Rich people don't give money. Philanthropists give money. The work is figuring out which of your prospects are actually philanthropists.
Kimberly Melton
How I work
Every collaboration is unique. What follows describes the range of my work and where our conversation begins.
Before any screening, I look at what you actually have. That means the data, the people who manage it, and the fundraisers in the field.
A real prospect assessment doesn't just identify your most affluent prospects. It clearly informs your next right actions.
Prospect Assessment
Wealth ratings are a starting point, not an answer. A screening tells you what someone could give.
I validate for accuracy, then validate a prospect's capacity, philanthropic identity, and natural affinity to your organization. Together, they inform projections, assignments, and today's next action.
Screening & Validation
A strong pipeline maintains bench strength at every level of giving, recognizing that today's mid-level donor is often tomorrow's major gift. I help you build a solid, enduring prospect pipeline.
The goal is never just this year's dollars. It's identifying and developing the donors who will define your organization's future.
Pipeline Strategy
At its core, Prospect Management is a discipline, not a task. It means evaluating prospects with intention, building strategies grounded in both data and institutional knowledge, and cultivating relationships with individuals to build long-lasting affinity to your organization.
And it always starts with the same first step: turning good data into real conversations.
Prospect Management
You're probably here because...
"We need more prospects. The board says we have to raise more and we think we need a screening."
"We did a screening. Now we have this list and we're not sure what to do with it."
"Our major donors have been the same people for years. We don't know how to grow beyond them."
"We're launching a capital campaign and we're not confident our current prospect base can get us to goal."
"We have good data and solid portfolios, but somehow we aren't turning enough prospects into actual donors."
The work is never just a screening list.
I work through the whole arc. From assessing what you already have, to building the systems and habits that keep a pipeline healthy long after the engagement ends.
Prospect Assessment · Screening & Validation · Pipeline Strategy · Prospect Management · Capital Campaign Counsel
The best time to understand a donor isn’t when they make their first large gift. It’s when they make their first small one.
Kimberly Melton