Ulrike Bracken

Ulrike is an experienced fundraising intelligence and prospect research specialist with more than 15 years’ experience helping charities identify, understand and develop high-value philanthropic opportunities.

She currently works as a Prospect Research Manager at Refugee Council, where she leads prospect identification, network mapping, due diligence, and strategic intelligence to support high-value fundraising. Her focus is on turning research and insight into practical intelligence that fundraisers can use to prioritise prospects, develop relationships and make more informed approaches.

Previously, Ulrike held senior prospect research and information management roles at Plan International UK and the British Asian Trust, and has worked across organisations including Moorfields Eye Charity, University College London, Scope and Cancer Research UK.

Ulrike is particularly interested in the intersection of fundraising intelligence and relationship building. She believes the most valuable donor insight doesn’t come from desk research alone, but from combining research with what fundraisers learn through conversations, networks and donor interactions. Her approach is about bringing these different sources of intelligence together to build a richer understanding of a prospect and translate it into thoughtful, personalised cultivation and solicitation strategies.

She is passionate about helping fundraisers move beyond simply finding wealthy people towards understanding who they are, who they know, what motivates them, who influences them and how an organisation can build the right relationship with them.