By Catherine Bergerson, Vice President, Marketing, Insightful
At first glance, reading the news may not sound like the most strategic part of a fundraiser’s day. But for Tami Pearson, a prospect researcher with Nuvance Health, supporting 13 gift officers, keeping up with the news is one of the most impactful tools in her toolkit—and it’s become a daily habit that’s helping drive real fundraising results.
A Daily Practice That Makes a Difference
Each morning, Tami starts her day with a cup of tea and a scroll through the latest news—specifically curated updates tied to the donor prospects her team is working with. Using a tool called Insightful, which integrates with her CRM Raiser’s Edge NXT, she tracks the people that matter most and identifies moments that gift officers can act on.
“I’m looking for anything that can help move things along or inspire our fundraisers,” Tami explains. “Sometimes I just send them a heads-up; other times, I suggest how they might use it—like congratulating someone on a recent achievement or expressing sympathy after a family loss.”
That small but steady feed of news information helps her team build stronger, more personal relationships.
From News to Action
One recent example: a gift officer was having a hard time connecting with a particular prospect. Tami found a news article announcing the prospect was opening a new hotel. She sent it along. The fundraiser replied right away—she happened to be nearby and decided to stop in and offer congratulations in person.
“It was such a cool moment,” Tami says. “That’s just how she is—brave and creative—but it was the news alert that gave her the opportunity.”
Other examples include acquisitions, stock sales, or nominations for community service awards—each one a new reason to reach out.
Closing the Loop
So, does Tami ever feel like her work goes into a black hole? “Not really,” she says. “Our team is great. They always respond, even if it’s just a thank-you. And sometimes, I hear how they used the information to move something forward.”
She also shares obituaries—sensitive but important updates that help fundraisers show empathy and care. “It might be a relative who passed away out of state, something they wouldn’t have known otherwise. Now they do, and they can reach out appropriately.”
Beyond Google Alerts and TalkWalker
Tami used to rely on free tools like Google Alerts and TalkWalker, but found them clunky and unreliable. “I wasn’t even reading them anymore—it was too overwhelming,” she admits.
“We missed something important.”
What changed? The team “missed something” admits Tami. That’s when they began to look for a new news service. When they discovered Insightful and the integration with Raiser’s Edge NXT, the fit was right.
“Now I’m actually doing it. It’s easy to use, it brings everything into one place, and I’m not dealing with paywalls or scattered emails. It saves time and keeps me focused on the people we care about.”
Advice for Other Fundraisers
For anyone considering a news monitoring tool, especially in a tight budget environment, Tami is clear: it’s worth it.
“It won’t be your biggest investment, but it might be one of your smartest. It gives you and your gift officers real-time information that can lead to stronger connections and better timing. That alone makes it valuable.”
More Than Just News
Tami also tracks chatter about her own organization—what people are saying in the press or how leadership is being perceived. She even uses articles about large gifts to other institutions as inspiration for her own team.
“It’s all about context,” she says. “What’s happening in their world? What does that tell us about how to engage with them? That’s what I’m always thinking about.”
From simple congratulations to thoughtful condolences, from strategic gift timing to creative engagement ideas, Tami’s approach shows just how powerful news can be to help deepen donor relationships.
Know More. Raise More.
Want to learn more? The full video conversation with Tami is here.