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Apra has made it easier for you to navigate and determine the best-recorded content for your needs by creating education bundles that target your education, from Conference Highlights to Ethics in Action to Wealth Indicators and more. New to Prospect Research? Take advantage of the Apra Fundamentals online modules to fast-track your onboarding. 

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Gain prospect development knowledge, on us! Watch the industry panel "President's Panel: Apra Leaders Reflect on the Past and Plan for the Future" recorded at the Prospect Development virtual event in July 2021. 

Resources

  • FREE RESOURCE. Advocacy for our members and our profession is an urgent imperative, and this exclusive industry benchmark arms you with the data you need to advocate for your own compensation and benefits, set appropriate staffing levels at your organization, or simply see how you stack up in comparison to others. This Executive Summary of the Apra 2024 Salary Survey Report is Free for both members and non-members. Join Apra as a Professional member to access the 2024 Salary Survey Report for free.

  • FREE RESOURCE FOR APRA PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS. Conducted in the spring of 2024, the Salary Survey was a comprehensive assessment of compensation, benefits, workload and more in the prospect development field. The report equips you with the information you need to advocate for your own compensation and benefits, set appropriate staffing levels at your organization or simply see how you stack up in comparison to others. Join Apra as a Professional member to access the 2024 Salary Survey Report for free.

Upcoming Webinars

  • Contains 9 Component(s) Includes Multiple Live Events. The next is on 11/07/2024 at 11:00 AM (EST)

    Plug In to Due Diligence at Apra's annual virtual two-day event, November 6 and 7. This year's event spotlights the critical role of due diligence in prospect development, offering an array of sessions that will sharpen your skills and expand your toolkit.

    Plug In to Due Diligence at Apra's annual virtual two-day event, November 6 and 7. This year's event spotlights the critical role of due diligence in prospect development, offering an array of sessions that will sharpen your skills and expand your toolkit.

    Over two days of flexible learning, you'll dive deep into:

    • Crafting robust due diligence policies
    • Harnessing cutting-edge technologies for donor vetting
    • Navigating ethical challenges in prospect research
    • Leveraging AI and machine learning to revolutionize your practices

    Connect with fellow professionals, gain actionable insights, and stay ahead of emerging trends in our rapidly evolving field. Whether you're new to due diligence or looking to refine your approach, this event is your gateway to excellence in prospect development.

    Mark your calendars for November 6-7 and prepare to Plug In!

    Click the contents tab above for more details about the agenda.

    Courtney Cutler

    Due Diligence Specialist

    Stanford University

    Courtney has helped build comprehensive due diligence programs at MIT and UC Berkeley, and most recently worked with Stanford University to assess and refine their existing due diligence processes. Prior to due diligence, Courtney worked in prospect development at MIT and the Appalachian Mountain Club in Boston. They currently split their time between Colorado and Idaho and can often be found climbing or running through the mountains with their dog, Stanley.

    Molly Johnson

    Senior Director of Prospect Development

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology

    Molly Johnson is the Senior Director of Prospect Development at MIT where she leads the prospect research, prospect management, and philanthropic due diligence functions.

    Her journey in higher education fundraising has been iterative, from prospect researcher to campaign volunteer manager to fundraiser to AI start up to her current role at MIT. The hallmark of Molly’s career is her ability to employ design thinking to identify problems, develop unique solutions, and co-create value. This highly collaborative style enabled Molly to tackle several complex organizational challenges, including individualized performance metrics with the School of Engineering, which culminated in the Leader of the Year award.

    Today Molly is excited to share her expertise in creating, developing, and sustaining a responsive program to help you assess risk and make decisions that support your organization’s mission.

    Beca Daniel

    Account Executive

    Xapien

    Beca is an Account Executive at Xapien, having worked across customer success, sales and product development, all focused on the non profit and fundraising sector. She now leads on the higher education sector at Xapien.

    During her time at Xapien, Beca has been involved in various aspects of developing the product to better serve universities and nonprofits, acting as a liaison between customers and the product team. Her work has often been focused on adapting the product to the changing world, including integrating fully up-to-date sanctions and watchlist data after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and adapting adverse media categories to align with the reputational risks universities and nonprofits face in a changing world.

    Beca has a background in research and higher education, with a first class degree in English Literature and an MA in Literature, Criticism and Culture from the University of Cambridge.

    Krista Pierce

    Senior Associate Director of Due Diligence Research

    Tufts University

    Krista Pierce is the Senior Associate Director of Due Diligence Research at Tufts University, where she joined the prospect development team in 2015. Since assuming her current role in 2021, Krista has helped to create the University’s first in-house due diligence program, which included developing a new policy and procedure, research reports, and risk analysis scoring. In addition to managing the due diligence program’s day-to-day operations, Krista has also acted as a subject expert to peer institutions and colleagues, and, most recently, gave a comprehensive workshop on due diligence at APRA’s Prospect Development 2023.

     Prior to her due diligence work, Krista served in a variety of roles at Tufts, where her responsibilities were divided between prospect management and prospect research, with a particular expertise in international prospect research. Krista came to Tufts from Tufts Medical Center, where she helped to develop the fundraising office’s first prospect research program. Krista graduated from Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH with a B.A. in English.

    Catherine Flaatten

    Associate Vice President of Prospect Development

    Catherine Flaatten, MPH, CFRE, is the associate vice president of prospect development at BWF where she partners with clients to develop creative solutions to their prospect development challenges. Previously, she served in various roles at The George Washington University, most recently as the managing director of research and relationship management. Catherine has also worked in prospect development at Share Our Strength/No Kid Hungry, the National Psoriasis Foundation, and the BrightFocus Foundation. A regular speaker and author, Catherine currently serves on Apra’s Board of Directors, Fundamentals Committee, and Foundation Board of Trustees. Former volunteer roles include serving as president and programming chair of Apra Metro DC, chairing the aasp Best Practices in Prospect Development and Apra Membership Committees, and serving on Apra’s Body of Knowledge and PD Curriculum Planning Committees. Catherine holds a BA in International Affairs and an MPH in Maternal and Child Health, both from The George Washington University.

    Charles Latham

    Senior Research Analyst, Principal Gifts

    Duke University

    Currently the Senior Research Analyst specializing in Principal Gifts ($10M+ capacity) for Duke Health Development and Alumni Affairs, I have been a prospect researcher for nearly two decades, having started my career at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia, PA in 2007. I joined Duke Health in 2014.  In 2021, working directly with the Vice President, I developed a presentation on reputational risk and due diligence in response to incidents at peer and other institutions, and am currently collaborating with our Stewardship team and Duke University’s development team to craft a robust program for identifying “red flags” and protecting the reputation of Duke Health. I received my B.A. in English w/Cultural and Community Studies with honors from the University of Sussex in Brighton, E. Sussex, UK. I reside in Durham, NC and like to play music in my free time and to practice target archery with my English longbow.

    Kerry Rock

    Chief Executive

    Prospecting for Gold

    Kerry is the Chief Executive of Prospecting for Gold. She has over 30 years’ experience in research, policy and management. She joined Prospecting for Gold in 2012 and currently leads our research consultancy and data protection work. She also runs our training programme, sharing her expertise in webinars and seminars. Before she moved to the UK from Australia in 2005, Kerry worked in the water industry then ran her own research and communication consultancy, supporting leading companies within the research industry. A career highlight was providing customer insights to help determine the future of Australia’s largest water company. Kerry also ran an independent film production company and wrote and produced a feature film that was selected for the Cannes Film Festival. Kerry has written hundreds of user-friendly reports and presented to wide-ranging audiences at national and international conferences, seminars, and board meetings. Kerry volunteers both within the charity sector and in her local community. She is a trustee of Cure Parkinson’s and sits on the Chartered Institute for Fundraising’s Consultants Special Interest Group committee. She is a member of the Market Research Society and president of the UK branch of the University of Melbourne’s Alumni Association. Closer to home, Kerry is a volunteer citizen scientist, helping to protect her local river, the Chess.

    Maria Jornet Escuer

    Researcher

    Prospecting for Gold

    Maria started her career in the financial sector as a risk-based researcher and due diligence specialist. After 10 years at Dow Jones she moved to the charity sector as an independent consultant to support charities on their ethical fundraising and conducting ethical checks.

    Thanks to her background in translation she is fluent in five languages and specifically trained in conducting due diligence across different jurisdictions.

    She joined Prospecting for Gold in June 2024 as a Researcher to add to the company’s due diligence and corporate and trust research services. As a polyglot and food lover, she enjoys travelling to practise her language skills and exploring new cuisines.

    Bethany Andorfer Morley

    Director of Prospect Strategy and Research

    West Chester University Foundation

    Bethany Andorfer Morley works at the West Chester University Foundation as the Director of Prospect Strategy and Research. Driven by a passion for learning new tools and creating innovative systems and strategies, she enjoys collaborating with fundraisers and prospect development professionals. With nearly 20 years of experience in the non-profit sector, including a decade as a frontline fundraiser, she has worked in higher education, health and human services and arts and culture.

    John Sammis

    Senior Vice President, Data Analytics

    CCS Fundraising

    John Sammis is a Senior Vice President of Data Analytics for CCS Fundraising. He brings more than 30 years of experience with statistical analysis and predictive modeling. John has devoted more than 20 years of his career to charities, universities, hospitals, and other nonprofit institutions, helping them produce models and use the results to achieve their fundraising goals. At CCS, John leads the Data Analytics team, which helps philanthropy and fundraising professionals apply cutting-edge data analytics tools to address specific organizational objectives. John is constantly reviewing the latest statistics tools and innovations to ensure that CCS applies the best approach for each client. John has a BS in Chemical Engineering from Clarkson University and an MBA from Cornell University.

    Lindsey Nadeau (Moderator)

    Vice President, Data, Insight and Campaigns

    UNICEF USA

    Lindsey Nadeau is vice president of data, insight, and campaigns at UNICEF USA, where she guides the philanthropy division toward data-driven decision-making and automation across campaign planning, prospect research, relationship management, database management, reporting, analytics, gift processing, and record management. She has previously held advancement services roles at The George Washington University, the Center for American Progress, The American University, and Public Citizen. Lindsey is Secretary of Apra International’s board of directors, where she has held multiple volunteer roles including chairing the 2020 Prospect Development conference. She previously chaired aasp’s Prospect Development Best Practices committee, co-chaired CASE’s Prospect Development conference, and contributed to CASE’s 2023 book Advancement Strategies: A Reference Guide for Advancement Services Professionals, 4th Edition. Lindsey holds a BA in economics from The American University. 


    Michael J. Foote

    Assistant Vice President, Development Operations and Performance

    Dartmouth College

    Michael (Mike) Foote joined Dartmouth’s Advancement team in 2001 and currently serves as the Assistant Vice President of Development Operations and Performance. In this role, Mike collaborates closely with senior leadership to drive strategic initiatives that enhance fundraising effectveness and operational excellence. He plays a key role in shaping best practices across the department to maximize the impact of Dartmouth’s fundraising efforts.


    Mike also leads Dartmouth’s Research and Prospect Management team, overseeing the identification and cultivation of high-potential donors in alignment with the college’s fundraising priorities. He has held
    Additional roles in his time with Dartmouth included oversight of donor engagement and interim director of Dartmouth’s recognition and stewardship team, where he strengthened the college’s donor-centric approach to relationship-building and stewardship.

    Before transitioning to the non-profit sector, Mike spent five years with the National Basketball Association (NBA), where he directed research initiatives and provided strategic insights for marketing and media sales teams. His work supported the NBA’s domestic and global positioning through client-targeted research. Prior to the NBA, Mike held various roles at Nielsen Media Research, where he focused on television ratings and audience analysis.

    Mike earned a Bachelor of Arts in Quantitative Analysis from St. John’s University and an MBA from the Lubin School of Business at Pace University. He is an active speaker in the development research community, has contributed to the APRA International Conference curriculum committee, and is a member of both APRA and NEDRA.

    Megan Tedeschi

    Managing Director, Prospect Development

    UNICEF USA

    Megan Tedeschi is the Managing Director, Prospect Development for UNICEF USA where establishes the priorities and vision for the prospect development area including moves management, pipeline development, prospect research, data hygiene and reporting standards to drive data-informed fundraising. Working in Prospect Development for over 10 years, Megan has gained expertise in due diligence best practices, corporate and institutional research, philanthropic trend analysis, team building and project management. She previously held Prospect Development roles at The George Washington University, Johnson & Wales University, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Megan holds a BA in Art History from Boston University. She lives in Portland on an apple orchard with her family.

    Kevin Vaughn

    Corporate and Foundation Relations Research Analyst

    Notre Dame

    Kevin Vaughn is a Research Analyst in the Department of Development at the University of Notre Dame, where he specializes in prospect research and strategy for the Corporate and Foundation Relations team. He also plays a key role in developing due diligence policies and procedures in collaboration with other university departments. Prior to joining Development, Kevin held administrative roles in graduate programs across the humanities and global affairs. Alongside his expertise in higher education, he holds advanced degrees in music performance.

  • Contains 2 Component(s) Includes a Live Web Event on 11/13/2024 at 12:00 PM (EST)

    Are you using gift capacity in your wealth screening? Does it rely too much on real estate? Are you finding issues with assigning the right assets to the right individual? Knowing which constituents have the most potential is essential for nonprofits to focus their fundraising efforts. Unfortunately, it can be very difficult to get a full understanding of an individual’s wealth profile, especially in today's volatile economic climate. In this webinar we will explore: - Historical approaches to data and why some screenings tend to be inaccurate - The 4 V's of data and why it is challenging to maintain accuracy - Examples of data sources that are tough to analyze or incorporate in screenings - Newer approaches to Wealth Screening and how to supercharge your fundraising efforts - Bonus: Discover the benefits of incorporating career intelligence into your fundraising strategy, as well as leveraging Windfall’s Wealth Analytics Report to better identify, understand, and engage your donors.* *Full participation is applicable for 1.0 points in Category 1.B -Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.

    Are you using gift capacity in your wealth screening? Does it rely too much on real estate? Are you finding issues with assigning the right assets to the right individual? Knowing which constituents have the most potential is essential for nonprofits to focus their fundraising efforts. Unfortunately, it can be very difficult to get a full understanding of an individual’s wealth profile, especially in today's volatile economic climate. In this webinar we will explore: - Historical approaches to data and why some screenings tend to be inaccurate - The 4 V's of data and why it is challenging to maintain accuracy - Examples of data sources that are tough to analyze or incorporate in screenings - Newer approaches to Wealth Screening and how to supercharge your fundraising efforts - Bonus: Discover the benefits of incorporating career intelligence into your fundraising strategy, as well as leveraging Windfall’s Wealth Analytics Report to better identify, understand, and engage your donors.*

    *Full participation is applicable for 1.0 points in Category 1.B -Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification. 

    Marissa Maybee

    Director of Customer Success

    Windfall

    Marissa Maybee is the Director of Nonprofit Customer Success at Windfall. Her team helps Windfall’s 800+ nonprofit customers leverage the power of data science to design fundraising outreach and segmentation strategies. Marissa has more than a decade of experience working at the intersection of nonprofit strategy and data science and holds an MBA from Georgetown University

    Gabriella Snow

    Account Executive

    Windfall

    Gabriella Snow is an Account Executive at Windfall, collaborating with clients to harness data-driven insights for their success. With six years of SaaS sales experience in various roles, she has developed a comprehensive understanding of the sales process. Gabriella is committed to empowering organizations through innovative solutions and holds a B.A. from the University of Chicago. 

  • Contains 2 Component(s) Includes a Live Web Event on 11/21/2024 at 12:00 AM (EST)

    Data-driven strategies are essential for identifying the best legacy prospects. One key takeaway is the importance of avoiding assumptions about donor behavior based on surface-level data, such as age or income. Instead, fundraisers should use deeper insights—like donor engagement history, past giving patterns, and survey data on donor motivations—to create tailored approaches. By integrating analytics tools to segment donors and track trends over time, nonprofits can pinpoint those most likely to leave a legacy gift and build stronger, trust-based relationships that resonate long-term. This session will explore data points that can help you uncover those legacy gems.* *Full participation is applicable for 1.0 points in Category 1.B -Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.

    Data-driven strategies are essential for identifying the best legacy prospects. One key takeaway is the importance of avoiding assumptions about donor behavior based on surface-level data, such as age or income. Instead, fundraisers should use deeper insights—like donor engagement history, past giving patterns, and survey data on donor motivations—to create tailored approaches.

    By integrating analytics tools to segment donors and track trends over time, nonprofits can pinpoint those most likely to leave a legacy gift and build stronger, trust-based relationships that resonate long-term. This session will explore data points that can help you uncover those legacy gems.*

    *Full participation is applicable for 1.0 points in Category 1.B -Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification. 

    Ligia Peña

    CFRE and AFP Master Trainer; International Legacy Consultant

    GlobetrottingFundraiser

    Ligia’s superpower is helping nonprofits design data-driven and evidence-based legacy strategies so they may raise more funds for their mission. She has held her CFRE designation since 2007 and is President of GlobetrottingFundraiser where she merges her passion for travel, capacity building, and legacy fundraising by working with charities around the globe.

    Ligia is also pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Kent where she is researching the role that trust and confidence plays in legacy fundraising. As an AFP Master Trainer, she’s trained countless fundraisers around the globe by enthusiastically sharing her knowledge by empowering nonprofit professionals to think about legacies differently through creativity and innovation. 

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