HARD ROCK MINING:
Biographical Research on the Internet

LAST UPDATE: August 1999

Presented at the
Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (APRA)
10th International Conference; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
9th International Conference; San Diego, California

by Randy Bunney
Contributing Editor, Internet Prospector

CONTENTS:

INTRODUCTION
LOCATOR TOOLS: First, The Name. Includes search-engine strategies and tips.
BACKGROUND TOOLS: OK. You've located where in the world your subject is. Now use your search engine to dig deeper.
CAPACITY TOOLS: Here is the magic mountain of development research: wealth analysis and capacity to give. Includes pointers to business valuation sites.

Introduction

WELCOME STORY TELLERS. Prospect research is telling one of the many stories that make up people's lives. Our function is to present a narrative which identifies links between a prospect's interests and needs of our institution. Our goal as fund-raisers is to build relationships with people. Relevant, accurate and timely prospect research is essential to helping fulfill this purpose. But prospect research can quickly degenerate into relentless pursuit of disconnected facts if we forget our focus - PEOPLE, their background, interests, and capacity/inclination to make a gift.

The following pages offer strategies for putting search engines to work for you, tricks-of-the-trade for managing Web technology and selected WWW sites that will start you on your way to becoming a seasoned Internet miner. Ultimately, the fun and challenge of Internet research is for you to build your own set of WWW hot links, customized for your particular needs and constituency. Remember the people focus. Ask yourself what traditional printed, interview or online sources you would use to begin building a profile. Look for similar information categories on the Net or even directories by the same name. Be creative in your quest. And dig deep.

Two disclaimers before we start:

Despite the Web's vastness, it presently has limited application in identifying viable new prospects. Fee-based online databases such as LEXIS or DIALOG or screening your internal donor database are still your best bets.
Buyer beware on the Web. It is up to you as the information professional to evaluate the information source and, if necessary, confirm facts retrieved online.

SPECIAL THANKS to my fellow Internet Prospectors, the good folks on PRSPCT-L and APRA colleagues who have added to the body of knowledge presented in the following pages.

Help us build upon this document. Comments , corrections, additions welcome.

FORWARD to Locator Tools
FORWARD to Background Tools
FORWARD to Capacity Tools

Suggest an Internet nugget. Write the Assay Office -- credit to the finder.

HARD ROCK MINING: Biographical Research on the Internet

Introduction

HARD ROCK MINING:
Biographical Research on the Internet