Major donor prospect research is a building block of a well-formed fundraising strategy. The goal for nonprofits is to secure major donations, which are the lifeblood of any nonprofit organization.   To do this, it is crucial that precious time is not wasted on leads that fizzle out. Ensuring that you are focusing your efforts on prospects that are likely to financially contribute to your cause will help cut costs and time, ushering you to the fundraising endgame sooner.   However, major donor prospect research is a much more detailed process than many new fundraisers realize. You cannot rely on gut feelings or a small amount of information. Major donor prospect research runs deep and is an involved process. There is a specific set of steps that will lead you down the path to securing a large donation.   What Is Major Donor Prospect Research?  Major donor prospect research is the foundational inquiry on which you will base your future fundraising strategy. This type of work digs deep into personal histories and financial track records. You get to know information about prospects that most people never know, and you make a calculated decision about whether cultivating a prospect appears lucrative or not.    While