My Philosophy

Before we work together, I'd like to share the principles that underlie my business. First and foremost, I believe that respect — for you, my client, and for every prospect I research--is essential to prospect research.

Respect for the client means that confidential information stays confidential. That the trust your donors place in you is safe with us. That your deadlines and your concerns will be addressed. That the information you receive from Larkin Research will be as accurate and up-to-date as I can make it.

Your time is also worthy of respect. A development professional needs to be meeting and working with prospects, developing strategies, making calls, not wading through piles of data. That's my responsibility. Working in two of the biggest, most successful development offices around (MIT and Harvard), I learned what fundraisers need to know to build an effective fundraising strategy. I'll track down those facts and distill them into a succinct, readable briefing, usually two to three pages long.

Respect for the prospect means that the highest standards in information retrieval, storage and dissemination will be met. Only publicly available information is gathered (this means data that has been previously published in the media, or is part of the public record and thus is legally available to any U.S. citizen). Once gathered, information is reviewed carefully and thoroughly. Is it verifiable? How reliable is the source? Is it relevant to the fundraising purpose? Information that passes the test will be communicated in a way that honors the prospect's individuality and relationship to your institution.

Ethical standards are a primary concern, especially when so many people are concerned about privacy. Larkin Research Associates believes in and follows the ethical guidelines established by the New England Development Research Association and the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement.

Philanthropy flourishes in an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect. My goal is to develop a trusting, mutually respectful, and mutually beneficial relationship with every client I serve.

Sandra M. Larkin
Principal, Larkin Research Associates