Beyond Prospecting: The Apra Podcast

Welcome to Volunteer Voices, a limited podcast series designed to inspire and empower Apra members to get involved! In this episode, we're shining a spotlight on one of the most influential roles in the Apra volunteer ecosystem: serving on the Apra International Board of Directors. Discover how volunteering can advance your career, help you build new skills and drive impactful initiatives within your nonprofit. Whether you're curious about leadership opportunities or wondering how to take the first step, this episode demystifies the path to meaningful engagement. Tune in and learn what it truly means to raise your hand with Apra!

This episode, the first in a short miniseries, explores one facet of the Apra volunteer experience: chapter leadership. Hear from Apra chapter leaders, present and past, on the impact that chapter leadership had on their careers, skills, and local community. The group discusses their motivations for lending their time and energy to their Apra chapter and the personal and professional benefits they have gained as a result.

In the latest episode of Beyond Prospecting: The Apra Podcast, Apra President Dr. Rodger Devine and Board Member Sharise Harrison sit down with Karen Isble, the 2024 Apra Visionary Award recipient. Tune in as Isble tells the story of her career, from the entry levels of prospect development to the executive levels of advancement. She also offers insight into the rapid change of pace in analytics and technology, skills needed to adapt to the landscape and what it has meant to find community within Apra. The Apra Visionary Award is the highest award bestowed by the association and recognizes an individual's exceptional contributions to the field of prospect development, including volunteer service, mentorship, innovation and inclusion. In its 38-year history, the organization has only selected six recipients, inclusive of Isble. Apra will honor Isble in-person at Prospect Development 2024 in Seattle this summer. Learn more about all past Apra Award winners online here: https://www.aprahome.org/About/Apra-Awards/Past-Award-Winners

The podcast, hosted by Jennifer Huebner of The Humane Society of the United States, discusses the Plug into Metrics event that took place virtually in November 2023. Jennifer is joined by Ashley Mick from LSU Foundation and Jess Balsam from the University of Washington, both attendees and presenters at the event. They share insights on the trend toward smaller fundraiser portfolios, influenced by David Lively, change management, and equity. They discuss challenges in managing large portfolios and propose solutions, touching on trends, the efficiency of smaller portfolios, and the emotional aspects of change.

Listen in on this discussion between Emily Hadley, Research Data Scientist at RTI International Center for Data Science, and Max Dakin, Assistant Director of Prospecting and Special Initiatives at UNICEF USA, while they discuss bias in data science, harmful algorithmic biases, our responsibility when implementing data science in our work, and the role of government and policy in data science.

Join Katherine Scott and Jason Briggs to discuss privacy from an international perspective and how it relates to donor data in many different ways. In a conversation guided by Elizabeth Roma, Katherine and Jason provide key insights on international laws and best practices.

Listen in on this discussion between Misa Lobato, Director of Prospect Management and Analytics, Rhode Island School of Design, and Roslyn Clarke, Director of Prospect Management & Research at Partners in Health as they discuss diversifying donor bases, data use, cultural humility, the evolution of DEI practices since they started collaborating on this content in 2019, the importance of knowing “why” your organization is focused on DEI initiatives and more.

Rachel Brandell-Mayers, Apra's Online Content Committee chair, interviews philanthropist, entrepreneur and author Lisa Greer in this insightful podcast. Discussing her book, “Philanthropy Revolution,” Greer offers the perspective of a major donor, sharing her thoughts on how prospect development can play a pivotal role in the changing world of philanthropy.

Listen to Rachel Brandell-Mayers, Associate Director of Research at the University of Michigan, as she speaks with Andrea Pactor,(Retired) Previous Associate Director, Women's Philanthropy Institute, on how and why gender matters in philanthropy and how prospect development can lead women in philanthropy.

Jessica Balsam talks with two members of the University of Washington Advancement senior leadership team about the role PD played in their recently closed campaign, from determining frontline staffing to finding and selling non-traditional prospect leads. Dan Peterson, VP for development, and Lee Heck, Asst. VP who leads the central development team, share their insights on how to advocate for PD's role as futurists, strategists, and behavior drivers.

Robert Osborne, Principal of The Osborne Group, sits down with Laurel McCombs, Senior Philanthropy Advisor of The Osborne Group, to discuss the role of prospect research in anti-racist fundraising and how to approach one's work and products in a way that actively works against racist practices.

Join us for an exciting conversation about Apra's new member resource, the Body of Knowledge Career Roadmap. Micah Rickerson, prospect researcher, ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, leads a conversation with Chandra Montgomery, director, pipeline and prospect development for health sciences, University of Southern California, and chair of the Apra Advocacy Committee; Elida Wiebe, analyst, research and prospect management, Texas Tech University System; and Sara Anello, prospect development associate, Salisbury University. They explore ways to use the Career Roadmap for professional development, skill building and advocacy for both you and your teams. Apra members can access the BoK Career Roadmap here: aprahome.org/page/career-roadmap

Join Adrian Owen, AVP for Advancement Services at LSU, and Mark Egge, AVP of Development at Hamline University, as they discuss how their respective career journeys landed them their current leadership roles. In a conversation moderated by Audrey Geoffroy, Executive Director of Data Services at University of Florida, the two share commonalities, wisdom, and advice for Prospect Development professionals interested in taking the next step in their own careers.

In this special edition of Beyond Prospecting, Amy Modin, Connections Editorial Advisory Committee (EAC) member, speaks with Renana Kehoe, NEDRA chapter president, about lessons learned as a first-year chapter president in an all-virtual world, professional development opportunities gained from the 2021 Apra Chapter summit and how NEDRA has been mindfully engaging their members over the last year.

This podcast discusses the very real problem of mental health in the workplace focusing on impostor syndrome. We define the phenomenon, address various symptoms, and propose ways for coping with and dispelling impostor feelings.

Listen in as Patrick Murphy, Leadership Coach and Owner of Project Murphy LLC; Elise Speck, Assistant Director of Research at Duke University Alumni Engagement and Development; Molly Hamrick, Assistant Director of Research at Duke University Alumni Engagement and Development; and Kari Stokosa, Senior Managing Director, Research and Prospect Management at Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association, share their experiences around relationship building skillsets. From fortuitous connections, to strategies for more ‘difficult’ personality types, join in as they discuss some of the interpersonal skills required for effective career growth.

Join Sarah Clough, consultant with Marts & Lundy and Apra Plug In to Campaigns speaker, as she gets a sneak peek with leaders in our industry who are all a part of Apra’s virtual learning event, Plug In to Campaigns, taking place November 5-6, 2020. Listen as Stacy Rooney, business consultant and principal for Blackbaud; Samantha Frost, senior director of alumni experiences at The Ohio State University; and Becky Fullmer, assistant vice president of development and campaign director at the University of Cincinnati Foundation, dive into the education you won't want to miss!

Listen as expert independent fundraising consultants Sarah Bernstein, Principal consultant and owner, Philanthrodata; Regina Alhassan, owner, ResearchPRO; and Lori Hood Lawson, co-founder and CEO, WorkingPhilanthropy.com discuss the ins and outs of running one’s own fundraising consulting firms. From the decision to take the leap into business ownership to the “making it rain” aspects of consulting, you’ll learn tips on living – and prospering – within an uncertain landscape.

Lindsey Nadeau, senior director, prospect development for UNICEF USA and prospect development virtual experience chair, interviews Keynote Speaker Frank Sesno. Listen in as they discuss Sesno’s history with fundraising, how to instill a culture of philanthropy, the importance of data and the power of asking questions. Frank Sesno’s keynote presentation takes place Monday, August 24 to kick off the conference.

Tune in to hear the recording for Apra's virtual town hall that aired Wednesday, June 3, 2020. This virtual educational event gave our members the chance to talk with one another, share idea and ask questions around critical topics facing prospect development professionals today. Apra President Bond Lammey, President-Elect Misa Lobato and Membership Director for the Apra Metro DC Chapter Anne Dean facilitated a virtual conversation around the following topics: - What front-line strategies are changing and how can prospect development professionals support? - Metrics in the time of a pandemic - Diversification of your donor pool

Due to the continued impact of COVID-19, a lot of us find ourselves working remotely to stay safe. In this episode, Janna Lee (The Trust for Public Land), Mark DeFilippis (The Nature Conservatory) and Kate Chamberlin (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center) discuss how they found their groove managing their team from home. Hosted by Michael Pawlus (Ohio State University), hear from managers who handle remote teams year-round, learn tips for managers who have to make the switch to working from home and discover how remote work changes the work-life landscape.

Host Gareth Griffin (MIT) and panelists Gail Ferris (The George Washington University) and Karen Isble (University of California, Irvine) share their experienced insights on campaign ethics, including ethical pitfalls, gift counting dilemmas and the pressure of campaign goals.

Join hosts Michael Pawlus (University of Southern California)and Steve Grimes (Jazz at Lincoln Center)for another episode of Data and the Donor. In this episode, Pawlus and Grimes, along with guests Tami Pearson (Brain & Behavior Research Foundation), Cynthia DiLeo (Environmental Defense Fund) and Brenna Cawthorn-Keating (B. Co. Philanthropic Strategies), discuss two new academic studies: "Bequest Giving: Revisiting Donor Motivation with Dimensional Qualitative Research" and "Health, Wealth, and Charitable Estate Planning: A Longitudinal Examination of Testamentary Charitable Giving Plans." Tune in for a riveting conversation on the factors that influence planned gifts among constituents.

Join hosts Michael Pawlus (University of Southern California)and Steve Grimes (Jazz at Lincoln Center) as they discuss "Lost In Translation: A Sociological Study of the Role of Fundraisers in Mediating Gift Giving in Nonprofit Organizations" and "Both Selfishness and Selflessness Start with the Self: How Wealth Shapes Responses to Charitable Appeals." The hosts, joined by guests Jennifer Vincent (UNC-Wilmington), Jenn Grasso (The Trust for Public Land), Kristin Anderson (The Kabbalah Centre), and Pedro Govantes (Tri-State & Eastern Pennsylvania Region at University of Michigan), discuss these articles and what it means to leverage the donor’s identity for fundraising and the general implications of that strategy.

Data science is an ever-evolving field -- and defining and positioning the data science role is crucial to its success. In this episode, Mirabai Auer (University of Chicago), Lawrence Henze (Blackbaud Target Analytics), James Cheng (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute) and Jessica LaBorde (University of California, Davis)discuss the skills and breadth of data science, the span of data science roles and potential organizational structures, and ways to overcome information silos with increasing specialization.

Join Melissa Bank Stepno (Director of Analytics, Consulting and Services, Blackbaud Target Analytics)and Charles Snyder(Director of Prospect Management and Advancement Research, Nova Southeastern University) as they continue their conversation from part one of this leadership podcast series. Melissa and Charles dive into new leadership topics that arose at Apra's Prospect Development 2019 conference: being a "player coach," the value of disagreement on your teams, and navigating the different forms of feedback.

Hosted by: Michael Pawlus, Data Scientist, University of Southern California, and Steve Grimes, Director of Development Strategy and Analytics, Jazz at Lincoln Center Guests: Jennifer Vincent, Prospect Development Manager at UNC-Wilmington; Jenn Grasso, Prospect Development Analyst at The Trust for Public Land; Kristin Anderson, Director of Development at The Kabbalah Centre; Pedro Govantes, Senior Director of Development, Tri-State & Eastern Pennsylvania Region at University of Michigan Data and the Donor is a monthly podcast where we use the results of academic studies to discuss various fundraising topics. This month’s episode we discuss "Lost in Translation: A Sociological Study of the Role of Fundraisers in Mediating Gift Giving in Non-profit Organizations" and "Both Selfishness and Selflessness Start With the Self: How Wealth Shapes Responses to Charitable Appeals." We utilized these articles to discuss what it means to leverage the donor’s identity for fundraising and the general implications of that strategy. We want your thoughts, comments, and feedback on the episode! Feel free to share them at DataAndTheDonor@gmail.com.

Hosted by: Jill McCarville, VP Marketing, iWave, and Marissa Todd, Prospect Research Analyst, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Explore fundraising intelligence through the eyes of a prospect researcher. iWave, the industry’s top prospect research platform, has helped thousands of education, healthcare, and nonprofit organizations fund raise with confidence. Hear a one-on-one interview with Marissa Todd, an iWave user, and Jill McCarville, VP Marketing with iWave, as they discuss the power of fundraising intelligence and the value prospect research can add to an organization.

Hosted by: Gareth Griffin, Santa Clara University, Ethics & Compliance Committee Chair; Audrey Geoffroy, University of Florida Foundation; Ashutosh Nandeshwar, USC; Marianne Pelletier, Staupell Analytics Group Kicking off a podcast series dedicated to ethics & compliance in the prospect development space, this discussion centers around data analytics. From skewing of data and implicit bias, to the methods we use for data security, the podcast participants will share what they are seeing at their organizations and how they have seen ethical issues arise. Other topics covered include data scraping, compliance trends, and what impacts privacy policies are having on research. The podcast ends with a look into the crystal ball –- what is next on the horizon for data analytics that will create new instances of ethical standards and compliance regulation?

Hosted by: Gareth Griffin, Director, Prospect Management, MIT, Ethics & Compliance Committee Chair; Andillion Hackney, Director, Prospect Management and Research at UC San Diego; Janna Holm, Director of Prospect Development, The Trust for Public Land; Melissa Bank Stepno, Director, Client Services, Blackbaud Target Analytics. Learn what these professionals believe is the biggest ethical dilemma in relationship management.

The competition for donors is stronger than it has ever been. How do organizations identify and build their mid-level donors to one day being major donors? Prospect research can play an integral role in the success of identifying and qualifying who those prospects are to an organization. In this episode, sponsored by Target Analytics, Plug in to Prospect Research chair, Ryan Frank, discusses this topic with Michael Quevli, senior consultant with Target Analytics, and Kelly Riutta, director of prospect research with University of Washington.

Presented by Amy Turbes, director of prospect development and campaign strategy, Creighton University; Misa Lobato, assistant vice president of advancement strategy, University of Colorado; Emily Walsh, associate vice president, development research and resources, University of Arizona Foundation; and Jon Garrow, assistant director, donor strategy and research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Health System. ## The Hey Advocacy! podcast series was created by the Apra Advocacy Committee as a way to provide Apra members with practical answers to questions that pertain to advocating for yourself, your teams and our profession. Hey Advocacy! is a roundtable podcast, so you will receive the benefit of diverse experiences and viewpoints.

Interested in learning more about what is happening in the UK with the Data Protection guidelines and how it is affecting prospect research? Tune into Episode 2 of the Hey Advocacy! Podcast Series, sponsored by the Apra Advocacy Committee, to hear from Helen Brown and two of her colleagues as they share knowledge on working in this current environment. ## The Hey Advocacy! podcast series was created by the Apra Advocacy Committee as a way to provide Apra members with practical answers to questions that pertain to advocating for yourself, your teams and our profession. Hey Advocacy! is a roundtable podcast, so you will receive the benefit of diverse experiences and viewpoints.

The latest episode in the series features Mark Egge, Apra president-elect and senior manager of prospect development for Greater Twin Cities United Way, and Amy Turbes, Apra secretary and senior director of strategy, research and development at Creighton University, discussing power, influence and critical relationships in the workplace. They discuss how to incorporate the popular concept of winning friends and influencing people into our prospect development work. ## The Hey Advocacy! podcast series was created by the Apra Advocacy Committee as a way to provide Apra members with practical answers to questions that pertain to advocating for yourself, your teams and our profession. Hey Advocacy! is a roundtable podcast, so you will receive the benefit of diverse experiences and viewpoints.

Interested in becoming an even better steward of data at your institution? Join Sarah Cadbury, director of prospect research and management at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, for this podcast as she focuses on the importance of transparency and respect for the data from two different approaches: -Best practices for how to handle data entrance, maintenance, filing, and more -How to protect key information about your institution and individual constituents