Prospect Research #Chatbytes

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Episodes

143

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

Prospect research professionals share their stories, tips, and commentary on topics that affect our fundraising work and our lives. We also sneak in guests from outside our field to shake up our perspective on fundraising and prospect research.

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60 recent

June 1, 202619 min

142: Tricia Marsherall on Clean Data, Clear Strategy, and How Donor Databases Really Work

Tricia Marsherall, founder of Donor Database Experts, has seen it all: nonprofits convinced their database is broken, teams without a shared definition of "major gift," and the costly mistake of switching systems to solve a strategy problem. In this episode, she shares what thriving fundraising operations actually look like — and the preventative care every nonprofit needs. Resources Mentioned Connect with Tricia on LinkedIn Donor Database Experts | Knowledge Hub Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...and Others Don't | Jim Collins Read More on the Learning Edge Blog

May 4, 202627 min

141: Valerie Anastasio on the K-Shaped Economy and the Ultra-Wealthy Donor

Fundraising consultant Valerie Anastasio explains the K-shaped economy, why the ultra-wealthy require discipline rather than optimism from researchers, and how to focus on the 10% of high-net-worth prospects who actually align with your mission—instead of chasing every billionaire. Connect with Valerie Anastasio: LinkedIn Inside Philanthropy by David Callahan: insidephilanthropy.com The Wall Street Journal: wsj.com Bloomberg: bloomberg.com Read More on the Learning Edge Blog

April 6, 202619 min

140: When Portfolio Management Isn't Working: Amy Modin's Advice for Starting Over

Amy Modin, Director of Research and Prospect Management at the U.S. Air Force Academy Foundation, shares how she rebuilt a broken portfolio management system by meeting fundraisers where they are, building trust through humility, and showing up consistently—even when best practices don't fit. Connect with Amy on LinkedIn Read More on the Learning Edge Blog

March 2, 202622 min

139: Vered Siegel on Why Judgment Is the New Scarce Resource in Fundraising

Vered Siegel, CFRE, Director of Prospect Management and Research at American Friends of the Hebrew University, unpacks what it really means to be a strategic partner in the age of AI—and why judgment, not information, is now the scarcest resource in fundraising operations. Resources Mentioned Connect with Vered Siegel : LinkedIn | Website Don't Just Ask the Database Directly | Vered Siegel | White Paper | 2026 What Money Can't Buy: The Moral Limits of Markets by Michael J. Sandel Moralizing Technology: Understanding and Designing the Morality of Things by Peter-Paul Verbeek The Ethics of Ambiguity by Simone de Beauvoir Association of Advancement Services Professionals (AASP) Read More on the Learning Edge Blog

February 2, 202617 min

138: Derry Deringer on Major Gift Success Through Transparency and Partnership

Major gift consultant Derry Deringer shares how prospect researchers can build fundraiser confidence through focused partnerships and why transparency with donors trumps perfection Read More on the Learning Edge Blog Resources Mentioned Derry Deringer | Connect on LinkedIn | Website: Deringer Consulting

January 5, 202618 min

137: Will Schrepferman on AI-Powered Prospect Research with DonorAtlas

AI isn't just coming to prospect research—it's already here, and it's changing how organizations identify and understand their donors. Will Schrepferman shares why he developed DonorAtlas. Read More on the Learning Edge Blog DonorAtlas | Solutions for Nonprofits Will Schrepferman | Connect on LinkedIn CARA Webinar | The Prospect Research Live Challenge: Race, Vote, and Win Better Prospects with AI | 1-2pm ET | Registration

December 9, 202522 min

136: Diana Marquis on How the Development Director Doing It All Can Succeed with Major Gifts

Diana Marquis, founder of DMgroup Consulting, reveals how to manage major gifts with limited resources—and why good prospect research is the secret weapon every development director needs. Read More in the Learning Edge Blog Resources Mentioned Connect with Diana: LinkedIn | DMgroup Consulting

November 3, 202517 min

135: Karen Cochran on Cultivating Billion-Dollar Donor Relationships

Karen Cochran reveals why two-thirds of transformational gifts come from outside your donor base—and how research unlocks these relationships. Read More on the Learning Edge Blog Connect with Karen: LinkedIn | Philanthropy Innovators Website Why Your Major Gifts Program is Falling Short—And How to Fix It | Karen Cochran 5 Ways to Develop Billion-Dollar Relationships | Karen Cochran at AFP ICON 2025 | Available for purchase at AFP online

October 6, 202517 min

134: How Mid-Level Programs Drive Major Gift Growth with Jeff Schreifels

Co-founder of Veritus Group, Jeff Schreifels shares how to identify true major gift prospects, why two-thirds of donors don't want deeper relationships, and how mid-level programs unlock significant giving opportunities. Read More on the Learning Edge Blog Resources Mentioned Connect with Jeff: LinkedIn Veritus Group | The consulting firm Jeff co-founded in 2009 that works with nonprofits globally to create, build, and manage mid and major gift programs. Veritus Group Academy – An online training center launched in 2016 for fundraisers worldwide to develop skills in mid and major gifts.

September 1, 202518 min

133: Barbara Shelton on Strategic Solicitation, Curiosity, and the Art of Slowing Down

Consultant Barbara Shelton shares how deep donor profiles and meaningful conversations transform campaigns. In this episode of ChatBytes, she reveals how researchers, consultants, and gift officers can slow down, ask better questions, and raise both their expectations—and their results. Read More in the Learning Edge Blog Resources Mentioned Connect with Barbara Shelton | LinkedIn Explore the Aspire Research Group Learn more about M.Gale