The Research team aims to identify, profile and track individuals, companies and foundations who have the capacity to make a gift of £5,000 or more to the School. We focus on making the fundraising process more efficient; tracking activity; facilitating larger gifts; providing the tools to manage the fundraising process and screening for ethical and reputational risk.
Identification
We identify new fundraising targets, or prospects, by focusing on connection and capacity. We identify alumni and individuals with a connection to LSE or a specific project who have the capacity to make a major gift. We identify potential prospects via reports from the database, where we research potential prospects against external sources; and from lists, media searches and referrals which we research in relation to our existing alumni base and School projects. For example we review all donors who have given a single gift of over £250, and those included in The Sunday Times Rich List. We assign wealth ratings to all new prospects determined by a number of factors, including previous donations both to LSE and other charitable organisations, estimates of income and known assets, information in rich lists, job title, employer and length of service.
Ethics
The Research team has been asked by the School to provide full and initial screenings of potential donors in accordance with the School’s current policy for the acceptance of grants and donations. Screenings highlight areas or issues which may present an ethical or reputational risk to the School in relation to receiving a gift or grant from a particular individual, company or foundation.
The team is also responsible for managing screenings through the approval process and for recording all related information and decisions on the Advance database. A screening can be requested by the relationship-holder within a department which is seeking philanthropic investment or a fundraiser. As is set out in the School’s procedures for ethical screening no individual, centre or department should request a donation on their own initiative without first consulting LSE Advancement or the Research Division at an early stage.
Profiling
Using public sources and in accordance with the Data Protection Act, we provide more in-depth information on prospective donors to support the fundraising process. We produce profiles which provide the fundraisers with collated information to enable them to engage and build relationships. We produce briefings on guests attending fundraising events such as cultivation dinners hosted by the Director and the Chairman’s Circle Dinner organised by the Annual Fund.
Tracking
We record all major gift fundraising activity undertaken by LSE Advancement and the LSE Foundation in New York on the Advance database. The tracking system records the set of active prospects, staff assignments, wealth ratings and philanthropic interests. We also store all proposals and their outcomes. In addition the tracking system is the home for the proposal check list which is designed to ensure that the School’s internal processes and financial regulations have been followed before an ask is made.
Data Analytics
The Research team has worked with DonorCast to develop a set of statistical models which covers major giving, legacy giving and annual giving. We have worked with units across LSE Advancement to integrate these models into the database and fundraising activity by the Annual Fund and Development teams.