Help us create a Handbook for the prospect research community that will provide a comprehensive, up-to-date, and relevant guide to the diverse range of skills and knowledge required for successful, professional and ethical prospect research.
The RiF Prospect Research Handbook is an e-publication being written by prospect researchers for prospect researchers and we are looking for more experienced prospect research practitioners to join our team to help create content on a wide range on research topics.
Teams of volunteers collaborate to design and co-produce Handbook content that enhances researchers knowledge, understanding, and confidence to carry out their roles as effectively as possible and maximise the benefits their research brings to their organisation's fundraising.
The Handbook work is all carried out remotely using MS Teams as our shared workspace and Zoom for fortnightly team meetings. We have an international volunteer team and are happy to welcome researchers from any country.
If you are experienced and knowledgeable in one or more of the following areas of prospect research and can spare at least 4-6 hours a month, we'd love to hear from you.
In addition to having experience in the prospect research role, volunteers will ideally have or be willing to gain the following:
Experience
Skills and talents
Resources / equipment you will need to participate
The Handbook will benefit individual prospect researchers and the organisations they work for both now and in the future.
The Handbook will empower researchers to take control of their personal and professional development, know their worth, and see how they can add value, visualising a clearer career path.
Researchers will benefit through:
Through an improvement in practitioner skills and knowledge, the Handbook can support researchers to secure additional funds for the good causes they work on behalf of. RiF supports researchers in a broad range of organisations including local, national and international charities, and educational institutions.
We also hope the Handbook will open up the conversation about the skills and value that prospect research and prospect development bring to the causes they support bring better recognition of and appreciate for the role.
What existing volunteers say:
"I've learnt a lot about writing collaboratively, editing, project management, how to work Teams and Zoom, and about Prospect Research itself. It's also given me something worthwhile to put on my cv, and enabled me to connect with other researchers."
"Satisfaction from contributing to something of value, building relationships, learning deeply through the process of presenting key aspects of the profession."
"Has been interesting discussing these areas of work with other members of the prospect research community. Creating the content has been enjoyable. It is rewarding to feel like you are a part of something bigger."
Applications are welcome at any time, we then let volunteers know when we are starting work on a chapter that they have expressed an interest in creating content for as we need a sufficient number of volunteers for each chapter.
