Workshops & Events 2015
Co-Presenter
How to Be a Successful Fundraiser
New York University School of Professional Studies
George H. Heyman Jr. Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising
New York, NY
Friday, October 23, 2015
9:00am – 5:00pm
Poonam joins Naomi Levine and other accomplished fundraising professionals in this special program. Naomi Levine explores such topics as fundraising strategies, obtaining and managing major gifts, capital campaigns, corporate and foundation fundraising, planned giving, board relationships, ethics in fundraising, and community visibility. She also explores in depth the power of women philanthropists, who control 51 percent of the privately held wealth in the United States.
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Introduction to Prospect Research
New York University School of Professional Studies
George H. Heyman Jr. Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising
New York, NY
Thursdays, September 29th to October 27th
No class on Tuesday, October 13th
6:30 – 8:30pm
4 Sessions
This course teaches students the practical research skills needed for fundraising. It introduces students to assorted research tools, websites, and databases and teaches them to develop targeted research strategies. Within an ethical context, they learn how to obtain information on donors and other funding sources. The course also covers how to summarize research findings and create cultivation and solicitation plans. During this course you will learn how to evaluate a prospect's ability and inclination to give and the basics of data mining, database screening and moves management. Basic understanding of fundraising concepts and practice, skills in internet research, MS Word, and an excellent command of written English required.
Co-Presenter
Prospect Development 2015: APRA’s 28th Annual International Conference
New Orleans Marriott, New Orleans, LA
Friday, July 24, 2015
10:30am — 12:00pm
The Donor Pipeline: It Starts with the Invitation List — Turning Guests into Donors
Identifying, researching and asking people to become donors is critical to the success of any non-profit. And these donors are everywhere, from attendees at your Special Event to people who contribute annually in some other way. Through careful and diligent observation and research, you can maximize benefits by strategically including them into your entire development plan. In this session, you will hear from experts in the field on how they effectively mine for gold using events and research as development tools and making an effective and focused “Ask.”
You will learn to:
Secure a major gift through cultivation of event attendees and others
Expand your Board through your event
Add new donors to your roster through careful research and focused asks
Speakers: Poonam Prasad, Founder & President, Prasad Consulting and Research; Alessandra Garber, Development Director, Hospital for Special Surgery
Co-Presenter and Research Track Co-Chair
Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Fundraising Day New York Conference
The Marriott Marquis, New York, NY
Friday, June 12, 2015
Fundraising Day New York is the premier East Coast conference on philanthropy. This one-day event takes over the Marriott Marquis in Times Square, NYC, bringing together the best and brightest nonprofit professionals from around the world to share their thoughts and advice.
Research Track
The Donor Pipeline: It Starts with the Invitation List — Turning Guests into Donors
Identifying, researching and asking people to become donors is critical to the success of any non-profit. In this advanced session, you will hear from experts in the field on how they maximize research and event planning to strategically raise major gifts.
You'll learn:
To create the ultimate guest list and add new donors to your roster through careful research
To develop pre and post event programs to cultivate major gift prospects
To engage event hosts and stakeholders to focus on the Ask
Speakers: Poonam Prasad, Founder & President, Prasad Consulting and Research; Robin Merle, Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer, Hospital for Special Surgery, Deborah MacFarlane Antoine, President and CEO, New York Junior Tennis & Learning, Andrea Vakos, Senior Director of Development, Regional Giving, UConn Foundation
Venturing into High Tech
Whether in Silicon Valley or any of the other burgeoning high-tech scenes, venture capitalists and entrepreneurs are a critical source of wealth and philanthropy, yet, they are some of the most difficult to research and model accurately. Find out how to build a useful income model for those in the venture capital industry and how to value start-up technology companies, including understanding their own equity distributions prior to an IPO or acquisition.
You'll learn:
To estimate a private tech company’s worth in the absence of a publicly-reported estimate
To identify key prospects for major gifts in the tech industry and how to work with them
To find resources for research on the tech industry
Speaker: Christopher Haight, Leadership Gift Officer, Cornell University
Investment Advisers: Where to Find Financial Info & How to Make Sense of It All
For hedge funds and private equity firms, where’s the best detailed, reliable and relevant information? What’s misleading and what really affects individual income? Using the SEC’s Form ADV, Clarke will chart professionals at one firm to demonstrate what’s important at any firm. (Very advanced. Complicated information unpacked as usable research guide.)
You'll learn:
To navigate the SEC Form ADV for investment advisers
To understand the organizational structures at most hedge funds, private equity and venture capital firms
To understand compensation structures, practices and ranges for most investment advisers
Speaker:Roslyn Clarke, Assistant Director, Research, Harvard University
Why the Wealthy Give
Underscored by articles in The Chronicle of Philanthropy and the U.S. Trust Study of High-Net-Worth Philanthropy, there have been significant shifts in giving behaviors, strategies and priorities among the country’s wealthiest philanthropists. In this session we will explore what motivates the wealthy to give; from the deeply personal to metrics. And what motivates them to stop giving; from donor fatigue to lack of impact. Insights from our panel of experts on philanthropy, and invited philanthropists, will provide a unique perspective that cannot be missed.
You'll learn:
How to market your organization’s mission to major philanthropists
What you can do to keep philanthropists involved
How wealthy donors monitor and evaluate the impact of their charitable giving
Speakers: Glen Macdonald, Chairman, Advisory Board, Wealth & Giving Forum; Stacy Palmer, Editor, The Chronicle of Philanthropy
Joint with Advanced Fundraising, Major Gifts tracks
Click here for FRDNY conference handouts
Guest Speaker
United Negro College Fund 2015 Annual Conference
Westin Alexandria Hotel, Alexandria, Virginia
Friday, May 15, 2015
How to Research Your Way to Special Event Success
Identifying, researching and asking people to become donors is critical to the success of any non-profit. Through diligent research and teamwork, you can maximize the benefits of an event by using it as a stepping stone toward a major gift. In this session, you will hear from an expert in the field how to effectively mine for gold using events and research as a critical part of the development plan to raise major support for an organization.
You’ll learn how to:
Create the ultimate guest list through research
Strategically engage stakeholders in events to focus on the “Ask” (in addition to the catering)
Get the party started early by cultivating premium guests before the invitation is sent
Presenter
AFP NY Westchester Chapter Breakfast Workshop
DoubleTree by HILTON, Tarrytown, NY
Tuesday, March 17, 2015“Beyond Google — 10 Questions You May Have About Major Donor Research”
Researching donors and prospects is more important than ever in order to maximize your time and resources. Poonam Prasad, President of New York City-based consulting firm Prasad Consulting & Research reveals the mysteries of expensive and similar-sounding online wealth identification databases, free websites, and other resources. Is Googling good enough or must you invest mega dollars to prioritize major gifts?
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Prospect Research
New York University School of Professional Studies
George H. Heyman Jr. Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising
New York, NY
Thursdays, January 29, 2015 – February 26, 2015
3:30 – 6:10pmThis Master’s level course teaches students the practical research skills needed for fundraising. It introduces students to assorted research tools, websites, and databases and teaches them to develop targeted research strategies. Within an ethical context, they learn how to obtain information on donors and other funding sources. The course also covers how to summarize research findings and create cultivation and solicitation plans. During this course you will learn how to evaluate a prospect’s ability and inclination to give and the basics of data mining, database screening and moves management. Basic understanding of fundraising concepts and practice, skills in internet research, MS Word, and an excellent command of written English required.
