Jennifer Filla

Tricia Marsherall on Clean Data, Clear Strategy, and How Donor Databases Really Work

If you’ve ever heard a development director say “we need a new database,” you’ll want to listen to this episode. Tricia Marsherall is the founder and CEO of Donor Database Experts, working with nearly 100…

Valerie Anastasio on the K-Shaped Economy and the Ultra-Wealthy Donor

If you’ve been hearing about the K-shaped economy and wondering what it means for your prospect pool, Valerie Anastasio has some clarity—and a dose of realism—to offer. Valerie is a fundraising consultant who’s spent decades…

When Portfolio Management Isn’t Working: Amy Modin’s Advice for Starting Over

What do you do when you walk into a new job and discover that the portfolio management system looks good on paper—but isn’t actually working? Amy Modin, Director of Research and Prospect Management at the…

Vered Siegel on Why Judgment Is the New Scarce Resource in Fundraising

What happens when AI can generate a list or a prospect summary in seconds—but still can’t tell you what to do with it? That’s the central question Vered Siegel lives and breathes every day as…

Derry Deringer on Major Gift Success Through Transparency and Partnership

What if the answer to fundraiser hesitancy isn’t more data—but better partnership? Major gift consultant Derry Deringer has spent 13 years helping nonprofits raise transformative dollars. His journey to fundraising began in an unlikely place:…

Will Schrepferman on AI-Powered Prospect Research with DonorAtlas

Meet Will Schrepferman: a 24-year-old who’s been fundraising for more than half his life. Will raised his first dollar at age 13 and has spent his entire career around philanthropy and mission-driven organizations. After studying…

Diana Marquis on How the Development Director Doing It All Can Succeed with Major Gifts

“How hard can it be?” That’s what Diana Marquis thought when she first tried to raise money as a volunteer. Spoiler: it was harder than expected. But that early experience launched a 20+ year fundraising…

Karen Cochran on Cultivating Billion-Dollar Donor Relationships

“If it’s not in the system, it didn’t happen.” Karen Cochran has repeated this mantra throughout her 30+ year career in fundraising, and it’s advice that prospect research professionals need to hear—especially when pursuing transformational…

What makes someone a real major gift prospect?

If you ask Jeff Schreifels, Principal at Veritus Group, the answer is clear: It’s not about wealth ratings or capacity scores alone. It’s about finding the donors who actually want a deeper relationship with your…

Barbara Shelton on Strategic Solicitation, Curiosity, and the Art of Slowing Down

Consultant Barbara Shelton shares how deep donor profiles and meaningful conversations transform campaigns. In this episode of ChatBytes, she reveals how researchers, consultants, and gift officers can slow down, ask better questions, and raise both their expectations—and their results.

The Hidden Art of Philanthropic Due Diligence: Why It’s Not About Catching Criminals

What if I told you that philanthropic due diligence isn’t actually about saying “no” to donations? That it’s not all about playing detective trying to catch bad actors? In this Prospect Research #ChatBytes episode, Courtney…

#CareerCurious: Aisha Maddox Shares How Curiosity Sparked a Career in Prospect Development

Have you ever been called nosy—and turned it into a superpower? Aisha Maddox has! As Director of Research and Relationship Management at Rollins College, she proudly credits her “genuine curiosity” for launching a career she…