Prospect Research for Nonprofits
Know who to ask, for how much, and why, before the meeting.
Most small and mid-sized nonprofits ask the same 40 people every year because nobody has had time to find out who else is out there. Prospect research fixes that. I identify the individuals, foundations, and corporations most likely to give to your mission, estimate what they could give, and tell you how they're connected to the people you already know.
WHAT YOU GET
Individual donor profiles: giving capacity, philanthropic history, real estate and business holdings, board affiliations, and the warmest path to an introduction. One to two pages, written to be read in five minutes.
Foundation research: funders whose priorities, geography, and grant size match your programs, with deadlines, past grantees, and the right contact. Delivered as a prioritized list, not a database dump.
Corporate prospects: local and regional businesses with giving programs, sponsorship history, and a reason to care about your work.
Portfolio screening: a capacity and affinity rating across your full donor file, so your development director and board know where to spend their time.
Event and campaign screening: guest lists and campaign prospect pools ranked before the invitation goes out.
HOW IT WORKS
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We talk for 30 minutes about your mission, your current donors, and what you need to raise.
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I pull from professional research tools and public records, then verify what matters.
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You get written briefs within 5 to 10 business days, plus a call to walk through the top prospects.
WHO THIS IS FOR
Nonprofits on the South Coast, across Massachusetts, and throughout New England, with budgets roughly between $500K and $10M: large enough to have real prospects, small enough that no one on staff has time to find them. I've done this work from inside development offices for over 15 years, so the briefs are built for the person who has to pick up the phone.
I also work behind the scenes for other consultants. If your clients need deep donor and foundation research that you don’t have the hours or the tools to deliver, I can take that piece on under your engagement. You keep the client relationship; I deliver the briefs, funder lists, and funder recommendations based on years of experience, under your name or mine.
PRICING
Individual profiles are priced per profile; foundation and corporate research is scoped by project; portfolio screening is priced by file size. The first conversation is free.
Based in Dartmouth, Massachusetts. Serving New Bedford, Fall River, Cape Cod, Rhode Island, and nonprofits across New England. Email jesika@jesikadavis.com to start the conversation.