Workshop: Prospect Research

October 1, 2026 11:30am-4:00pm ET

Overview

One of the most important skills a fundraiser can possess is knowing how to assess the capacity and inclination of individual prospects. Whether you work in frontline fundraising, prospect management or direct marketing, it’s important to approach your research in a thorough and systematic way. Doing so will help ensure that you’re focused on the right prospects and allocating your time and energy efficiently.

Join us on Thursday, October 1st, for an interactive online workshop to learn how to conduct good prospect research to support your institution’s fundraising efforts.

Participants will have an opportunity to:

  • Learn a simple practical process to guide their research efforts
  • Get guidance from industry experts as well as input from peers
  • Set goals that are both ambitious and realistic.
  • Think about the most effective ways to allocate limited resources
  • Obtain tools, templates, and other materials
  • And more!

This event is ideal for advancement professionals at educational institutions who want help developing and/or refining their research efforts.

  • AGN Members save an additional 30%
  • Receive further discounts when registering multiple attendees from one institution
  • Note: Only one person/login per institutional registration.

Program

(all times are Eastern Time)

11:20am - Sign-In Begins

11:30am - Welcome/Overview of the Day (10 min)

11:40am - Introduction to Prospect Research - General Session (50 min)

Learn the fundamentals of prospect research.

12:30pm - Roles & Goals - Group Session-1 (30 min)

Introduce yourself, share your goals and explain how prospect research fits into your role.

1:00pm - Break (15 min)

1:15pm - Tasks & Time - Group Session-2 (60 min)

Work with others on a plan for optimizing the time you spend on prospect research.

2:15pm - Break (15 min)

2:30pm - Tools & Techniques - Group Session-3 (60 min)

Participate in an exercise to help you think about and apply your prospect research skills.

3:30pm - Bringing It All Together (30 min)

Hear key takeaways, lessons learned and parting words of advice from others.

4:00pm - Workshop Ends

*Note: Only one person/login per institutional registration.

Faculty

Dan Allenby  (Host) |  President & Founder at Annual Giving Network

Dan is an author, speaker, and consultant who has worked with educational institutions for more than 25 years to improve their fundraising results. An internationally recognized expert on annual giving, he is a CASE Laureate and recipient of the prestigious Crystal Apple Award for Teaching Excellence. His book Ideas for Annual Giving offers designs for helping organizations increase their levels of sustainable philanthropic support. Dan has led annual giving and membership programs at Boston University, Tufts University, Georgetown University, and the National Geographic Society. He also served on the faculty for CASE’s Summer Institute in Educational Fundraising and chaired its Senior Annual Giving Professionals Conference and Annual Giving Workshop for five collective terms. He holds a B.A. in History from James Madison University and a M.B.A. from Boston College. Outside of work, Dan enjoys spending time with his family, writing songs, and getting away to the beaches of Cape Cod. His philosophy is that success comes from focusing on what’s right in front of you.

Erin Glidden

Erin has led annual giving and other advancement efforts at the South Dakota State University Foundation and the Mid-America Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Her other experience includes marketing and sports communication. She holds a B.B.A. and a certificate in entrepreneurship and marketing management from The University of Iowa Tippie College of Business.

For more information about this workshop, please contact us at 888.407.5064 or [email protected].