April 18, 2002 | Read Time: 1 minute
Where the Money Is: Advancement Research for Nonprofit Organizations
by Helen Bergan
This book provides tips on how to enhance and improve the groundwork that goes into obtaining major donations–the research that identifies prospects and analyzes their giving potential.
Such research entails more than simply listing assets and finding out about a potential donor’s wealth, writes Ms. Bergan, a former librarian. It should also involve finding people likely to contribute and providing them an opportunity to match their interests with an organization’s needs. That means assessing prospects’ stock and real-estate holdings, finding out about contributions they have made to other organizations, and discovering their main charitable interests. It also involves understanding demographics and other indications that a person has enough money to make a significant gift.
The Internet has become the most useful tool for obtaining such information, Ms. Bergan says, though it can be time-consuming. To help streamline the process, she provides guidance on using search engines, library Web sites, and directories, as well as techniques for organizing research, researching genealogy, rating and screening prospects, and finding alumni of colleges and schools. The book’s appendixes include examples of all the steps a researcher might take to learn about a hypothetical donor, and a list of associations and organizations that offer assistance.
Publisher: BioGuide Press, P.O. Box 42005, Arlington, Va. 22204; (703) 820-9045; hbergan@cs.com; http://www.bioguidepress.com; 258 pages; $45; I.S.B.N. 0-9615277-7-3.
