Who Are Your Access People?

If you are a researcher, then it is essential that you understand your organization beyond the research data you collect. Ask your fundraisers how they prioritize their portfolios of prospects. This helps you define your priorities to produce actionable research.

Finally, let’s say that you’ve identified the access person and also the prospect, and the fundraiser attains the gift. Who gets the credit? My advice: Clearly defer to the team, and use the opportunity to enrich your relationship with the fundraiser. Then solicit wisdom and additional information on resources that can help you identify future access people and new prospects.