Researchers in Fundraising 2011How to work with Fundraisers

Julian Smyth

• Introduction

• The historical context– Fundraiser/Admin– Fundraiser/Researcher/Database Manager– Multi-disciplinary team

• The Fundraiser’s view of the Researcher

• The Researcher’s view of the Fundraiser

• The relationship between researcher and fundraiser

• Understand the nature of a support/service role• MUST be mutual – if either dominates nobody wins• Each MUST understand the other’s job• Databases are tools, not an end in themselves• Raw data is unusable – format, format, format• Be sensitive – fundraising is an emotional job• Demand sensitivity – research can be a lonely and

unappreciated job

• Scenarios

Scenario 1• Fundraisers come to you at the last

minute for research when they’ve had the meeting planned for months– Protocols– Consequences– Line management– Payback

Scenario 2• No feedback!!

– Protocols– Priorities– Time-management– Pragmatism

Scenario 3• Fundraisers expect you to update database and moves

management system– Is this unreasonable?– Is it sometimes or all the time?– Can it be made easier for

fundraisers?– What’s the solution and

whose problem is it?

Conclusions• Raise your profile• Establish clearly understood protocols• Provide your data in a useable format• Use your boss• Be a team• Understand that information cannot always be used• They need you more than you need them

Thank you

Julian SmythDirector, Development & Alumni Relations Office

jls@aber.ac.uk