Professional Development:
The Strategic Role of Prospect Research in the Development Process

The Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement affirms that the role of research is essential at each stage of the development process: identification, verification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship. Researchers are the development officers on the front line of information management, uniquely positioned - and qualified - to gather, interpret, analyze, disseminate and direct data critical to securing support for nonprofit organizations.

Development researchers must work in concert with front-line fundraisers, each applying unique and vital sets of skills, to fulfill the missions of the organizations for which they work. In order to attain success, researchers must continually develop their skills. They must be grounded in the key concepts, terms and tools of the philanthropic profession. They must be knowledgeable about the unique challenges and accomplishments of their organizations. They must be able to apply technology efficiently in their work. They must understand the range of resources available to them, and apply those resources in an organized and purposeful manner.

Implicit in each of these areas is the understanding that development researchers will be given access to the training, tools, and continuing education opportunities necessary to achieve and maintain proficiency. In addition, researchers require access to information through which they may make strategic determinations. Researchers must be involved in key discussions regarding funding needs and determinations (for campaigns and other priorities) in planning sessions and in meetings involving strategic discourse. By participating in such settings, researchers promote effective decision-making by providing relevant information and informed analysis.