News Archive
INTRODUCTION TO PROSPECT RESEARCH - A WORKSHOP
Venue: Birkbeck University, Room 629 Malet Street, Bloomsbury WC1E 7HX Date: Tuesday 24th June 2008 Time: 9:30 (for 10:00) - 16:00
A one-day introductory workshop on prospect research was delivered by leading researchers, Rebecca Funnell of Telos Research and Robin Jones of Milestone Research in London on Tuesday 24th June 2008.
We are delighted to have received some excellent feedback about our courses.
Lori Fox of University of Dundee said:
“Thank you again for a tremendous day of training. Your guidance, interactive approach and generosity in sharing secrets and best practice was very much appreciated… your course really put my nerves at ease and has given me renewed vigour in attacking my procrastination demons”
Ondine Upton, a fundraiser for Working Families and a trustee of Action for ME attended our most recent workshop. She said:
“Many congrats on running such a fun, informative and inspiring workshop”
Rhian Curtis of Birkbeck University said:
“It gave lots of handy hints on where to gain new information, how to translate that into actual prospects, and ideas of new resources…It was well presented and spaced out, so my attention held for the whole day…”
Sarah Price, Deputy Director of Development at Cardiff University said:
“I found the workshop invaluable”
Hazel Clay of Brathay Hall said:
“Fascinating, and good fun as well”
July 2008
INTRODUCTION TO PROSPECT RESEARCH - A WORKSHOP
Venue: Birkbeck University, Room 629 Malet Street, Bloomsbury WC1E 7HX Date: Wednesday 5th March 2008 Time: 9:30 (for 10:00) - 16:30
A one-day introductory workshop on prospect research was held in London on Wednesday 5th March 2008.
April 2008
INTRODUCTION TO PROSPECT RESEARCH: A WORKSHOP
Venue: Birkbeck University, Room 541 Malet Street, Bloomsbury WC1E 7HX
Date: Thursday 4th October 2007
Time: 9:30 (for 10:00) - 16:30
Another one-day introductory workshop on prospect research was held in London on Thursday 4th October 2007.
November 2007
Launch of the Telos Research Newsletter
The first Telos Research Newsletter was published in January 2007. This provides an insight into the world of major gift fundraising and research, including snippets of news about fundraising and some snapshot information about philanthropists. The theme of the first edition is a review of 2006.
Features include:
- Fundraising Trends
- The Flavour of 2006
To receive the full version and future editions, please email Rebecca@telosresearch.com
January 2007
Prospect Research Workshops
Our introduction to prospect research workshops continue to be in high demand, therefore an extra workshop was scheduled for 26th June at our London venue. This was a successful event, which once more, sold out. The next workshop will be in London on 4th October.
Further details are available in the workshop area of the site, or contact Rebecca on Rebecca@telosresearch.com. Please note that during the period between 23rd July and 13th August, workshop enquiries and bookings will be dealt with by Robin Jones – robin@milestoneresearch.co.uk
July 2007
Training Workshop goes to Bristol and London
I collaborated with Robin Jones to provide one-day workshops on prospect research in central Bristol on 31st January 2007 and in London on Tuesday 27th March 2007 and on Tuesday 26th June. These were introductory workshops aimed at fundraisers required to undertake their own research. They are proving highly successful.
Researchers in Fundraising Spring Conference
The Researchers in Fundraising Autumn conference recorded a record turn out of over 120 delegates. The next conference is planned for the Spring and the theme will be international research.
July 2007
Prospect Research Training, London
On 13th September Telos Research held a prospect research workshop in London in collaboration with Robin Jones. It was a very successful day focusing on research management and a how-to guide for building a research library.
Twenty-five delegates enjoyed a combination of taught and interactive sessions where they were able to discuss their research experiences and learn new research techniques.
Demand is high for places on these workshops, so further sessions are planned for Bristol in January and London in March.
September 30th, 2006
Prospect Research Training, Cardiff
This Workshop offered a full day of prospect research training in collaboration with Robin Jones of Milestone Research.
The day focused on Wales and the Welsh, where the wealth lies and how to identify it. The day covered:
- Researching the feasibility of a fundraising strategy
- How to draw up an appropriate research brief
- How to compile a list of potential donors
- What strategies to use to research wealthy individuals
- What kind of information is relevant
- How to build a research library on a shoestring
- Using research
The best way to understand research is to do it, so the training was hands on allowing delegates to go away with their own tailored research plan.
Sarah Price, Deputy Director of Development at Cardiff University attended this workshop. She said:
“I found the workshop invaluable – even as an experienced fundraiser I was constantly discovering new research sources which could be drawn upon and about which I was previously unaware – the day turned out to be an incredibly good investment.”
June 7th, 2006
Researchers In Fundraising Spring Conference
This year's Researchers in Fundraising (RiF) Spring conference was held in the NCVO offices on 23rd May 2006.
It was, as ever, a roaring success.
Over a hundred delegates turned up to this event which had a particular focus on the City and researching the individuals who work there.
RiF conferences have become increasingly content-rich affairs which I generally find far preferable to the hot air approach of some conferences. Perhaps even for those of us who admit to research anorak tendencies, however, this was just a bit too much to take in.
The highlight for me was the rather likeable, dry-witted Chris Stoakes who bare-facedly promoted his new book "All You Need to Know About The City". He was first up to speak and gave us a clear, succinct and entertaining account of the structure of City financial institutions. I've ordered his book, confident that I will soon know all I need to about The City.
Andrew Blessley, Clerk of the Worshipful Company of Clothworkers was next to speak. His style was quite different. He was far more serious. But he delivered some extremely helpful nuggets of information well-targeted to his audience in a measured fashion and overall I was impressed and feeling very informed by this point.
We returned from coffee break to discover that Bureau Van Dijk were unable to demonstrate their DASH product. Personally I was mildly relieved as I use this product daily. For others this was a good opportunity missed, but RiF organisers assured us that the product demo will be incorporated into the next conference.
The extra time allowed for a longer RiF AGM. After the synopsis from chairman Robin Jones, Treasurer Jo Bailey announced that RiF finances are healthy and asked for ideas as to how to spend the money in the bank - because RiF is good at democracy.
With the room bulging with delegates it is clear that RiF has snowballed over the past few years. This is an organisation with a lot of energy, a lot of potential to be harnessed. RiF members believe in RiF. Which makes it seem like a good time to define some ambitious goals and get prospect research more firmly anchored within the fundraising world.
Anyway, we had a quick brainstorm. Interest was expressed in establishing some regional groups and a number of possible themes were suggested for future conferences, including:
- European and US research
- Copyright
- Inviting a major donor to talk about their motivations
Lunch was delicious. It was difficult to hear conversations inside as the room was so packed and it was oppressively hot, so I went outside and found a table and chairs next to the river - bliss. I spoke with a couple of interesting, thoughtful fundraisers. I spoke with a group of prospect researchers. Strangely, three out of the four of us had both a cat and a mouse living in our houses.
The usual comfortable combination of the professional and the sociable that characterises RiF conferences for me.
After lunch, the frighteningly well-researched Sylvia James gave a talk entitled Researching City Personalities having recently undertaken a project defining the corporate finance community in the UK for the Corporate Finance Faculty of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales.
Her presentation was well-structured and packed with valuable information; especially useful were her tips on research sources. And I am pleased to now know what is meant by the expression Chinese Wall.
However, by 3pm my capacity to absorb anything further had been reached. This had been an intense set of sessions and I think it might have been refreshing to do something interactive at this point.
But my appetite has been whetted and I'm looking forward to the arrival of All I Need to Know About The City.
June 5th, 2006