Prospect Research & Intelligence
I help fundraising and business-development teams understand prospects, decide where to focus, and prepare for useful conversations. The work includes individual profiles, portfolio prioritization, and business-development briefs.
The starting point is the decision you need to make. From there, we agree on the research needed and a deliverable your team can use.
Discuss your research needsFor development teams and fundraisers preparing for cultivation, reviewing a major gift portfolio, or planning an event. Research can clarify mission connection, relevant giving interests, and what to learn next. Capacity is one consideration; it does not establish willingness to give.
For consultants, small businesses, and professional teams preparing for meetings or exploring potential relationships. Research can clarify organizational context, relevant professional experience, and questions about fit. It supports preparation without assuming that a prospect wants to buy.
What do we need to know before the next conversation?
Bring together relevant background, philanthropic interests, and connections. A profile helps distinguish what the evidence supports from what still needs a conversation or further verification.
What we can scope: A focused profile organized around the decision, with sources, open questions, and useful next steps.
Who needs attention first—and why?
Review a portfolio against your goals, available information, and team capacity. Consider connection, engagement, and research gaps alongside capacity indicators, rather than treating a wealth estimate as a strategy.
What we can scope: A prioritized review with the reasoning behind the order and recommended next actions.
What would make this meeting worth having?
Research the people, organizations, and context behind a potential business relationship. Focus on relevant priorities, possible fit, and questions to explore rather than assuming interest or buying intent.
What we can scope: A meeting brief with relevant background, conversation questions, and follow-up considerations.
Scope, format, price, and timing are agreed before work begins. These are individually scoped engagements; the published Event Intelligence packages cover a separate, defined event brief.
The Event Intelligence Brief is a defined place to start: prioritized attendee research, conversation openings, and follow-up recommendations in a personally reviewed PDF. Choose research on up to five or up to 15 attendees.
See Event Intelligence packages and pricingIf the recurring problem is how research gets collected, checked, or handed off, the AI Workflow Sprint may be a better fit. AI Safe Start addresses expectations and safeguards for using AI. Research does not require an AI engagement.
Public information can be incomplete, outdated, or about the wrong person. A useful brief distinguishes supported facts from interpretation and identifies what still needs verification. AI-generated text is not a source.
For example, in a fictional event scenario, one guest has an impressive job title but no known connection to the mission. Another has a documented interest in the program and an existing relationship with the team. The research question is what each conversation could accomplish—not simply who appears wealthiest.
I am Ryan Clement, a prospect research professional and the founder of Ryan Clement Consulting. My consulting work is independent of my employment. We agree on appropriate sources and information handling before sharing records.
More about RyanTell me what you need to decide, who will use the research, and any deadline. A general description is enough for the initial inquiry; please do not include donor records or confidential information. Consultations are available remotely and in person by arrangement.
Discuss your research needs