Checklist to help fundraisers evaluate research

• Does the research draw from multiple sources, or does it rely on a single study to make assertions?
• Was the research based on quantitative data or self-reported responses? Was response bias considered in the research methodology?
• What channels were used in the study? Does the channel make a difference and potentially introduce unwanted variables?
• Are there broader environmental, societal, political or economic trends that might be contributing to the research findings? What fundraising and philanthropy trends are happening in the background and are these acknowledged in the report?