August 18, 2025 • 25 mins
Your browser groans under the weight of countless tabs while your prospect's name stares at you from the CRM dashboard. The research rabbit hole keeps getting deeper, consuming hours of your day with diminishing returns. Sound familiar?
Prospect research doesn't have to be this way. The real power in donor profiles isn't found in data volume but in actionable insights that spark meaningful conversations. Yet most fundraisers fall into the trap of mistaking thoroughness for effectiveness, spending over half their preparation time gathering information rather than developing strategy. This misalignment costs more than time—it compromises the quality of donor relationships.
This transformative approach redefines fundraising diligence through a simple yet powerful ChatGPT strategy. Using a carefully crafted 45-word "public source meta prompt," you can ethically gather verified donor information from public sources in minutes rather than hours. The prompt delivers concise, actionable insights about career milestones, philanthropic interests, and mission alignment—each with cited sources—freeing your mental bandwidth for what truly matters: strategic interpretation and personalized engagement.
The shift isn't about cutting corners—it's about optimizing your expertise. True rigor in fundraising research lies in discernment, not manual labor. By letting AI handle the heavy lifting of data gathering, you reclaim time for the deeply human work of building donor relationships based on values and genuine connection. This approach ensures consistency across your fundraising team while maintaining the highest ethical standards, using only public information with proper citation.
Ready to transform your prospect research workflow? Download the free AI Made Easy prompt pack from letstalkfundraising.com and test a proven fundraising prompt today. Experience firsthand how liberating it feels to step away from endless tabs and into strategic clarity. Your donors deserve conversations driven by insights, not data dumps—and you deserve the professional satisfaction of focusing on what you do best.
💡 Want to take the next small step?
→ Free Download: 12 Fundraising Prompts You'll Actually Use
→ Course: The Fundraiser's AI Starter Suite
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Keith Greer, CFRE (00:00):
Your browser groans under 17 open tabs,
linkedin, guidestar, the localnews, while a new prospect's
name stares at you from your CRMdashboard.
You need the story behind theircapacity fast.
But the research rabbit holekeeps getting deeper.
Imagine typing one clearquestion and watching ChatGPT
hand you three fresh givingclues before that half-read
(00:23):
article finishes loading.
No endless tabs, just instantinsight.
So let's talk fundraising.
Let's get honest.
Prospect research often feelslike falling down an endless
rabbit hole, doesn't it?
You've been there diving intoLinkedIn connections, parsing
obscure GuideStar documents andclicking through news articles
(00:45):
hoping to piece together apicture of a donor's potential.
Hours slip away and whileyou've gathered data points, the
real story, the insights thatcould drive a meaningful
conversation, still feels fuzzy.
This cycle isn't justexhausting, it's costly.
Because here's the truth thereal power of a prospect profile
isn't in the sheer volume ofdata you collect, it's in the
(01:08):
actionable insights that sparkpersonal, values-driven
conversations.
Yet, as fundraisers, we oftenfind ourselves trapped in a
paradox, pouring the lion'sshare of our energy into data
gathering, leaving preciouslittle time for interpretation
and strategy.
Think about the last profileyou assembled.
How many tabs did you open?
How many sources did youcross-reference, double-check
(01:31):
and revisit, just to confirm onesmall detail.
If you're anything like me, theanswer is far too many.
Each open tab symbolizes notjust another data point, but
another potential distraction.
Another detour away but anotherpotential distraction.
Another detour away from whatreally matters understanding
your prospect deeply enough tomake an ask that resonates.
Now I'm not knockingthoroughness.
(01:53):
Attention to detail matters,especially in fundraising.
But here's the distinctionThoroughness is about depth of
insight, not the volume of data,and too often we mistake the
painstaking act of gatheringinformation for rigor.
The cost of this confusion issteep.
It's your time, your energy andyour strategic thinking that
(02:13):
suffer.
Consider this Research showsthat fundraisers typically spend
more than half theirpreparation time on gathering
raw data, leaving less time forreflection, interpretation and
strategic thinking.
Less time for reflection,interpretation and strategic
thinking.
When you're scrolling, clickingand cross-referencing, you
aren't planning how to approacha donor strategically, you're
not crafting thoughtfulquestions or aligning their
(02:36):
interests with your mission.
Instead, you're caught up in anoverwhelming sea of information
, feeling diligent butdisconnected from the true goal
personalized engagement.
So how do we break this cycle?
First, let's redefine whatdiligence means.
In prospect research, diligenceisn't measured by how many tabs
(02:56):
you open or sources you check.
True diligence meanseffectively surfacing insights
quickly and clearly, insightsthat directly inform your donor
strategy.
It means streamlining yoursource gathering so that your
brain is freed up for highervalue strategic thinking rather
than endless scrolling.
Let's imagine a new kind ofprospect research workflow one
(03:20):
where you type a single, focusedquestion and instantly receive
clear, relevant insights.
Career highlights, instantlyreceive clear, relevant insights
, career highlights,philanthropic interests,
alignment with your mission.
Imagine the clarity you'd gainif, instead of bouncing between
websites, you had just a handfulof pointed insights, neatly
delivered, each verified andactionable.
(03:41):
But why is this so critical?
Why does it matter that yourbrain spends more time
interpreting rather thangathering?
Because donors don't say yesbased on facts alone.
They say yes based on values,personal connections and genuine
alignment with your cause.
If your mental energy isconsumed by the endless chase
(04:02):
for data, how can you clearlydiscern the insights that truly
resonate?
Do you ever dive deep intoprospect research, gathering
every scrap of information, onlyto feel overwhelmed when the
meeting finally arrives?
Your pages of notes arethorough, yet turning them into
a crisp, actionable strategyfeels out of reach.
The meetings go fine, butyou're aiming for extraordinary.
(04:25):
What if you focused on just afew truly meaningful insights
instead?
Picture walking into eachconversation clear-headed and
confident, fully tuned to whatyour donor values most.
How might that shift thequality of your asks and your
success rates?
Does that sound something likeyou asks and your success rates?
(04:46):
Does that sound something likeyou?
Here's a truth worth repeatingthe power of your prospect
profiles doesn't lie in sheerdata.
It lies in insights.
Insights that illuminate adonor's passions, their capacity
and their willingness topartner in your mission.
Insights that you'll uncovermore effectively when you're not
drowning in that raw data.
(05:06):
Take five seconds right now,pause and reflect what questions
about your next prospect feelsunanswered right now.
Is it their deepestphilanthropic passion, their
motivation for giving, orperhaps the cause closest to
their heart?
Jot that down, because clarityon this question is your real
task, not just another stack ofdata.
(05:28):
And here's the game changer.
This shift doesn't meancompromising quality or
diligence.
Instead, it's about redefiningwhat diligence looks like.
It's valuing discernment overdetail overload.
It's ensuring your researchdirectly informs your next
conversation, not just your nextdata point.
In fundraising, every momentcounts.
(05:50):
Every minute spent in strategicthought, rather than mindless
scrolling, brings you closer toa meaningful connection.
It's the difference between ageneric conversation and one
that feels tailored andauthentic and deeply relevant.
So today, consider this yourinvitation to shift your mindset
.
Allow yourself to step awayfrom the endless research rabbit
(06:11):
hole and embrace a streamlinedapproach.
One clear prompt, a handful offresh insights, and suddenly
you're not just prepared, you'restrategically aligned.
Imagine entering your nextdonor meeting feeling grounded
and clear, knowing exactly whichquestions to ask, which topics
resonate and how your missionaligns with their passions.
(06:33):
That's the power ofinsight-driven research and
that's what we're going toexplore next.
In just a moment, I'll show youexactly how ChatGPT supports
the shift.
I'll show you exactly howChatGPT supports this shift,
helping you effortlessly surfacecritical insights with just one
clear question.
But before we do hold this newfundraising truth, close
Insights, not data, sparkgenerosity.
(06:57):
Let's take the shift fromoverwhelming data collection to
actionable insights onepractical step further.
Imagine this Instead of yourbrowser creaking under a dozen
open tabs, you use just oneprompt Clear, concise and
designed to surface meaningfulinsights instantly.
That's the power of usingChatGPT strategically in your
(07:19):
prospect research.
Here's how it works.
I call this the public sourcemeta prompt.
With one carefully structuredquestion, you signal exactly
what information you need, setboundaries to ensure you're
using ethical sources andspecify the insights required to
guide your strategy no guessing, no digging through page after
(07:41):
page, just targeted clarity inminutes.
Here's the anatomy of thatsingle prompt.
First, you clearly declare yourintent.
You might write something likeusing only public sources, which
establishes an ethicalframework from the start.
Then you list safe, publiclyavailable data points that you
(08:01):
already have, perhaps theprospect's name, the city or
known affiliations.
This helps guide ChatGPT toaccurate and relevant findings
without straying into sensitiveterritory.
Next, you explicitly askChatGPT to summarize three
critical areas their careermilestones that hint at capacity
and networks.
(08:22):
Their philanthropy indicatorsthat hint at capacity and
networks.
Their philanthropy indicators,charitable gifts, interests,
past donations and missionalignment hints, causes or
values aligning with yourorganization's focus.
Crucially, you instruct ChatGPTto cite public URLs for every
claim, ensuring each insight canbe quickly verified and
(08:42):
ethically logged into your CRM.
Let me give you an exact, readaloud, ready example of the
prompt that you might use.
Here's a precise example,tested 45-word prompt that
captures exactly the informationyou need without risking donor
privacy, using only publicsources.
Summarize career milestones,charitable gifts and any
(09:04):
education or board roles foryour prospect name.
Provide three insight bulletson causes they favor, plus URLs
for each fact.
Keep it to 200 words with adonor-centric tone and no
conjecture.
Notice how specific this is.
Clear directions, preciseboundaries and ethical
(09:26):
guardrails are built right inthis.
Clarity ensures ChatGPTdelivers usable, accurate and
actionable insights.
It helps you stay withinethical boundaries while
dramatically cutting down thetime spent navigating endless
sources manually.
Speaking of ethical boundaries,let's unpack the guardrails
explicitly.
First, the prompt clearlylimits sources to publicly
(09:49):
available information.
That means no paid databases,no confidential internal records
, no proprietary lists.
This ethical commitment isnon-negotiable.
It protects donor privacy,aligns with best practices and
fundraising ethics and ensuresyour organization maintains
impeccable integrity.
Second, chatgpt is explicitlydirected to cite every fact or
(10:13):
insight that it provides isexplicitly directed to cite
every fact or insight that itprovides.
Every piece of informationdelivered to you must be
verifiable through a clickablepublic URL.
The safeguard isn't justethical, it's practical.
By verifying informationyourself, you maintain accuracy
and trustworthiness, which isfundamental in donor relations.
Think of this verification stepas an added layer of due
(10:35):
diligence.
You're leveraging AI's power toquickly surface critical data,
but you remain firmly in control.
You still confirm each detail,ensuring your CRM records are
accurate, transparent andaccountable.
Now let's talk about the actualexperience of using this
approach the transformation fromoverwhelming multitasking to a
streamlined workflow.
(10:56):
Picture this clearly in yourmind.
Instead of juggling 17 opentabs, endlessly cross-checking
sources and feeling scattered,you have a concise, reliable and
ready-to-review prospect briefsitting right in front of you.
Chatgpt typically respondswithin two minutes, sometimes
even faster, delivering neatlystructured, linked insights.
(11:18):
The traditional multi-tabshuffle is replaced by a single
concise brief structured intoclear bullets, each supported by
publicly accessible URLs.
The transformation is palpable.
Instead of scrambling betweentabs and notes, you experience
an immediate shift.
Your brain has space to thinkstrategically, to quickly
identify alignment between thedonor's passions and your
(11:41):
mission, and to formulatethoughtful questions and
tailored conversation startersfor your next engagement.
This streamlined workflow isn'tjust about saving time.
It's about sharpening yourfocus.
Your mental bandwidth is nolonger consumed by the mechanics
of information gathering.
Instead, you're able toprioritize interpretation,
(12:01):
strategy and genuine connection.
And here's something else worthunderscoring this approach
isn't just theoretical.
It's actively practiced byfundraisers who recognize that
leveraging AI in this focused,ethical way makes them more
effective.
These professionals aren'tcutting corners.
They're strategicallyprioritizing clarity and impact
(12:23):
over volume and overwhelm.
But I hear the questions thatmight still linger.
You might wonder can ChatGPTreally capture the nuance needed
to support meaningfulconversations?
The answer is yes, providedyour prompts are clear and
(12:44):
structured.
Chatgpt excels at summarizingcomplex public data into concise
, donor-centric insights.
It won't invent details orspeculate beyond what public
records support, especially whenit's guided carefully by these
explicit instructions,especially when it's guided
carefully by these explicitinstructions.
Another critical benefit ofthis structured approach is
consistency.
Think of the advantage gainedby ensuring every prospect
(13:08):
profile follows the same clear,structured process.
Your entire fundraising teamgains clarity.
Ensuring insights acrossprofiles are consistently
accurate, ethical and actionable.
Ensuring insights acrossprofiles are consistently
accurate, ethical and actionable.
This consistency makes your CRMrecords reliable and easy to
navigate, deepening thestrategic coherence across your
fundraising efforts.
But maybe you're still skeptical.
After all, thoroughness andrigor feel deeply ingrained in
(13:29):
our professional identity asfundraisers.
I get that.
Yet embracing chat GPT doesn'tmean sacrificing rigor.
It means refocusing it.
Instead of getting lost inendless tabs, your rigor shifts
to verification and strategicinterpretation.
You're still applying ameticulous lens, just at a more
strategic level.
(13:50):
Ultimately, the core of prospectresearch remains unchanged.
It's still about understandingyour donors deeply, ethically
and insightfully.
The difference is that nowyou're equipped with tools and
processes that remove frictionand distraction, you're freeing
your mental energy for thenuanced and strategic work that
really matters Before we moveforward.
(14:11):
Take just a few seconds now andimagine the shift clearly.
Before we move forward, takejust a few seconds now and
imagine the shift clearly.
Your next prospect profileconcise, ethically gathered,
insight, rich and completedwithin minutes rather than hours
.
What would it mean for yourday-to-day workflow if this
became your new norm?
How much deeper could yourdonor relationships become if
(14:32):
your strategic clarity wasuncompromised by overwhelming
amounts of information?
This is your invitation toredefine what effective prospect
research looks like, to movefrom data drowning to
insight-driven clarity.
This isn't about shortcuts.
It's about strategic efficiency.
It's about valuing your timeenough to invest it where it
(14:53):
truly counts.
It's about valuing your timeenough to invest it where it
truly counts in meaningful,insight-driven conversations
with donors.
And I want to talk directly toa quiet but persistent thought
that you might have Realresearchers comb every source by
hand.
I know this thought well.
I've lived it myself, wearingit proudly like a badge of
diligence.
There's something comfortingabout the meticulousness of
(15:15):
manual research.
It feels tangible, responsible,thorough.
But let's unpack this together,because underneath that
comforting diligence there's ahidden cost.
And here's the truth Manualeffort doesn't equate to rigor.
Hours spent painstakinglycross-checking data might feel
meticulous, but they also drainvaluable time and mental energy,
(15:39):
and what we often mistake fordiligence is, in reality, the
illusion of control.
When I first started fundraising, I firmly believed that
thoroughness was defined byexhaustive research.
I thought diligence meantpersonally vetting every data,
thank you.
Does that sound familiar?
(16:10):
But let's gently challenge thisbelief.
Is manually gathering every bitof data truly the highest value
you can bring to your role, orcould your expertise, your
deeply human skill for strategicthinking, interpretation and
connection be better served byletting a tool handle the heavy
(16:30):
lifting?
Let's reframe diligence.
Instead of equating it withmanual grind, consider
redefining diligence asdiscernment.
Discernment isn't aboutquantity of data.
It's about quality of insight.
It's about your ability toswiftly surface relevant
information, verify its accuracyand strategically apply it.
(16:51):
True rigor isn't aboutscrolling endlessly.
It's about recognizing what'smost important, connecting dots
clearly and preparing forconversations that resonate
deeply with your donors.
Imagine for a moment that you'rea jeweler tasked with creating
a beautiful piece.
Would you insist on personallymining every gem, digging
through rocks and dirt, simplyto claim complete control over
(17:14):
the process?
No, you would trust skilledminers to bring you raw stones,
leaving you to focus on therefined art of gem cutting and
setting, which is where yourtrue skill lies.
In fundraising research, yourtrue skill is strategic
interpretation, cutting andpolishing the insights you use
to craft meaningful donorrelationships.
(17:35):
Yet too often, we insist onbeing both the miner and the
jeweler, diluting our strengthsby doing tasks that others or
tools can perform moreefficiently.
Now, embracing the shift doesn'tmean you abandon careful
verification or become passive.
Quite the opposite.
It means intentionally choosingto prioritize your highest
(17:57):
value work, interpreting datastrategically, thoughtfully
aligning your approach andcultivating donor relationships
built on those meaningfulinsights.
When we let go of the idea thatmanual labor is the highest
form of diligence, we don'tbecome lazy, we become laser
focused.
Our time and our energy shiftfrom scattered data collection
(18:18):
toward intentional and strategicinterpretation.
We become more effective,confident and clear.
But I understand the hesitation.
Letting go feels risky.
The manual approach feels safeprecisely because it's familiar.
But let's gently challenge thisidea too.
Does familiarity always equaleffectiveness?
(18:39):
Could you actually be morediligent, more strategic and
more impactful by shifting yourperspective?
The shift isn't theoretical,it's practical.
Think of the hours you'vealready invested in manually
gathering data.
Now imagine redirecting thosehours into donor conversations,
strategy sessions andpersonalized asks.
(19:00):
How much more effective couldyou become?
How much deeper might yourrelationships grow?
And let's be clear you're notcompromising rigor by using
tools like ChatGPT to streamlineyour research.
You're optimizing your rigor.
You're enhancing it by ensuringyour time is spent where it
matters most in thoughtfulinterpretation, strategy
(19:21):
formulation and relationshipbuilding.
That's what your donors needmost from you, not your ability
to open 20 browser tabs.
So how do you practically makethe shift?
Start small.
Give yourself permission totest this new definition of
diligence.
Choose one prospect profilethis week and use the structured
metaprompt.
(19:41):
Notice how quickly insightsemerge.
Notice how your strategicthinking sharpens when you're
freed from the data overload.
Pay attention to the resistancethat might arise.
Resistance is normal.
It's a sign that you'rechallenging ingrained habits.
But when you encounter thatresistance, gently remind
yourself.
Real rigor lies in discernment.
(20:02):
Manual gathering isn'tinherently diligent.
It's habit, and habits canchange.
Think about other areas of yourprofessional life where you've
embraced change and seen clearimprovements.
You've done this before,successfully shifting habits to
become more effective, moreefficient and more strategic.
You already possess the skillto adapt and thrive.
(20:23):
And if you worry about losingcredibility, know this.
Your board, your donors andyour team value strategic
insight far more than manuallabor.
They trust your judgment, yourexpertise and your
interpretation, not yourbrowsing history.
Your true value as a fundraiseris your ability to deeply
(20:44):
understand donors, makeinsightful connections and
foster meaningful relationships,not the volume of sources
you've clicked through.
So here's your invitation Gentlyset down the heavy badge of
manual diligence and embracediscernment as your new hallmark
of rigor.
Trust tools like ChatGPT tohelp you quickly surface
(21:04):
verified, ethical, actionableinsights and reclaim your
highest value strategic work.
Imagine the difference thiscould make.
Imagine the mental clarity, thestrategic depth, the confidence
you'll feel walking into everydonor meeting, knowing that
you've prioritized what trulymatters.
This isn't just a shift inworkflow.
It's a fundamental shift in howyou define your professional
(21:27):
identity.
This week I encourage you topractice this reframe diligence
Experiment.
Notice the difference and feelhow freeing it can be to let go
of manual grind in favor ofstrategic discernment.
I promise you'll see youreffectiveness and your sense of
fulfillment grow exponentially.
So let's embrace this newmindset together.
(21:49):
Today we've clarified whyinsights beat data overload
every time, unpacked the powerof public source meta prompts
and experienced firsthand howquickly a strategic prospect
brief can appear when you useclear, intentional prompts
Before you hit stop.
Here's your next easy step.
The exact prospect researchprompt we used today is waiting
(22:10):
in the show notes.
Grab it, drop in a donor's nameand see how much sharper your
prep feels on the very next call.
And if you'd like a wholetoolbox instead of just one
wrench, swing over to my websiteat letstalkfundraisingcom and
download my free AI Made Easyprompt pack.
Inside you'll find a dozenfield-tested prompts designed
(22:32):
for fundraisers who want faster,cleaner work.
One turns a raw CRM export intoa tight board report summary,
another drafts an emotionalimpact straight from a
participant's quote.
And there's even a prompt thatreorganizes your weekly calendar
so you always know where tofocus first.
Download the pack.
Try one prompt before your dayends to focus first.
(22:55):
Download the pack.
Try one prompt before your dayends, then DM me on LinkedIn to
tell me how much time you savedor how good it feels to drop the
manual grind.
I cannot wait to celebrate yourwins with you.
Next Monday we'll stitchtogether every fundraising hack
from this month into a practicaltwo-hour weekly workflow reset.
Imagine your entire fundraisingshop running smoothly, clearly
and strategically every singleweek.
(23:16):
If that sounds like exactlywhat you need, make sure you're
subscribed, because you won'twant to miss it.
Until then, remember thispowerful shift Discernment, not
manual labor, defines true rigor.
Your donors, your mission andyour own well-being deserve
nothing less.
You've got this, my friend.
Let's talk again next week.
Your browser groans under 17 open tabs,
linkedin, guidestar, the localnews, while a new prospect's
name stares at you from your CRMdashboard.
You need the story behind theircapacity fast.
But the research rabbit holekeeps getting deeper.
Imagine typing one clearquestion and watching ChatGPT
hand you three fresh givingclues before that half-read
(00:23):
article finishes loading.
No endless tabs, just instantinsight.
So let's talk fundraising.
Let's get honest.
Prospect research often feelslike falling down an endless
rabbit hole, doesn't it?
You've been there diving intoLinkedIn connections, parsing
obscure GuideStar documents andclicking through news articles
(00:45):
hoping to piece together apicture of a donor's potential.
Hours slip away and whileyou've gathered data points, the
real story, the insights thatcould drive a meaningful
conversation, still feels fuzzy.
This cycle isn't justexhausting, it's costly.
Because here's the truth thereal power of a prospect profile
isn't in the sheer volume ofdata you collect, it's in the
(01:08):
actionable insights that sparkpersonal, values-driven
conversations.
Yet, as fundraisers, we oftenfind ourselves trapped in a
paradox, pouring the lion'sshare of our energy into data
gathering, leaving preciouslittle time for interpretation
and strategy.
Think about the last profileyou assembled.
How many tabs did you open?
How many sources did youcross-reference, double-check
(01:31):
and revisit, just to confirm onesmall detail.
If you're anything like me, theanswer is far too many.
Each open tab symbolizes notjust another data point, but
another potential distraction.
Another detour away but anotherpotential distraction.
Another detour away from whatreally matters understanding
your prospect deeply enough tomake an ask that resonates.
Now I'm not knockingthoroughness.
(01:53):
Attention to detail matters,especially in fundraising.
But here's the distinctionThoroughness is about depth of
insight, not the volume of data,and too often we mistake the
painstaking act of gatheringinformation for rigor.
The cost of this confusion issteep.
It's your time, your energy andyour strategic thinking that
(02:13):
suffer.
Consider this Research showsthat fundraisers typically spend
more than half theirpreparation time on gathering
raw data, leaving less time forreflection, interpretation and
strategic thinking.
Less time for reflection,interpretation and strategic
thinking.
When you're scrolling, clickingand cross-referencing, you
aren't planning how to approacha donor strategically, you're
not crafting thoughtfulquestions or aligning their
(02:36):
interests with your mission.
Instead, you're caught up in anoverwhelming sea of information
, feeling diligent butdisconnected from the true goal
personalized engagement.
So how do we break this cycle?
First, let's redefine whatdiligence means.
In prospect research, diligenceisn't measured by how many tabs
(02:56):
you open or sources you check.
True diligence meanseffectively surfacing insights
quickly and clearly, insightsthat directly inform your donor
strategy.
It means streamlining yoursource gathering so that your
brain is freed up for highervalue strategic thinking rather
than endless scrolling.
Let's imagine a new kind ofprospect research workflow one
(03:20):
where you type a single, focusedquestion and instantly receive
clear, relevant insights.
Career highlights, instantlyreceive clear, relevant insights
, career highlights,philanthropic interests,
alignment with your mission.
Imagine the clarity you'd gainif, instead of bouncing between
websites, you had just a handfulof pointed insights, neatly
delivered, each verified andactionable.
(03:41):
But why is this so critical?
Why does it matter that yourbrain spends more time
interpreting rather thangathering?
Because donors don't say yesbased on facts alone.
They say yes based on values,personal connections and genuine
alignment with your cause.
If your mental energy isconsumed by the endless chase
(04:02):
for data, how can you clearlydiscern the insights that truly
resonate?
Do you ever dive deep intoprospect research, gathering
every scrap of information, onlyto feel overwhelmed when the
meeting finally arrives?
Your pages of notes arethorough, yet turning them into
a crisp, actionable strategyfeels out of reach.
The meetings go fine, butyou're aiming for extraordinary.
(04:25):
What if you focused on just afew truly meaningful insights
instead?
Picture walking into eachconversation clear-headed and
confident, fully tuned to whatyour donor values most.
How might that shift thequality of your asks and your
success rates?
Does that sound something likeyou asks and your success rates?
(04:46):
Does that sound something likeyou?
Here's a truth worth repeatingthe power of your prospect
profiles doesn't lie in sheerdata.
It lies in insights.
Insights that illuminate adonor's passions, their capacity
and their willingness topartner in your mission.
Insights that you'll uncovermore effectively when you're not
drowning in that raw data.
(05:06):
Take five seconds right now,pause and reflect what questions
about your next prospect feelsunanswered right now.
Is it their deepestphilanthropic passion, their
motivation for giving, orperhaps the cause closest to
their heart?
Jot that down, because clarityon this question is your real
task, not just another stack ofdata.
(05:28):
And here's the game changer.
This shift doesn't meancompromising quality or
diligence.
Instead, it's about redefiningwhat diligence looks like.
It's valuing discernment overdetail overload.
It's ensuring your researchdirectly informs your next
conversation, not just your nextdata point.
In fundraising, every momentcounts.
(05:50):
Every minute spent in strategicthought, rather than mindless
scrolling, brings you closer toa meaningful connection.
It's the difference between ageneric conversation and one
that feels tailored andauthentic and deeply relevant.
So today, consider this yourinvitation to shift your mindset
.
Allow yourself to step awayfrom the endless research rabbit
(06:11):
hole and embrace a streamlinedapproach.
One clear prompt, a handful offresh insights, and suddenly
you're not just prepared, you'restrategically aligned.
Imagine entering your nextdonor meeting feeling grounded
and clear, knowing exactly whichquestions to ask, which topics
resonate and how your missionaligns with their passions.
(06:33):
That's the power ofinsight-driven research and
that's what we're going toexplore next.
In just a moment, I'll show youexactly how ChatGPT supports
the shift.
I'll show you exactly howChatGPT supports this shift,
helping you effortlessly surfacecritical insights with just one
clear question.
But before we do hold this newfundraising truth, close
Insights, not data, sparkgenerosity.
(06:57):
Let's take the shift fromoverwhelming data collection to
actionable insights onepractical step further.
Imagine this Instead of yourbrowser creaking under a dozen
open tabs, you use just oneprompt Clear, concise and
designed to surface meaningfulinsights instantly.
That's the power of usingChatGPT strategically in your
(07:19):
prospect research.
Here's how it works.
I call this the public sourcemeta prompt.
With one carefully structuredquestion, you signal exactly
what information you need, setboundaries to ensure you're
using ethical sources andspecify the insights required to
guide your strategy no guessing, no digging through page after
(07:41):
page, just targeted clarity inminutes.
Here's the anatomy of thatsingle prompt.
First, you clearly declare yourintent.
You might write something likeusing only public sources, which
establishes an ethicalframework from the start.
Then you list safe, publiclyavailable data points that you
(08:01):
already have, perhaps theprospect's name, the city or
known affiliations.
This helps guide ChatGPT toaccurate and relevant findings
without straying into sensitiveterritory.
Next, you explicitly askChatGPT to summarize three
critical areas their careermilestones that hint at capacity
and networks.
(08:22):
Their philanthropy indicatorsthat hint at capacity and
networks.
Their philanthropy indicators,charitable gifts, interests,
past donations and missionalignment hints, causes or
values aligning with yourorganization's focus.
Crucially, you instruct ChatGPTto cite public URLs for every
claim, ensuring each insight canbe quickly verified and
(08:42):
ethically logged into your CRM.
Let me give you an exact, readaloud, ready example of the
prompt that you might use.
Here's a precise example,tested 45-word prompt that
captures exactly the informationyou need without risking donor
privacy, using only publicsources.
Summarize career milestones,charitable gifts and any
(09:04):
education or board roles foryour prospect name.
Provide three insight bulletson causes they favor, plus URLs
for each fact.
Keep it to 200 words with adonor-centric tone and no
conjecture.
Notice how specific this is.
Clear directions, preciseboundaries and ethical
(09:26):
guardrails are built right inthis.
Clarity ensures ChatGPTdelivers usable, accurate and
actionable insights.
It helps you stay withinethical boundaries while
dramatically cutting down thetime spent navigating endless
sources manually.
Speaking of ethical boundaries,let's unpack the guardrails
explicitly.
First, the prompt clearlylimits sources to publicly
(09:49):
available information.
That means no paid databases,no confidential internal records
, no proprietary lists.
This ethical commitment isnon-negotiable.
It protects donor privacy,aligns with best practices and
fundraising ethics and ensuresyour organization maintains
impeccable integrity.
Second, chatgpt is explicitlydirected to cite every fact or
(10:13):
insight that it provides isexplicitly directed to cite
every fact or insight that itprovides.
Every piece of informationdelivered to you must be
verifiable through a clickablepublic URL.
The safeguard isn't justethical, it's practical.
By verifying informationyourself, you maintain accuracy
and trustworthiness, which isfundamental in donor relations.
Think of this verification stepas an added layer of due
(10:35):
diligence.
You're leveraging AI's power toquickly surface critical data,
but you remain firmly in control.
You still confirm each detail,ensuring your CRM records are
accurate, transparent andaccountable.
Now let's talk about the actualexperience of using this
approach the transformation fromoverwhelming multitasking to a
streamlined workflow.
(10:56):
Picture this clearly in yourmind.
Instead of juggling 17 opentabs, endlessly cross-checking
sources and feeling scattered,you have a concise, reliable and
ready-to-review prospect briefsitting right in front of you.
Chatgpt typically respondswithin two minutes, sometimes
even faster, delivering neatlystructured, linked insights.
(11:18):
The traditional multi-tabshuffle is replaced by a single
concise brief structured intoclear bullets, each supported by
publicly accessible URLs.
The transformation is palpable.
Instead of scrambling betweentabs and notes, you experience
an immediate shift.
Your brain has space to thinkstrategically, to quickly
identify alignment between thedonor's passions and your
(11:41):
mission, and to formulatethoughtful questions and
tailored conversation startersfor your next engagement.
This streamlined workflow isn'tjust about saving time.
It's about sharpening yourfocus.
Your mental bandwidth is nolonger consumed by the mechanics
of information gathering.
Instead, you're able toprioritize interpretation,
(12:01):
strategy and genuine connection.
And here's something else worthunderscoring this approach
isn't just theoretical.
It's actively practiced byfundraisers who recognize that
leveraging AI in this focused,ethical way makes them more
effective.
These professionals aren'tcutting corners.
They're strategicallyprioritizing clarity and impact
(12:23):
over volume and overwhelm.
But I hear the questions thatmight still linger.
You might wonder can ChatGPTreally capture the nuance needed
to support meaningfulconversations?
The answer is yes, providedyour prompts are clear and
(12:44):
structured.
Chatgpt excels at summarizingcomplex public data into concise
, donor-centric insights.
It won't invent details orspeculate beyond what public
records support, especially whenit's guided carefully by these
explicit instructions,especially when it's guided
carefully by these explicitinstructions.
Another critical benefit ofthis structured approach is
consistency.
Think of the advantage gainedby ensuring every prospect
(13:08):
profile follows the same clear,structured process.
Your entire fundraising teamgains clarity.
Ensuring insights acrossprofiles are consistently
accurate, ethical and actionable.
Ensuring insights acrossprofiles are consistently
accurate, ethical and actionable.
This consistency makes your CRMrecords reliable and easy to
navigate, deepening thestrategic coherence across your
fundraising efforts.
But maybe you're still skeptical.
After all, thoroughness andrigor feel deeply ingrained in
(13:29):
our professional identity asfundraisers.
I get that.
Yet embracing chat GPT doesn'tmean sacrificing rigor.
It means refocusing it.
Instead of getting lost inendless tabs, your rigor shifts
to verification and strategicinterpretation.
You're still applying ameticulous lens, just at a more
strategic level.
(13:50):
Ultimately, the core of prospectresearch remains unchanged.
It's still about understandingyour donors deeply, ethically
and insightfully.
The difference is that nowyou're equipped with tools and
processes that remove frictionand distraction, you're freeing
your mental energy for thenuanced and strategic work that
really matters Before we moveforward.
(14:11):
Take just a few seconds now andimagine the shift clearly.
Before we move forward, takejust a few seconds now and
imagine the shift clearly.
Your next prospect profileconcise, ethically gathered,
insight, rich and completedwithin minutes rather than hours
.
What would it mean for yourday-to-day workflow if this
became your new norm?
How much deeper could yourdonor relationships become if
(14:32):
your strategic clarity wasuncompromised by overwhelming
amounts of information?
This is your invitation toredefine what effective prospect
research looks like, to movefrom data drowning to
insight-driven clarity.
This isn't about shortcuts.
It's about strategic efficiency.
It's about valuing your timeenough to invest it where it
(14:53):
truly counts.
It's about valuing your timeenough to invest it where it
truly counts in meaningful,insight-driven conversations
with donors.
And I want to talk directly toa quiet but persistent thought
that you might have Realresearchers comb every source by
hand.
I know this thought well.
I've lived it myself, wearingit proudly like a badge of
diligence.
There's something comfortingabout the meticulousness of
(15:15):
manual research.
It feels tangible, responsible,thorough.
But let's unpack this together,because underneath that
comforting diligence there's ahidden cost.
And here's the truth Manualeffort doesn't equate to rigor.
Hours spent painstakinglycross-checking data might feel
meticulous, but they also drainvaluable time and mental energy,
(15:39):
and what we often mistake fordiligence is, in reality, the
illusion of control.
When I first started fundraising, I firmly believed that
thoroughness was defined byexhaustive research.
I thought diligence meantpersonally vetting every data,
thank you.
Does that sound familiar?
(16:10):
But let's gently challenge thisbelief.
Is manually gathering every bitof data truly the highest value
you can bring to your role, orcould your expertise, your
deeply human skill for strategicthinking, interpretation and
connection be better served byletting a tool handle the heavy
(16:30):
lifting?
Let's reframe diligence.
Instead of equating it withmanual grind, consider
redefining diligence asdiscernment.
Discernment isn't aboutquantity of data.
It's about quality of insight.
It's about your ability toswiftly surface relevant
information, verify its accuracyand strategically apply it.
(16:51):
True rigor isn't aboutscrolling endlessly.
It's about recognizing what'smost important, connecting dots
clearly and preparing forconversations that resonate
deeply with your donors.
Imagine for a moment that you'rea jeweler tasked with creating
a beautiful piece.
Would you insist on personallymining every gem, digging
through rocks and dirt, simplyto claim complete control over
(17:14):
the process?
No, you would trust skilledminers to bring you raw stones,
leaving you to focus on therefined art of gem cutting and
setting, which is where yourtrue skill lies.
In fundraising research, yourtrue skill is strategic
interpretation, cutting andpolishing the insights you use
to craft meaningful donorrelationships.
(17:35):
Yet too often, we insist onbeing both the miner and the
jeweler, diluting our strengthsby doing tasks that others or
tools can perform moreefficiently.
Now, embracing the shift doesn'tmean you abandon careful
verification or become passive.
Quite the opposite.
It means intentionally choosingto prioritize your highest
(17:57):
value work, interpreting datastrategically, thoughtfully
aligning your approach andcultivating donor relationships
built on those meaningfulinsights.
When we let go of the idea thatmanual labor is the highest
form of diligence, we don'tbecome lazy, we become laser
focused.
Our time and our energy shiftfrom scattered data collection
(18:18):
toward intentional and strategicinterpretation.
We become more effective,confident and clear.
But I understand the hesitation.
Letting go feels risky.
The manual approach feels safeprecisely because it's familiar.
But let's gently challenge thisidea too.
Does familiarity always equaleffectiveness?
(18:39):
Could you actually be morediligent, more strategic and
more impactful by shifting yourperspective?
The shift isn't theoretical,it's practical.
Think of the hours you'vealready invested in manually
gathering data.
Now imagine redirecting thosehours into donor conversations,
strategy sessions andpersonalized asks.
(19:00):
How much more effective couldyou become?
How much deeper might yourrelationships grow?
And let's be clear you're notcompromising rigor by using
tools like ChatGPT to streamlineyour research.
You're optimizing your rigor.
You're enhancing it by ensuringyour time is spent where it
matters most in thoughtfulinterpretation, strategy
(19:21):
formulation and relationshipbuilding.
That's what your donors needmost from you, not your ability
to open 20 browser tabs.
So how do you practically makethe shift?
Start small.
Give yourself permission totest this new definition of
diligence.
Choose one prospect profilethis week and use the structured
metaprompt.
(19:41):
Notice how quickly insightsemerge.
Notice how your strategicthinking sharpens when you're
freed from the data overload.
Pay attention to the resistancethat might arise.
Resistance is normal.
It's a sign that you'rechallenging ingrained habits.
But when you encounter thatresistance, gently remind
yourself.
Real rigor lies in discernment.
(20:02):
Manual gathering isn'tinherently diligent.
It's habit, and habits canchange.
Think about other areas of yourprofessional life where you've
embraced change and seen clearimprovements.
You've done this before,successfully shifting habits to
become more effective, moreefficient and more strategic.
You already possess the skillto adapt and thrive.
(20:23):
And if you worry about losingcredibility, know this.
Your board, your donors andyour team value strategic
insight far more than manuallabor.
They trust your judgment, yourexpertise and your
interpretation, not yourbrowsing history.
Your true value as a fundraiseris your ability to deeply
(20:44):
understand donors, makeinsightful connections and
foster meaningful relationships,not the volume of sources
you've clicked through.
So here's your invitation Gentlyset down the heavy badge of
manual diligence and embracediscernment as your new hallmark
of rigor.
Trust tools like ChatGPT tohelp you quickly surface
(21:04):
verified, ethical, actionableinsights and reclaim your
highest value strategic work.
Imagine the difference thiscould make.
Imagine the mental clarity, thestrategic depth, the confidence
you'll feel walking into everydonor meeting, knowing that
you've prioritized what trulymatters.
This isn't just a shift inworkflow.
It's a fundamental shift in howyou define your professional
(21:27):
identity.
This week I encourage you topractice this reframe diligence
Experiment.
Notice the difference and feelhow freeing it can be to let go
of manual grind in favor ofstrategic discernment.
I promise you'll see youreffectiveness and your sense of
fulfillment grow exponentially.
So let's embrace this newmindset together.
(21:49):
Today we've clarified whyinsights beat data overload
every time, unpacked the powerof public source meta prompts
and experienced firsthand howquickly a strategic prospect
brief can appear when you useclear, intentional prompts
Before you hit stop.
Here's your next easy step.
The exact prospect researchprompt we used today is waiting
(22:10):
in the show notes.
Grab it, drop in a donor's nameand see how much sharper your
prep feels on the very next call.
And if you'd like a wholetoolbox instead of just one
wrench, swing over to my websiteat letstalkfundraisingcom and
download my free AI Made Easyprompt pack.
Inside you'll find a dozenfield-tested prompts designed
(22:32):
for fundraisers who want faster,cleaner work.
One turns a raw CRM export intoa tight board report summary,
another drafts an emotionalimpact straight from a
participant's quote.
And there's even a prompt thatreorganizes your weekly calendar
so you always know where tofocus first.
Download the pack.
Try one prompt before your dayends to focus first.
(22:55):
Download the pack.
Try one prompt before your dayends, then DM me on LinkedIn to
tell me how much time you savedor how good it feels to drop the
manual grind.
I cannot wait to celebrate yourwins with you.
Next Monday we'll stitchtogether every fundraising hack
from this month into a practicaltwo-hour weekly workflow reset.
Imagine your entire fundraisingshop running smoothly, clearly
and strategically every singleweek.
(23:16):
If that sounds like exactlywhat you need, make sure you're
subscribed, because you won'twant to miss it.
Until then, remember thispowerful shift Discernment, not
manual labor, defines true rigor.
Your donors, your mission andyour own well-being deserve
nothing less.
You've got this, my friend.
Let's talk again next week.
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