Transform Donor Data into Actionable Insights

Individual Donor Research and Planning offers organizations the opportunity to better understand their donor base and make informed fundraising decisions. Once the research is completed, an easy-to-use spreadsheet and report are provided containing as much information on each prospect as available. The data can be integrated into existing fundraising systems for staff use. Findings may be implemented independently or with ACG’s support through the development of a strategic fundraising plan that advances contributed revenue goals.

The service electronically screens donor, subscriber, member, single ticket, or other connected individual records selected by the organization against more than eighteen public information databases. When data is matched, the resulting information may include a prospective donor’s financial position, community connections, board experience, property ownership, age, company ownership, and philanthropic contributions, among other data points. In addition, the data provides ratings for a prospect’s propensity to give and affinity for the organization, achieving a balance of connection, commitment, and capacity. This information helps identify potential sources of new or increased contributed income from individuals through annual, capital, endowment, or planned gifts.

Data is obtained through ACG’s association with Kindsight Information Systems, a leading provider of donor research and prospect screening services. This partnership results in significant savings for small and mid-sized cultural organizations that might not otherwise have access to these tools. ACG’s team members bring decades of experience in working with donor research, analyzing data, and providing meaningful recommendations to strengthen fundraising performance across annual fund, major gift, and capital campaign initiatives.

With more than 100,000 private, corporate, community, and family foundations across the United States and Canada, many organizations miss potential funding opportunities due to limited access to critical information before submitting a proposal. In some cases, this limitation prevents reapplication for at least one year, creating a significant funding gap. In other cases, eligible organizations remain unaware of existing opportunities. Additionally, some foundations extend invitations to prospective grantees based on trustee networks or community relationships, making access to accurate intelligence essential.

Foundation Research and Planning provides the information necessary to cultivate relationships with foundation prospects, prepare effective applications, and ensure compliance with funder requirements and deadlines. The service includes the collection and analysis of relevant data to strengthen alignment between organizational programs and foundation priorities.

Research findings may include, as available:

• Application information
• Asset information
• Contact information
• Foundation board members
• Foundation name
• Giving history
• Grant deadlines
• Number and size of past gifts
• Other relevant information based on past experience

This research-based approach supports organizations in building strategic and informed relationships with foundation partners, maximizing potential for successful funding outcomes.