Apra Fundamentals: Data Science With R

Kate Chamberlin is currently Senior Director of Decision Science and Prospect Development at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK).  These teams were united in 2019 to cover the application of data to fundraising decision-making at every level, from strategy evaluation, predictive modeling and process improvement to individualized prospect research and portfolio analysis.  Kate came to MSK in 2006 from Columbia University and previously worked at Arts Horizons, a small arts education agency.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in theatre directing and design from Dartmouth College and an MBA from Columbia Business School, focused on economics and strategy.

As a member of the Prospect Intelligence team at UNICEF USA, Max manages data strategy and analytics projects to support prospecting, portfolio optimization, and pipeline development. Prior to UNICEF USA, Max was Assistant Manager, Development Analytics at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Max currently serves as co-chair of Apra's Data Science Committee and is a member of NEDRA. He lives in Portland, Maine.

Carrick Davis is the Executive Director for Prospect Management & Research at UC Davis. In this role, he routinely works with development leadership, translating their business needs into data questions where information can support data-informed decision making. He often delivers recommendations using visualizations to improve organizational data literacy and socialize the use of data when making decisions. Carrick has worked exclusively in the non-profit sector. Before finding Advancement, he first worked with community non-profits mapping geospatial data to support successful grant applications. One summer he worked on a team that did a house-by-house survey of every residential parcel in the City of Detroit, mapping the prevalence of arson or abandoned houses. Since discovering the fields of Prospect Development and Data Science, he has worked at a variety of higher education institutions from small private faith-based colleges to large public land grant universities. As a well-known veteran in the field, Carrick has spoken on numerous topics underneath the data science and advancement umbrellas. He currently serves as Apra's President. He considers both Apra Rocky Mountains and CARA to be his home chapters. He has a BA from Beloit College in Sociology and Health Economics and holds a Master's Degree in Urban Planning from the University of Michigan. He'll complete a MS in Business Analytics from University of Colorado Denver at the end of 2023.

Kelly Douglas loves to advance fundraising efforts through data.  Currently the Associate Director of Prospect Analytics, she has worked for more than a decade at the California Institute of Technology.  She earned her master’s degree in Data Science from the University of Wisconsin.  Kelly has served on the Apra Data Science and Awards Committees and the Board of Directors of Apra’s California chapter.  Her work has been recognized with Gold and Bronze CASE awards and she’s a winner of several dashboarding contests.

Andy McMahon is an Assistant Director, Operations and Prospect Development at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Previously he worked on the Donor Operations team at Share Our Strength, a non-profit that strives to end childhood hunger in the U.S. He graduated from Carleton College in 2009 with a degree in philosophy. He is interested in every aspect of fundraising operations, including donor analytics. He's particularly passionate about using the R programming language, machine learning, SQL, and automation (whenever possible) to optimize the Museum's prospect management. When he's not fundraising or programming, he's dreaming about consuming as much ramen and kombucha as possible.

Andy Schultz’s devotion to philanthropy is evident throughout his 15+-year career in the industry. He finds inspiration daily in applying his specialized skills and expertise in the service of furthering the missions of organizations striving to solve the world’s challenges.

 Andy’s professional experiences focused on child welfare while at the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and WINGS for Kids, from which he received South Carolina’s “Excellence in Non-Profit Management” award in April of 2007. At BWF, Andy specializes in predictive modeling, analytics implementation, forecasting, scenario simulations, and prospect development optimization. He is passionate about partnering closely with clients to implement sophisticated analytics practices and techniques to advance their fundraising capabilities. He also currently serves as a member of the APRA-NY Board.

“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island of opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land; there is no other life but this.”Henry David Thoreau

There is never a dull moment outside Andy’s professional work. His favorite pastimes involve enjoying the great outdoors through cycling and hiking as well as spending every moment possible raising his three boys.

Nicole Wittlin is Lead Analyst for Data Management on the Alumni Relations and Development team at the University of Chicago. Prior to this role, Nicole was the Assistant Director of Philanthropy Data at Texas A&M University - Commerce and holds a Master of Science in Data Science from Southern Methodist University (SMU). Additionally, she is a teaching assistant for Coding Dojo’s part-time Data Science Bootcamp. Nicole has a wealth of expertise and knowledge from her work with APRA, CASE, and Women in Data, as well as prior roles at the American Red Cross, NPR’s From the Top, and the Madison Symphony Orchestra.