High Finance for Prospect Researchers: Hedge Funds, Private Equity and Venture Capital

Friday, March 6, 2026- Friday, April 3, 2026 (4 sessions, online). No class on March 20.

CLASS SCHEDULE

Friday, March 6,  11:00AM – 12:30PM (ET)

Friday, March 13, 11:00AM- 12:30PM (ET)
- NO CLASS ON MARCH 20 -

Friday, March 27, 11:00AM – 12:30PM (ET)

Friday, April 3, 11:00AM – 12:30PM (ET)

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

The US Financial Services industry creates, maintains, and perpetuates a disproportionate number of personal fortunes. Its activities touch virtually every affluent major prospect on the donor and prospect lists of every nonprofit organization.

It can also present an intimidating challenge for prospect researchers stymied by artful industry jargon, organization and fee structures, and eye-popping deal figures. Still, the more researchers understand this world, the more opportunities they can potentially identify for the organizations they serve.

This four-week survey course examines investment managers in the “alternatives” subsector: private equity (“buyout” and venture capital) and hedge fund businesses and will feature:

• A particular focus on the unique business models, organizational structures, and executive compensation practices of specialized firms in the industry

• An examination and review of relevant public disclosure forms and filings and specialized sources
• A discussion of techniques and approaches for deriving wealth and capacity estimates and distilling information for frontline fundraisers for donor prospects
• Suggested reference resources and readings, and opportunity for Q&A

Class Descriptions (order of coverage subject to change):

Class 1

• Short Introductions
• The Financial Industry Sector Overview
• The Commercial Funding Continuum
• Seed Stage and Early Venture Capital

Class 2

• The Partnership Model and LPs
• The Investment Fund structure
• Compensation in Private Equity

Class 3

• The ADV form and ownership
• Hedge Funds (+ Activist Investors)
• Compensation in Hedge funds

Class 4

• Industry Trends
• Capacity Rating Examples
• Q&A

FACULTY:

Nhu Huynh, University of Chicago, Booth School of Business

Nhu (she/her/hers) is currently the Director of Prospect Development and Campaign Management at the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business. In this role, she oversees prospect research, prospect management, and assists with capital campaign strategy. She previously worked at Loyola University of Chicago as the Director, Prospect Management & Research. Prior to that, she spent seven years at Harvard where she started as a prospect research analyst and eventually pivoted to overseeing more prospect management responsibilities under the title of Associate Director, Prospect Management. One of her greatest accomplishments includes helping implement a prospect management program in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University. She was a member of APRA International's Nomination Committee (2022). Nhu has a bachelor’s degree from Boston College and a master’s degree from Harvard University. She resides in Chicago, Illinois.

Tara McMullen-King, The Helen Brown Group

Tara is Director of Research & Consulting at The Helen Brown Group, where she manages a team of consultants who provide prospect research, prospect management consulting, fundraising analytics, training, and due diligence research for nonprofit organizations across the country. She began her career in development in the early 2000s at Simmons College, where she ultimately served as Assistant Director of Prospect Research. Since that time, Tara has worked as a Senior Research Analyst at MIT, Associate Director of Prospect Management & Research at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and Director of Development Research at Combined Jewish Philanthropies.

Tara served on NEDRA’s board of directors from 2010–2016 and has been a member of the Research Basics Bootcamp faculty since 2020. She has also been actively involved with Apra as a volunteer, previously serving on the Membership Committee, Chapters Committee, and Bylaws Task Force. In 2022, she was awarded NEDRA’s Ann Castle Award, which recognizes outstanding effort or achievement in the field of development research and related disciplines.

In addition to her work in prospect development, Tara is also a professional wedding officiant based in Salem, Massachusetts. She is a founding board member of the Sisterhood of Salem, a membership-based networking and empowerment organization for women and nonbinary people, and serves as president of the board of the Salem Playhouse, a former church now reimagined as a vibrant home for the performing arts.

Sanda Soltan, Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP)

Sanda Soltan (she/her/hers) is the Director of Prospect Management and Research at Combined Jewish Philanthropies, where she oversees prospect strategy, portfolio systems, and research practices supporting fundraising across the organization. Previously, she spent seven years at Harvard University on the Research and Prospect Management team, most recently as Assistant Director and Training Manager, where she led training and onboarding for research analysts, supported the research needs of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and contributed to prospect management systems implementation. She began her tenure at Harvard as a Research Analyst and started her career in development at Boston Children’s Hospital as a Development Associate. Sanda has experience analyzing complex wealth structures and financial entities, including private equity and hedge fund firms, and interpreting public disclosures, compensation models, ownership structures, and investment activity in a prospect development context. She holds a master’s degree from Boston University, a bachelor’s degree from Smith College, and has completed coursework in corporate finance, private equity, and hedge funds through Harvard Extension School.

COST:

$225 Members

$275 Non-Members

Are you a current or recently lapsed NEDRA member and want to attend this program for free? Deadline to apply for the need-based NEDRA Community Scholarship is the end of the day on Friday, February 20, 2026.

LOCATION:

Attendees will receive a Zoom link in advance of the first class. Please note, NEDRA's High Finance sessions are not recorded.

DEADLINES:

Registration for this event closes on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 5PM.