Finbar Cullen has worked in the voluntary sector for over twenty years and has been a prospect researcher since 1999. He set up ResearchPlus in January 2005. Finbar researches individuals, companies, grant-making trusts, etc., using a wide range of public domain sources. Finbar has been a senior researcher at Factary and worked for Children’s Hospice South West on their major capital appeal for over two years. Finbar was a member of the Institute of Fundraising’s Researchers in Fundraising (RiF) Special Interest Group, and was responsible for securing conference sponsorship. He was also a member of the RiF Data Protection Action Group and RiF Training Action Group. Finbar publishes a Blog on Howard Lake’s website (www.fundraising.co.uk) and is an associate consultant with Action Planning. He contributed to the chapter on prospect research in Margaret Holman & Lucy Sargent’s book - Major Donor Fundraising (DSC September 2006).

Louise James began her career in the City at an American investment bank before moving into the charity sector in 2001. At the Aga Khan Foundation (UK) she created and headed up a new role in corporate fundraising. In 2005, Louise moved to Hilton in the Community Foundation, liaising with Hilton Hotels on their employee fundraising initiatives as well as local grant-making preferences. As the Foundation has expanded during the last two years, Louise has focused on its grant-making activities, overseeing the distribution of £1.2m each year to hundreds of children`s charities primarily in the UK and Ireland. The Foundation`s grant fund is raised through the efforts of Hilton team members, guests, suppliers and the general public, so fundraising remains the primary function of Hilton in the Community Foundation.