Fall 2026 Plug In to Portfolio Optimization

Emily Carter Sharpe is a Prospect Management Analyst at the University of Michigan, where she consults with units across campus, including Michigan Medicine, on strategic portfolio management and donor relationship strategy. She joined the team in early 2026, bringing a detail-oriented, collaborative approach shaped by development communications and event strategy roles across nonprofit arts, healthcare, and higher education.

Marion Chaloux serves as a Prospect Management Analyst at the University of Michigan, focusing in relationship management across a decentralized campus. Drawing on previous experience in institutional research, data analysis, and teaching she concentrates consulting units across campus on  strategic portfolio management and continued training on best practices.

Emily Cooper is a Manager of Prospect Intelligence at UNICEF USA, where she partners with fundraisers across Major Giving, Corporate and Civil Societies, and Planned Giving to turn data and research into actionable strategy. Her work includes proactive prospecting, portfolio optimization, capacity analysis, and strategic intelligence. Before joining UNICEF USA, Emily worked in prospect research within higher education. She brings a curious, collaborative, and people-centered approach to her work and believes the strongest insights emerge when researchers and fundraisers work together as strategic partners.

Annabelle earned her Bachelor's Degree in Business Analytics from the University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business in 2023. She then completed her Master's Degree in Nonprofit Administration from Notre Dame in 2024. She spent five years working as a Student Manager and Analyst for the Notre Dame Softball Team while a student. She began her career in the Notre Dame University Relations Department working as a Development Coordinator for Athletics Advancement. She now works as a Prospect Management Consultant fulfilling obligations such as new portfolio strategy, pipeline construction, and portfolio health and maintenance.

Megan is a prospect development professional at UNICEF USA, where she works with frontline fundraisers to maximize their fundraising outcomes to bring in support for children across the globe. She was previously the Senior Prospect Development Analyst at the Rhode Island School of Design, and Prospect Management and Research Analyst at UC San Diego. Megan serves on Apra’s DEIBJA Committee and is the former chair of the Apra Ethics & Compliance Committee. Before her career in philanthropy, she worked for social justice and human rights nonprofits in Washington, DC and El Salvador. She has a BA in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and an MA in Latin American Studies from UC San Diego. Megan lives with her partner and two dogs in Rhode Island.

Ashley Mick is the Senior Director of Prospect Management at the LSU Foundation. In her role, she partners with advancement leadership and frontline fundraisers to identify, prioritize, and engage high-potential donors through data-driven prospect management, portfolio strategy, and fundraising analytics. Ashley is passionate about leveraging technology, insights, and process improvement to enhance fundraising effectiveness and help advance LSU's mission.

With more than a decade of experience spanning higher education advancement, marketing, public relations, and corporate client service, Kristin brings a strategic and data-informed approach to fundraising operations. In her current role as Assistant Director of Prospect Development at the University of Michigan she oversees prospect management services for 250 fundraisers across 36 teams, including prospect assignment, portfolio reviews, portfolio data best practices, and fundraiser performance standards and education. She has been heavily involved in the planning and execution of the Great Lakes Prospect Development FORUM and previously served on the Apra Michigan board of directors.

Matt Phelan is a Prospect Development Consultant at Michigan State University (MSU). At MSU, he provides portfolio management and prospect research services to nine constituency units to drive success. Before joining MSU, Matt spent more than a decade as a political fundraiser, including serving as Finance Director for two successful statewide campaigns. He holds a master’s degree in political science from the University of Houston and a bachelor’s in political science from Michigan State University.

Miranda joined the North Dakota State University Foundation in 2022 after spending 5 years in healthcare operations, where she managed senior living care services. As the Director of the Development Operations team, she provides operational guidance and support to Director of Development, helping advance the Foundation's fundraising efforts through efficient processes and effective CRM data management. Miranda is passionate about building streamlined workflows, improving data quality, and creating systems that enable fundraising success. Outside of work, Miranda and her husband enjoy life on their farm just outside Fargo, North Dakota with their two dogs.

Janet Weimar is Executive Director of Prospect Development at the University of Iowa Center for Advancement, where she leads efforts to strengthen prospect strategy, pipeline development, and data-informed decision-making. Her work focuses on transforming data into actionable insight, improving prospect management practices, and building systems and processes that help fundraising teams focus their efforts and advance relationships. Janet has particular interests in CRM strategy and adoption, reporting and analytics, healthcare philanthropy, and the evolving role of prospect development as a strategic partner to fundraising.