Upstairs, Downstairs - Social Class and the Prospect Researcher

As prospect researchers, we are students of wealth and the wealthy. Although it is hard to divorce a discussion of wealth from a discussion of social class, talking about social class in the U.S. is somewhat discouraged. Bringing up class issues at work is especially verboten.

The issue of social class is unavoidable in the field of fundraising, especially in prospect research. In addition to understanding issues of social class, we may find ourselves interacting on a daily basis with donors, volunteers, trustees, or colleagues whose backgrounds are very different than our own.

So I found myself intrigued by an article in the June 10th New York Times about Ruby Payne, the "Class Consciousness Raiser." Most of Payne's work has centered on how understanding social class aids teachers in helping poor students learn. (Her work has on occasion been criticized for being unscientific, insensitive or elitist).

After reading the article, I ordered a copy of "Hidden Rules of Class at Work,"by Payne and co-researcher Don L. Krabill. While the book is of the self-help genre (aimed at employees and supervisors), rather than a serious scholarly work, I found some of the ideas valuable. Payne's main argument is that folks from different social classes operate on different assumptions, and that without understanding these assumptions, one is likely to be misunderstood in communicating with a member of a different social class. Some examples:

Family structure: In poverty, tends to be matriarchal; in the middle class, tends to be patriarchal; in wealth, depends on who has the money. Obviously, in figuring out which spouse to approach for a donation, this is a critical determination.

Time: In poverty, the present is the most important. The middle class focuses on the future. The wealthy, on the other hand, are steeped in the past, with an emphasis on tradition and history. Again, determining your prospect's temporal emphasis may help guide your proposal. Is s/he more interested in keeping up school tradition, or will a vision of your school's future be more persuasive?

It's important to note that Payne does not consider one class "better" than another, but argues that the "rules" of different social classes hold sway in different environments. Public schools and corporate workplaces tend to adhere to middle class values, which may be at odds with the assumptions of some of your wealthier donors or volunteers.

It is important to note, as well, that social class is a fluid construct: a person's family background, education, and life experience - such as marrying someone from a different social class - all influence the "hidden rules" they follow. My guess is that the newer wealth of hedge funds and private equity may be more "middle class" than older, inherited wealth.

While amorphous, social class is another angle from which we can view our work. It can make us better researchers. And it can make us more comfortable in the environments in which we operate.

Bookmarks and Tags: Order Out of Chaos, Part I

I can remember when the word "bookmark" meant this. And when the word "tag" meant this.

Not anymore.

Now the word "bookmark" means this. And the word "tag" means this.

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A few weeks back, I posted to the PRSPCT-L list requesting feedback on whether listers were using online bookmarking/tagging sites. Results:

Foxmarks - 1 vote (I love Firefox, but I'm chained to Microsoft in the office).
Del.icio.us - 2 votes (First impressions: The interface may give me seizures. And no privacy!)
Backflip- 1 vote (Great logo; page layout is easy on the eyes)
Furl - 1 vote (I'm going to put in a plug here for Furl-user Aimee Fitzgerald, a veteran librarian and researcher who has been a great resource on the "El")

That's it for the free resources. Ask.com's Gary Price recommended Bookmarksync.com, along with providing a half-dozen resources and sprinkling of thoughtful opinions on bookmarking and tagging in general. (I'm still wading through that). Bookmarksync is a paid site, but the annual fees are reasonable (up to $40 for the professional edition).

In investigating further, I discovered that there are dozens of free social bookmarking tools, and more information and opinion on the best ways to organize, classify, search, share, and maintain website collections than this researcher can digest.

I'm going to make an attempt, though. It's interesting reading.

More later.

The Merits of Debits and Credits

Back in May, a lively discussion took place on the PRSPCT-L listserve regarding the value of a master's degree. I have to admit that as a researcher sans advanced degree, I am somewhat ambivalent. What I am 100% certain of, however, is that excellence in research demands continuing education. Most researchers I've met are zealous independent learners; in fact, that is the key personality trait that defines a true researcher.

I'm lucky to possess a terrific liberal arts background and a lot of technical know-how. But back in May, realizing the edge more formal business training could bring to prospect research, I decided to take some business classes at Baruch College Continuing Education. Marianne Pelletier very helpfully suggested starting with accounting, a basic course for business majors which many liberal arts grads have never studied.

Just six weeks into the class, I already get more out of the daily business news. A bonus has been a better understanding of my organization's financial reports (not to mention the ability to have an informed conversation with our VP of Finance).

Whether instead of or in addition to a master's degree, it's always a good idea to assess the gaps in your formal knowledge and find a way to fill in the gaps, through continuing education, workshops, conferences or mentoring. Contrarian career counselor and U.S. News Contributor Marty Nemko argues that targeted self-education is a better alternative than an advanced degree. What do you think?