Beyond Prospecting: The Apra Podcast

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.