Workshops & Events 2010

Co-Presenter
“International Rescue Committee’s Freedom Fund: The Tale of the Ugly Duckling”
American India Foundation (AIF)
Leadership Retreat Chicago 
Hyatt Regency, Chicago IL
Saturday, September 25, 2010

Presenters:
Janet Harris, Vice President of Development, The International Rescue Committee.
Poonam Prasad, Founder and President, Prasad Consulting and Research

In 1999, Janet teamed up with Poonam while conducting a study for the IRC. They recommended against mounting a campaign because its fundraising function seemed immature and its mission too remote for donors to embrace. Nevertheless, the campaign launched with both Janet and Poonam on board. Overcoming the predicted obstacles as well as losses in leadership, 9/11, the dot com bubble and the current downturn, it recently concluded with $110 million raised. This case study shows how thoughtful research, creativity and determination can beat the odds.

Adjunct Instructor
Course on Fundraising Research and Information Management
New York University, School of Continuing and Professional Studies 
George H. Heyman, Jr. Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising, New York, NY 
September 23 – October 14, 2010

To help your organization flourish, you need to know how to identify, research, cultivate, and track donors. During this course you will learn how to use free and cost-effective research tools to evaluate a prospect’s ability and inclination to give; and how to store, retrieve, and disseminate information. Topics such as donor confidentiality and other ethical and legal issues will also be covered. You will also learn about prospecting for new donors. Basic skills in internet and MS Word, and a command of written English required.

Guest Expert
Women in Development New York (WID-NY) LinkedIn Group
Online Guest Expert Q & A 
September 21 – 24, 2010

Research Track Chair
Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Fund Raising Day in New York
The Marriott Marquis, New York, NY
Friday, June 11, 2010, 8:30am – 5:00pm

Fundraising Day in New York is the largest single-day conference on philanthropy. Whether attending for the first time or the fortieth, you’ll find an amazing array of session topics covering every current and emerging aspect of fundraising, presented by leaders and seasoned experts in the field you’ll want to hear from and meet. Almost 2000 fundraisers are present to share ideas, network, and learn from each other. Seventy companies in the SolutionsCenter are on hand to make your life easier, more productive, and innovative.

Conference Presenter
“Are The Best Things Online Free? Resources to Identify and Profile Prospects” 
The American Association of Museums (AAM), Annual Meeting “Museums Without Borders”
The Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles CA
Wednesday, May 26, 2010, 2:00 – 3:15pm

Do you need more information about the interests and giving capacity of a prospect you are going to see and wonder who among your core constituents you might target for a major gift or how to prioritize your prospect pool and wish you knew names of more people interested in your type of agency or program or how out how to keep up with the latest news about your top prospects? If so, this session is for you. During the workshop, we will access real websites to find out information about a living corporate leader who is also a foundation officer and major donor.

Speaker
“What You Need to Know about Your Best (and Future) Friends”
Mutual Concerns of Air and Space Museums Conference
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly, Virginia
Monday, March 29, 2:20 – 4:00pm

Presenters:
Barry Smith, Executive Director, The Future of Flight Foundation
Poonam Prasad, Founder and President, Prasad Consulting and Research

The process of fundraising is essentially a networking one. Leveraging gifts, especially major ones, entails access to prospect giving history, peer relationships, knowledge of corporate or foundation roles, of close colleagues, hobbies and affiliations, even of family influences. Few institutions actually know the effective reach their governance teams have into funding sources. Such information can be mined on the Internet following disciplined pathways. This session will model search processes through case histories. Participants will receive tools and methodologies for doing extensive research on sites that are both free or are reasonably proprietary.

In addition to offering participants tools and techniques for building a networking database, follow-up strategies, especially those that custom-tailor the cultivation process, will also be discussed. Small museums will be given some extra instruction to be sure they are not underutilizing their best avenues to capital access.

Luncheon Speaker
“High-Value Prospect Research”
The Association of Development Officers (ADO), Monthly Luncheon
Sam’s of Gedney Way, White Plains NY
Wednesday, February 10, 2010, 11:45am – 12:30pm

The financial turmoil of 2008 and its aftermath have made researching potential donors and prospects more important than ever. As we recover from the Recession of the Rich, what are the basic tools, processes and training that you and your staff need to keep up with your donors and prospects’ changing fortunes?

Poonam Prasad, President of New York City-based consulting firm Prasad Consulting & Research and one of ADO’s most highly-rated speakers, returns to reveal the mysteries of expensive and similar-sounding online wealth identification databases, subscriptions and search engines. Is Googling good enough or must you invest mega dollars to continue bringing in large gifts in today’s challenging environment?

Women in Development Luncheon
Guest Speaker: Laurie Tisch, Philanthropist; Founder & President, The Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund
The Yale Club, New York, NY
Monday, February 1, 2010, 12 – 2pm

Luncheon Speaker
“International Rescue Committee’s Freedom Fund: The Tale of the Ugly Duckling”
Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Luncheon Meeting
Quattro Pazzi at Oak Hills Park, Norwalk CT
Thursday, January 7, 2010, 12:00 – 2:00pm

Presenters:
Janet Harris, Vice President of Development, The International Rescue Committee.
Hugh Dwyer, Director of Development & Operations, International Rescue Committee
Poonam Prasad, Founder and President, Prasad Consulting and Research

In 1999, Janet teamed up with Poonam while conducting a study for the IRC. They recommended against mounting a campaign because its fundraising function seemed immature and its mission too remote for donors to embrace. Nevertheless, the campaign launched with Janet, Poonam and Hugh on board. Overcoming the predicted obstacles as well as losses in leadership, 9/11, the dot com bubble and the current downturn, it recently concluded with $110 million raised. Come learn how thoughtful research, creativity and determination can beat the odds.