Social Prospects
CURRENTS Article This brief article looks at how Cornell University is using the profile information its alumni provide in its social media communities to identify potential donors.

Going for Gold
CURRENTS Article The story profiles eight of the 2012 CASE Circle of Excellence Award grand gold and gold award winners.

Crème de la Crème
CURRENTS Article In 2011, 268 bronze, silver, gold, and grand gold Circle of Excellence awards went to 171 colleges, universities, independent schools, and nonprofit organizations worldwide. Eight of those grand gold and gold award winners are profiled here.

The Science Behind Alumni Engagement
CURRENTS Article As part of an effort to double fundraising over the next 10 years, the University of Waterloo surveyed its alumni and purchased external data to determine how to move potential leaders into a more active role with the university.

Map Quest
CURRENTS Article Wealth and philanthropy are undergoing a dramatic global shift, and fundraisers at educational institutions must respond by looking beyond their national borders for prospective donors. In this article, consultant Jay Frost provides tips on how to do successful international prospect research using Sherpa guides, database screening, etc.

Do Not Disturb
CURRENTS Article Facts can be taken out of context and used in unwelcome ways. This is the crux of the problem of privacy and the prospect researcher.

No Leaf Unturned
CURRENTS Article Research consultants helped the advancement team at University of Wisconsin-Superior think of their development efforts as a small business and showed them how to grow it, even with limited staff and resources.

Gifts Are in the Details
CURRENTS Article Advancement researchers are helping development officers not only identify prospects more efficiently, but also analyze fund-raising efforts for more successful campaigns.

AdvanceWork: Where's the Beef?
CURRENTS Article An nfpSynergy study of donor frustrations with United Kingdom charities offers some lessons for education institutions to bear in mind as they communicate with their supporters. The report, titled “Disgusted or delighted,” suggests that UK donors are most concerned about how their gifts are being used. Respondents also cited frustrations with direct-mail appeals (61 percent) and telephone solicitations (43 percent).

Goals and Assists
CURRENTS Article Prospect researchers and development officers must form a partnership to identify potential donors' ability, interest, and desire to give. This article provides three guidelines for building a productive relationship and includes a table showing the differences in the information that researchers and development officers are likely to uncover. This article is of interest to development officers and prospect researchers.

Finding Sunken Treasure
CURRENTS Article Prospect research is still a brand-new field in Europe. The article describes the biggest hurdles that researchers face there—ranging from privacy legislation to linguistic differences—and describes the resources and research techniques that he has found to be most useful.

Read the Writing on the Wall (Street)
CURRENTS Article Certain business activities create deadlines for tax-favorable giving for owners, insiders, or major stockholders. Development officers need to monitor their prospects' holdings for these deadlines and to encourage gifts at advantageous times. Individuals who might merit extra attention include public company insiders, intrapreneurs, and private company owners and executives. The article describes how to identify and respond to two important types of deadline-oriented developments: mergers and initial public offerings. A sidebar provides a guide to related business terms.