managing a small research office, or…
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Managing a small research office, or…. Being THE ONLY ONE on the island!. Presentation by Sacha Newman 5 th November 2012 RIF Conference 2012. How did I get here?. What was inside the coconut?. Poor data quality and management of the database – records were a mess - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Managing a small research office, or…
Being THE ONLY ONE on the island!
Presentation by Sacha Newman5th November 2012
RIF Conference 2012
How did I get here?
What was inside the coconut?
• Poor data quality and management of the database – records were a mess• No resources or research library• Limited budget• Strained relationship between central and regional fundraisers• No experience of using research to further fundraising aims• Reactive attitude rather than proactive• No real prospect list or pipeline• Not enough fundraisers for major gifts
Building my life raft
• Where to begin? The DATABASE!• Talk to your team – what do they know, but haven’t told you?• Design procedures for you AND your team• Build a portfolio of resources – what’s out there?• Invest in some good training on prospect research, or find someone who knows how it’s done!• Train fundraisers to do their own research• Read a lot! • Be patient – Rome wasn’t built in a day• Think about getting a volunteer / intern
But, what about my day job? I still have to get everything done…..
“No man is an Island”
Charitable Trust team
Central Major Gifts
ManagersCentral
Stewardship team
Regional Fundraisers
Admin support
Wider networksYOU GUYS!
Database“The Edge”
The good
• Life is never dull!• Always busy – I get easily bored otherwise• My own master – no-one to argue with me about research! • Work on a number of different projects• Set my own strategy and direction• Work with lots of lovely different people • Get out of the office to visit the wider team• Get to say NO a lot• Get left alone to do my own thing• Indispensable• Get to share my knowledge with the team through training• Can pick my own resources (within budget)
The Bad
• Always busy• Saying no a lot• No-one to share the workload with• Work on the bigger projects, rather than small interesting ones• OMG, Event Briefings, Grrrrrr!• Is it me, or am I talking gibberish?• Planning. What’s that?• Mostly catching my tail rather than going fishing• Get left alone a lot to do my own thing • Indispensable • Too much to do!!!
And The Ugly!
• Can’t always do everything to a high standard• Innovation is limited to what I can fit in to my day• Limited time to research new products / sources• Campaigns take precedence over the everyday research needs• Something’s gotta give – Prospect Management or profiling????• Personal Development? LOL!• No one to bounce ideas off• A lone voice in a sea of fundraisers• I’m just the database nerd• Keeping up to date
What you and your team need to find the answers to
Can you deliver profiles and a strategy if there’s only 1 or half of you? How to conduct review of data and continue to monitor success of fundraising campaigns Resources – limited budget – how to review them Hiring and managing interns, short-term contracts Training fundraisers to do their own research Setting up procedures to manage multiple priorities and managing expectations Managing time and being realistic Working with suppliers – who does what Using networks for advice and training – you need time
“Always look on the bright side of life”
o How to make the best of it – and how to stay motivated? o To always seek to be better and more effective in fundraisingo To change people’s minds about the importance of good datao Be patient – when you're on your own, things can take time to change, but eventually they willo Don't be afraid to ask for help!
