Following a well-attended June webinar, this article summarizes key takeaways and practical scenarios from prospect development professionals navigating due diligence and gift acceptance in an uncertain climate. It highlights three real-world case studies detailing reputational risk, structured cross-functional gift reviews, and international research nuances. Additionally, it provides actionable insights on establishing formal governance policies, deploying tiered assessment models, adhering to fact-based research standards, and securing internal leadership buy-in.
Looking to deepen your prospect development expertise before Prospect Development 2026? The pre-conference offerings at Apra’s premier annual conference in Chicago feature foundational and advanced learning opportunities. From Apra Fundamentals: Prospect Research and Relationship Management to Data Science Now and targeted leadership cohorts, these sessions deliver actionable skills, ethical strategies and fresh insights to bring back to your organization.
In the latest Connections article, Jennifer Moody explores how the Epstein files catalyzed a crucial shift in prospect development. While the headlines faded, the urgent need for robust due diligence and gift acceptance policies remained. Discover how these structured frameworks protect institutional reputations, promote fundraising equity and remove individual bias.