Webinar: Dartmouth College case study

Reputational risk at Dartmouth College became a significant concern around 2018-2019, following high-profile cases like the Sackler family. These incidents highlighted the need for better management of philanthropic gifts to avoid negative associations. Dartmouth sought to establish clearer guidelines for reputational risk, initially looking at what other organisations were doing. Their first major experience involved a donor who disclosed that demonstrators often followed him, raising potential publicity risks. However, at the time, tools to assess reputational risk were limited. Dartmouth hired a company that provided a lengthy, expensive dossier, but the process was inefficient. Over time, they explored other tools but continued seeking a more efficient, confidence-building solution to identify red flags and risks associated with potential donors. Then, they found Xapien which has since centralised and streamlined reputational risk management.

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Webinar: How to improve the relationship with fee earners 

This session covers how compliance teams can improve their relationship with fee-earners while strengthening risk assessments. Our guest speakers talk about using a mix of technology and traditional methods, like client risk assessment forms that promote deeper thinking beyond simple checkboxes. The session also highlights the importance of open-source research, enabling compliance and fee-earners to look at a client’s risk profile in full context. It’s not just about what you know about them; it’s about what the rest of the world knows about them. Complete the form to learn more about Xapien. 

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Webinar: University of Michigan case study

The University of Michigan noticed growing concerns with certain philanthropists and decided to review its due diligence process. The research team led the development of a new approach, working closely with senior leadership, legal, and compliance teams. At first, they struggled with gathering too much information, but with input from legal and DEI teams, they refined their focus on key risks. They also created a decision matrix to align with institutional values and reduce bias. In 2020, the university launched a new process using Xapien, allowing them to generate comprehensive reports in just 10 minutes. This improved efficiency and helped them identify donor risks earlier on.

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Webinar: Prospect development—preparing for a world with AI

This webinar explores the evolution of prospect research and the transition from traditional methods to modern technology. Initially, researchers relied on manual data entry. But advancements in technology, particularly search engines and AI, have transformed the efficiency and accessibility of information. Despite these changes, the core mission of prospect research—maximising fundraising potential for nonprofits—remains unchanged. AI has simply enabled researchers to provide timely insights to fundraisers. They’re evolving from just information gatherers to strategic partners, collaborating with fundraisers to develop effective engagement strategies.

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Webinar: Prospect development—not all AIs are alike

There’s a need for reliable AI tools in the prospect development space, especially as AI models evolve rapidly. Purpose-built tools can simplify the role of researchers, allowing them to focus on strategic tasks instead of constantly retraining. AI has the potential to elevate roles within organisations, moving professionals beyond administrative tasks to become strategic partners in fundraising and decision-making processes. It draws parallels to the early days of the internet. While AI is currently in a nascent stage, it will become integral to work processes, much like search engines have. Before using AI tools, particularly generative models, it’s essential to review privacy policies to ensure that sensitive data isn’t misused. Research tools built specifically for the industry, like Xapien, are more appropriate for handling confidential information about prospects.

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Webinar: AI in legal services—risk management of AI

Sixty percent of large law firms are looking into AI. However, there are still concerns about safe usage and ethical compliance. Data security is a big issue; firms need to understand regulations and ensure clients give informed consent regarding their data, as many have specific hosting requirements. It’s also important for law firms to follow strict security protocols when integrating new AI tools. Our guest speakers emphasise why we shouldn’t rely too much on AI since it can’t replace human insight and ethical judgment. Instead, lawyers should use AI to improve efficiency but remain responsible for making nuanced decisions based on their expertise and client relationships. With the right safeguards, firms can use AI without compromising client privacy or reputation.

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Webinar: ClientEarth case study

ClientEarth’s philanthropy team had secured approval for a significant corporate fundraising strategy. However, with limited capacity, they needed a way to scale their research and due diligence efforts. In this webinar, Camilla Fitzgerald, the Philanthropy Manager at ClientEarth, will discuss how the team lacked a dedicated prospect researcher responsible for conducting due diligence and providing reports to fundraisers. To address this gap, they set out to find the right tool. They chose Xapien as an on-demand research tool that could be directly accessed by fundraisers. Camilla will explain how she made a business case for using AI, how it has been adopted across the entire philanthropy team, and the value it has unlocked for ClientEarth.

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AI in legal services—a case study with KaurMaxwell

One year after OpenAI’s launch of ChatGPT, legal innovators KaurMaxwell will share their insights in a live case study on how they’ve begun experimenting with AI in their practice and practice management. Founder and CEO, Mandeep Kaur Virdee, and our Head of Legal Professionals, Nick Morgan, will share examples of generative AI technologies applied to legal services from due diligence to litigation, its successes and failures, and what’s next for generative AI in legal services.

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Webinar: How to use research as an enabler across the donor lifecycle

In this webinar, we look at how the British Red Cross (BRC) prospect development team delivers tailored, high-quality research to unlock value for the transformational giving team, partnerships team, and a diverse group of fundraisers focused on securing high-value gifts from individuals, trusts, foundations, corporate partners, and institutional funding bodies. This research is essential for engaging and nurturing donor relationships, understanding the philanthropic landscape, and making data-driven decisions that enhance fundraising strategies. Most importantly, it supports relationship management by identifying optimal moments to increase donor support. Additionally, it aids in framing proposals and determining which British Red Cross team members are best suited to engage with specific donors. This approach ensures a more informed and personalised strategy for building long-term relationships with BRC donors.

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