Rachael Walker

Director of Research
Minneapolis, MN

Rachael is Director of Research at the Stott Group where she offers her deep experience with all aspects of prospect research-from creating opportunistic landscape analyses to preparing detail-rich profiles on high-net-worth individuals to building and tracking pipelines of hundreds of donor targets through all stages of cultivation. She helps development teams build robust individual, corporate, and foundation pipelines to support sustainable, long-term fundraising success.

Previously, Rachael established the Prospect Research Department at the Minneapolis Institute of Art to support the successful $100 million Bring Art to Life capital campaign. She honed the art and science of her research skills while working as a Reference Attorney at Thomson Reuters where she aided attorneys in researching complex legal questions.

Rachael received a BA in art history from the University of Minnesota and a JD from Hamline University School of Law (now Mitchell Hamline School of Law). A native of Minnesota, Rachael resides in Minneapolis with her husband, daughter, and son. Most weekends, you can find her at a swimming pool cheering on her children at a meet or curled up with a good book.

Why I Do This Work
Above all, I have a great deal of admiration and respect for our clients’ missions. I feel honored that I can play a part in helping them to do their vital and essential work.

On a personal level, I am a very curious person, and I find a lot of joy in learning. It doesn’t really matter what it is I am reading, researching, or listening to, it all just fascinates me. I also find satisfaction in solving puzzles or mysteries and putting order to things. My work as a researcher allows me to collaborate with clients doing amazing work, while fulfilling my natural curiosity and desire to dig in and learn.