The University of Kansas Health System is looking for a Prospect Research and Portfolio Development Manager at its Southlake Campus in Lenexa, KS.
The Profiler
A blog about Prospect Research from a veteran researcher actively working in the field. I use this site to discuss research trends, share resources from presentations, as well as my favorite research tips.
Thursday, January 25, 2024
Wednesday, December 20, 2023
Thursday, November 2, 2023
Sometimes, describing what we do as Prospect Researchers just isn't as easy as it should be!
One of the questions I'm most often asked when meeting someone new is, "What do you do?" It's easy to tell someone that I work in Prospect Research, but sometimes not nearly as easy to describe it. After working in the field for 25 years now, you'd think it would be easier, but I find it often depends on who you're talking to. Some people find it interesting and cool while others find it downright creepy. After telling someone what you do, it's sometimes difficult (fortunately, only rarely) to hear them respond, "Oh, you're a stalker." #notastalker
As part of our onboarding procedure for new employees, I'm often asked to spend some time with them to explain what I do and especially the role it plays in philanthropy. While it often seems easiest just to say "I'm the office detective," I really try to show how the work I do, that we do as a profession, helps our organization, from not just our philanthropy team, but also our leadership, and most importantly, the patients and their families we serve at our hospital.
Sure, I track down phone numbers and new addresses so that we can make that ever important personal contact with a donor or prospect. However, I can also tell you things like that donor or prospect has a multi-million dollar vacation home in addition to their primary residence, that they have social media posts praising (or criticizing) our organization or that they just got a big new promotion or were mentioned in the newspaper. As part of our increased due diligence process, I can also look at publicly-available legal records to see if there's a bankruptcy filing, lien or criminal record which might not make them the best prospect for us at this time.
In honor of Halloween, The Helen Brown Group shared an interesting post about the perceived creepiness of prospect research titled What's so spooky about Prospect Research?
This post led me to an interesting thread on Reddit, Does Prospect Research feel invasive? There are definitely some interesting opinions shared here.
Bottom line, I'm proud of the work I do and how it benefits not only our department, but our organization's leaders, and in the end, the patients and their families that we serve at our hospital. Otherwise, I likely wouldn't have been doing it for 25 years now!
Monday, April 17, 2023
JOB OPENING - The PKD Foundation
The PKD Foundation, based in Kansas City, MO, is in search of a Director of Prospect Management and Research. NOTE: This is a remote position.
Interested candidates can find more information and apply here.
Thursday, February 23, 2023
Research links for UMKC presentation - February 24, 2023
Foundation & NonProfit Information
Foundation Directory Online (a service of Foundation Center; fee-based)
Foundation Search (fee-based)
GuideStar (free to view basic information with sign-up)
Kansas City Public Library - free library card entitles access to several online databases including Kansas City History (Missouri Valley collection), vital records, genealogy & history resources, business & nonprofit resources, and magazines & newspapers.
Rank and Filed - searchable SEC filings presented in a modern, graphic format
Publications (local)
The Kansas City Star
The Kansas City Business Journal
The Independent - Kansas City's society and special event magazine
Kansas City Magazine - formerly 435 Magazine
iWave PRO
WealthEngine
These are multi-function websites for fundraisers and researchers which aggregate data from several public sources. These include capacity ratings, charitable giving, Dun & Bradstreet, Federal Election Contributions, Foundation Search, Guidestar Directors and Foundations, Hoover’s business information, Marquis Who’s Who, aircraft and large watercraft ownership, and more! Subscription price often includes monthly webinars and best practices white papers. Great for small research shops who need a lot of information quickly!
p.s. And don't forget to Google!!!
Monday, February 7, 2022
JOB POSTING - Prospect Research Analyst at Saint Luke's in Kansas City
It's been awhile since I've posted, so Happy 2022 to all of my Prospect Research colleagues who follow this blog! May you all have a happy and healthy 2022!
I was just made aware of a job opportunity here in the Kansas City area for a Prospect Research Analyst with Saint Luke's Health System. If you're not familiar with Saint Luke's, they have a great reputation as a healthcare provider and employer here in Kansas City. It's where I get my healthcare and I've had many friends who have worked there!
https://careers.saintlukeskc.org/jobs/prospect-research-analyst-kansas-city-missouri-united-states
Good luck if you decide to apply!
Monday, January 20, 2020
ARTICLE - Separate Worlds: Let’s unify the worlds of Prospect Research and Development Officers for better Fundraising.
Here's the latest article from Armando Zumaya about bridging the gap between Prospect Researchers and Development Officers. Enjoy!