/n p/nPhiladelphiap/n p/n p/n
http://www.hallwatch.org/campfinance

or https://www.phila-records.com/campaign-finance/web/

Rhode Island p/n p/n p/n $100 OE C

South Carolinap/n p/n p/n $50OE $100

South Dakota  $100 OE C

Tennessee p/n p/n p/n $100 OE C

Texas p/n p/n p/n $50 OE C

p/n p/n p/nSan Antonio p/n p/n p/n

Utah p/n p/n p/n $100 OE

p/n p/n p/nSalt Lake Cityp/n p/n p/n
click here

Vermont p/n p/n p/n$100 OE

Virginia p/n p/n p/n $100 OE

Washington p/n p/n p/n $25 OE

p/n p/n p/nSeattle p/n p/n p/n

Washington DCp/n p/n p/n

West Virginia $0 OEC

Wisconsin p/n p/n p/n $20 OE C

Wyoming $25 OE C

If you find a bad link, don't be shy, let us know.

 

FEC lookups p/n p/n p/n
http://www.opensecrets.org
(Opensecrets also provides concise summaries of the campaign receipts for PACs, Congresspersons, etc... For instance, view the summary of receipts for Barry Obama here)

or

here p/n p/n p/n
http://www.tray.com


Disclaimer: Accuracy is not guaranteed.
Note: states differ in their legislation regarding accessibility and content of campaign disclosure as well as contribution limits

 

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