Prospect research is quickly evolving due to innovative technologies, new best practices, and advancement in data analytics and AI. Because of these emerging tools and practices there is a distinct shift in the role of the traditional researcher in fundraising that is moving away from the collection and aggregation of information (e.g., reactive profiles) and towards creating proactive relationship management analytics and delivering actionable, data-informed insights that directly impact fundraising decision making.

To keep ahead of these trends, Oregon State University Foundation (OSUF) embarked on a three-year initiative to redefine its research approach, resulting in the newly branded Relationship Insights team at OSUF.

At its core Relationship Insights represents a cultural shift in OSUF’s approach to relationship management and research that focuses on creating a dynamic, proactive, data-informed program prioritizing close partnerships with Development and providing research analysts opportunities to embrace new technology while deemphasizing the more reactive, traditional research.

Join us to learn more about the Relationship Insights team’s journey that led to being recognized with a 2024 Silver CASE Circle of Excellence award in Advancement Services, and along the way learn how your organization can adopt a similar approach and how rethinking research can be beneficial for both your Advancement Services and Fundraising teams.

We will specifically discuss the strategies implemented in this shift, how other organizations can adopt and benefit from this type of approach, the lessons learned, and what the future holds for the Relationship Insights team.