Best Practice Webinar: Tips and Tricks for Maximizing Back-to-School Prospecting

Leah Payne is the Director of Prospect Management & Research at Longwood University, a small comprehensive public university in Virginia founded in 1839. Leah has served in her current role for over 15 years and has a breath of higher education experience. She spearheads moves management, prospect research, major gift pipeline development, internal prospect giving analytics and external wealth screenings.

Before finding her latest passion in fundraising, Leah served as an assistance dean of students. Her exposure to financial aid, admissions, student conduct and student advocacy deepened her appreciation for the crucial role philanthropy plays in the success of higher education and non-profit organizations in general. Leah earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Longwood University and a Master of Education from Virginia Tech. 

Adri Viswanatha is the Director of Donor Research at Macalester College, where she is responsible for prospect strategy and portfolio management. Prior to joining the team at Mac, she worked as a prospect researcher at Children’s Cancer Research Fund. Adri began her fundraising career in Wisconsin where she worked on political campaigns at the state and national level. Adri is the current president of Apra-Minnesota.

Vidya Kagan has worked in development for 20 years, specifically in higher education and independent schools. She started her career in Harvard Law School’s development office, where she was responsible for annual giving, reunion fundraising, volunteer management, donor relations, and events.  At Noble & Greenough School, she served as the Director of Annual Giving for 3 years and as the Director of Major Gifts & Campaigns for 2 years. Her responsibilities included leadership solicitations, campaign planning, and volunteer management. She joined Menlo School’s development team in 2013 and is responsible for advancement services, which includes their Salesforce implementation and use, prospect research, and gift processing. Vidya has volunteered for and presented at many industry conferences and webinars, and has written articles related to data, databases, and research. She has collaborated with iWave, Salesforce, Cloud for Good, aasp, CASE, AFP, and Women in Development (Boston, MA).

Karl Sissman currently serves as the Director of Philanthropic Strategy at the Latin School of Chicago. In this role he oversees the annual fund, development operations, and special events. Prior to Latin, Karl held multiple roles supporting fundraising at some of Chicago's most beloved performing arts institutions including Grant Park Music Festival and Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Karl began his career as a licensed educator following the completion of a BM in Music Education from Miami University. Additionally, he is nearing the completion of his MBA at The University of Chicago's Booth School of Business. Outside of work and school, Karl loves exploring Chicago's rich food and beverage scene, seeing live theater, and traveling to see friends and family around the world.

Katelyn Martin is Managing Director, Strategic Information Services, at Campbell & Company, a national nonprofit consulting firm that helps organizations create greater impact through fundraising, communications, executive search, and strategic information services. In her 10 years with the firm, Katelyn has counseled clients across all sectors in roles ranging from strategic campaign counsel to interim development staff support. As the leader of the Strategic Information Services practice, Katelyn leverages her fundraising expertise and the advanced technical skills of her team to build the internal capacity of our clients to make data-driven decisions and build stronger donor relationships. 

Prior to joining Campbell & Company, Katelyn worked in frontline and database roles with youth-serving organizations. Katelyn graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Arts Management from Northwestern University. She lives in Chicago with her husband and two children.