Join us for the Apra Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference 2021!
As members of Apra, we know how important it is to share our knowledge, support each other, and build our resources and networks across the fundraising community. In 2021, Apra Pennsylvania, Apra Maryland, Apra Metro DC, Apra Virginia, and Apra Carolinas are taking it one step further - hosting 5 days of sessions from experts throughout the region to share talent with each other. This event will continue to be updated with details regarding session speakers and descriptions!
Join us for 5 days of learning, hosted by your Apra Mid-Atlantic Chapters:
- Apra Maryland - Monday, April 12, 11 AM - 12 PM: Turning Research into Power Data
- Apra Carolinas - Tuesday, April 13, 2 PM - 3 PM: Strategic Planning for Prospect Development Shops
- Apra Metro DC - Wednesday, April 14, 11 AM - 12 PM: Do What Your Customers Love: Aligning Vision with Professional Transformation
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Apra Virginia - Thursday, April 15, 1 PM - 2 PM: Let Me Get Back to You: Using Dashboards to Track Referral Progress
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Apra Pennsylvania - Friday, April 16, 10 AM - 11 AM: Panel Discussion - Membership Organizations
4/12/2021 - 4/16/2021
One session each day
Location: Zoom
PLEASE NOTE: Registration for this conference is only available for current members of one of the Apra Mid-Atlantic chapters! All current Apra Carolinas members will be sent a free registration code for this conference via email.
If you are a current member, visit this link to register; you will need to use the free registration code sent to you via email. If you did not receive a code, please reach out to us and we'll make sure you get one!
If you are NOT a current member of Apra Carolinas and would like to join, please reach out to us here.
Sign up for the post conference Coffee Chat here!
Session Descriptions
Turning Research into Power Data
Apra Maryland
In fundraising, data is king. As prospect researchers, we are experts at finding and interpreting data about our prospects and donors. But once we find this information, what happens then? Join us as we discuss leveraging common research findings into actionable insights that will drive fundraising strategy - turning Prospect Research into Power Data.
Speakers: Sapna Varghese, Director of Prospect Research at the University System of Maryland & Theresa Clark, Associate Director of Donor Data and Analytics at the Foundation Fighting Blindness
Sapna Varghese serves as the director of prospect research in the USM Office of Advancement and has been with the System office for the past 16 years. She oversees prospect research services provided by the System office to those institutions within the USM that need assistance with research for fundraising purposes. She holds an undergraduate degree from the Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, College Park and a master’s degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Maryland Global Campus.
Theresa Clark is the Associate Director for Donor Data and Analytics at the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Formerly the Manager of Prospect Development and Research at Catholic Relief Services, she has nine years of experience in data analysis & reporting, prospect research, prospect development & strategy, moves management, donor relations, and fundraising operations. She has been an Apra Maryland member since 2014, and is currently serving as Apra Maryland's Vice President.
Strategic Planning for Prospect Development Shops
Apra Carolinas
Learn how one prospect development shop created a strategic planning framework that provided a process to establish its department roadmap – i.e. its strategic plan. The process began with an environmental scan, the insights of which were then viewed through the department’s twin goals to yield a roadmap that addressed the department’s capabilities, structure, and culture, while charting its strategic direction. At the end of this case study from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, attendees will be equipped to consider how a similar framework might benefit their own shops, whether large or small.
Speaker: Pitt Tomlinson, Director of Prospect Management, Research and Analytics at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Pitt Tomlinson spent most of his childhood on Florida’s Gulf Coast and later graduated from The College of William and Mary in Virginia. He began his development career as Director of Corporate Relations at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, from which he had received his M.B.A. For the past six years, he has served as Director of Prospect Management, Research and Analytics at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Do What Your Customers Love: Aligning Vision with Professional Transformation
Apra Metro DC
In this session, we will share our experience of how the Stand Together Research Team experienced a period of significant growth over the past year – through a proactive approach to Vision Development and intentional experimentation with a transformation framework used by one of the world’s leading experts in business turnarounds. These efforts combined, the Research department has grown from a reactive, “ticket taking” participant in the development enterprise to one that is proactive and intensely customer focused. Through humility, a thirst for understanding our customers, and deliberate alignment of team member talents and skills, the Stand Together Research Team continues to build a mutually beneficial system that prioritizes customer needs, balances team bandwidth, and seeks proactive innovation aligned with business needs. Join us to learn how to “Do what your Customers love” while also experiencing self-actualization and professional development. We will share our Theory of Change tool that we believe may lead to solutions for effective change management and implementation in your Research shop.
Speakers: Devon Villa Gessert, Director, Research and Prospect Management for Stand Together & Ryan Allison, Prospect Research Manager for Stand Together
Prior to joining Stand Together two years ago, Devon Gessert worked in research and at the National Park Foundation and founded DVG Discovery, a consulting and freelance prospect research firm based in DC. Prior to this, she served in several different functions within the prospect research office at American University for 14 years, specifically serving as head of Research and Prospect Management during the last 10 years at the school. She began her career in philanthropy working with the National Catholic Educational Association in DC, then later with KCET-TV in Los Angeles and the Atlanta Women's Foundation. Devon has been active in both national and local Apra activities, having served as Chair of Apra Metro DC from 2010-2015 and was the recipient of the Apra Distinguished Service Award in 2014. Both Devon and her husband Dave are DC natives and they have two daughters, Gillian and Blake. When she is not working, you can find Devon being active and outdoors going on a hikes, camping, kayaking with her family, or cheering on one of her daughters at their volleyball games.
Ryan Allison served as a researcher at the Indiana University Foundation (IUF). While at IUF, Ryan cultivated successful partnerships with more than 25 development officers by providing positive, needs-based collaboration for a variety of initiatives, geographies, and units throughout the Indiana University system. At Stand Together, Ryan has tested his entrepreneurial skills and worked to develop innovative prospect sourcing and generation techniques to positively benefit the Stand Together philanthropic community. In his off time, Ryan enjoys spending time with friends and family, volunteering at his church, and learning about all aspects of fundraising development within the context of major gift philanthropy.
Let Me Get Back to You: Using Dashboards to Track Referral Progress
Apra Virginia
Tracking prospect referrals and follow-up can be daunting in the best of systems. Doubly so, when an institution is heavily de-centralized, like at the University of Virginia. Arcadia Rodriguez-Ruiz will share how the Business Intelligence team at UVA used Tableau dashboards to track referrals between schools and units and to successfully insure proper follow up action from Development Officers.
Speaker: Arcadia Rodriguez-Ruiz, Assistant Director of Prospect Management, UVA Advancement
Arcadia Rodriguez-Ruiz has worked in the non-profit world for over 10 years and has been doing prospect research at UVa for more than 5 years. She is an active member of the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (Apra), and is currently serving as President of Apra-Virginia. She earned her Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Virginia.
Panel Discussion - Membership Organizations
Apra Pennsylvania
Join Apra Pennsylvania for an informal panel discussion on all things membership organizations! Five Apra Pennsylvania members who work for membership nonprofits will discuss projects, challenges, and tips before taking questions. You will leave learning new ideas for how to engage your donors and prospects, even if you don’t have alumni or patients.
Speakers:
Suzanne Harris, Manager, Prospect Management at the Philadelphia Zoo
Kelyn Klein, Director of Prospect Research and Portfolio Management at the League of Conservation Voters
Jodi McLaughlin, President at Apra Pennsylvania
Kari Tobaygo, Associate Director, Research & Prospect Management at the National Parks Conservation Association
Lauren Woodring, Research Analyst at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
