Meet the Board

As we head on through the winter, take a moment to meet the individuals leading this year’s Apra Carolinas Board. Our group of new and returning volunteers is currently mapping out 2026 chapter programming, and we want to introduce the people dedicated to strengthening our regional network.

We asked the board what keeps them engaged in prospect development and why they chose to take on a chapter leadership role: whether it’s the satisfaction of digging into complex data or the collaborative drive behind campaign planning, each brings a distinct perspective to the work.

Rachael Walker

Donor Strategy Manager, St. Luke's Health System

President

How many years have you worked in fundraising/prospect development?

I'm now in year 16.

What inspired you to join the Apra Carolinas board?

I was asked by a previous education chair to join the then-extant education committee! I had a grand old time, then moved up to NC Regional Rep. My natural bossiness (sorry, I meant “organizational skills”) was well-suited to being Education Chair and now I get to really flex those muscles as President.

What do you like most about working in prospect development?

The community. Absolutely my favorite thing about this field is the willingness my fellow professionals have to share what they’ve learned with each other. As I talked about in a blog post last year, I try to pay it forward at every opportunity – which is why Education Chair was such a great place for me for so long!

What has been your most impactful professional development activity? Books, trainings, conferences, etc.

Other than the aforementioned contacts with other prospect development professionals, I truly love our Mid-Atlantic Regional Chapter affiliation. We've come together to put on a conference every year showcasing amazing professionals from each of our chapters. After many years, we are finally achieving the goal set all the way back in 2019 to bring back MARC as an in-person conference. Registration is open now - join us in Richmond on April 16th and 17th!

Chris Copsey

Assistant Vice President of Prospect Development, UNC Health Foundation

President-Elect

How many years have you worked in fundraising/prospect development?

9.

What inspired you to join the Apra Carolinas board?

A desire to be locally involved with our industry's professional group.

What do you like most about working in prospect development?

The detective work of finding new potential donors!

What has been your most impactful professional development activity? Books, trainings, conferences, etc.

Meeting and talking with new people at conferences always gets my mind racing with new ideas, especially lately with how people are using AI in fundraising.

Jennifer Vincent

Founder & Principal Consultant, JenVin Consulting

Immediate Past President

How many years have you worked in fundraising/prospect development?

Overall, I’ve spent over 15 years in the field.

What inspired you to join the Apra Carolinas board?

Beth Inman made it seem like a great idea … and she was totally right! I was a few years into the field and wanted to make deeper connections with others and become more involved with the profession. I love this community and it's been such an honor to serve on this board.

What do you like most about working in prospect development?

It used to be prospect research and falling down a rabbit hole on a prospect profile, but then it morphed into prospect management and partnering with fundraisers. I love looking at portfolios and devising strategy to help them meet their/our goals.

What has been your most impactful professional development activity? Books, trainings, conferences, etc.

Without a doubt, the most impactful activity was joining the Apra Carolinas board. Through board membership I met and engaged with other professionals in the field within the Carolinas - and across the world! Those connections not only helped me professionally, but I made close friends throughout the network of chapters. Most of us in the field tend to be a bit (or a lot) introverted, but stepping outside of that comfort zone to attend in-person events where you can connect (and nerd out) with others has continued to drive my career forward in the field.

Jennifer Kehoe

Director of Prospect Research, Clemson University

Secretary

How many years have you worked in fundraising/prospect development?

24 years. First 4 years of my career were as a CFR Development Officer before moving into the Prospect Development side of things. I’ve always known my calling to be in the PD realm rather than as a front-line Gift Officer.

What inspired you to join the Apra Carolinas board?

The desire to be more involved with my fellow Prospect Development folk (in all of our different organizations) and to feel like I’m giving back. The Board is the perfect place to work with great people and meet other great people in our industry.

What do you like most about working in prospect development?

I enjoy the challenge of the work and the everyday “puzzles” we face. I have always found a great deal of satisfaction working in philanthropy and the idea that we can work for a greater good. I’ve also been blessed to meet and work with some truly talented colleagues.

What has been your most impactful professional development activity? Books, trainings, conferences, etc.

Hands down, the most impactful professional development experiences for me have been the conferences I’ve attended — from Apra Carolinas to the big Apra events. I always leave energized, full of new ideas, and excited to bring fresh strategies back to my work. But what I love most is the chance to connect with so many amazing people who truly understand the world of prospect development. The conversations, shared experiences, and relationships built at these conferences are just as valuable as the sessions themselves. Every time I attend, I’m reminded how supportive, inspiring, and fun this professional community really is.

Michele Cheek

Prospect Development Analyst, UNC Greensboro

Treasurer

How many years have you worked in fundraising/prospect development?

I have been in prospect development for 3 ½ years at UNC Greensboro. I’m an alum of UNCG, receiving my BS in Social Work and a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Management. I am currently enrolled in the Master’s in Liberal and Interdisciplinary Studies.

What inspired you to join the Apra Carolinas board?

What inspires me is actually the “who”- the people, past and current, Apra Carolinas Board Members, inspire me. I have thoroughly enjoyed my interactions with several board members over the past 3 ½ years. I am inspired by their enthusiasm and heart for the work we do, their desire to elevate and advocate for our field, and the goal of demonstrating the value of prospect research and development.

What do you like most about working in prospect development?

The variety of tasks, projects, and opportunities to support teams across our division and campus is what I like most about the work. No two days are the same!

What has been your most impactful professional development activity? Books, trainings, conferences, etc.

Most impactful professional development activities have been Apra Carolinas and Apra, especially the learning I gain from the conferences and webinars.

Rachael Daniels

Prospect Management Analyst, Clemson University

Education Chair

How many years have you worked in fundraising/prospect development?

I have worked in fundraising for about 12 years, the last 5 of those in prospect development.

What inspired you to join the Apra Carolinas board?

I wanted to be more involved with the prospect development community and get to know more people in the field. I also owe a lot of my success in my first prospect development role to what I learned through Apra Carolinas. I hope to help others do the same in my role on the board.

What do you like most about working in prospect development?

The best thing about working in prospect development is being able to help team members be successful. Finding that major donor hidden in the database or even just a tiny piece of information about a prospect that can move the relationship one step closer, whatever it is that can help a fundraiser get past a roadblock or get one step closer to meeting their goals.

What has been your most impactful professional development activity? Books, trainings, conferences, etc.

It is hard to pick just one activity that has had the most impact on my professional development. I love to learn new things and see what others are doing in our field, so I attend all the webinars, read all the books, blogs, and articles I can. But if I had to pick I think attending conferences has been the most impactful. You get the benefits of formal presentations from experts in the field and the value of networking.

Jenny Alstad

Senior Director, Prospect Development & Strategy, College of Charleston

Membership Chair

How many years have you worked in fundraising/prospect development?

I’ve worked in fundraising for 17 years and have been in prospect development for the past three years.

What inspired you to join the Apra Carolinas board?

Since joining Apra and Apra Carolinas in 2022, I’ve been so impressed by the community. After three years of attending conferences and webinars I’m ready to get involved and start making an impact! In 2024 I was awarded the Apra Carolinas Professional Development Scholarship and used the funds to attend Apra PD in Seattle. The opportunity to attend this conference allowed me the opportunity to meet and connect with my peers - such an invaluable resource! On the Apra Carolina board I hope to help facilitate connections amongst our members in the Carolinas.

What do you like most about working in prospect development?

For me, prospect development is the perfect combination of data, relationship management, and strategy. I love having days where I’m head down digging into data projects that are then balanced with days where I’m collaborating with our fundraisers on strategies and next steps.

What has been your most impactful professional development activity? Books, trainings, conferences, etc.

One of the most impactful professional development experiences for me has been attending APRA PD in person. Being part of a conference of that scale helped level up my skills while also broadening my perspective on what’s possible within our field. It pushed me beyond maintaining the status quo and inspired me to bring back new techniques and strategies to my work, something that’s especially valuable in our highly specialized roles. While attending APRA PD every year isn’t always feasible due to cost (which makes the APRA Carolinas’ Professional Development Scholarship such an important resource), I’ve also found tremendous value in the free webinars offered by APRA Carolinas and other APRA chapters.

Jenny Bunn

Prospect Research Manager, UNC Asheville

Communications Chair

How many years have you worked in fundraising/prospect development?

I have worked in Prospect Development for two years, but have worked in non-profit fundraising in various capacities for decades.

What inspired you to join the Apra Carolinas board?

Apra Carolinas has been an excellent professional resource for me. I have been so impressed with how welcoming and helpful everyone has been to a newcomer like me, and I am eager to give back to this organization that has already given so much to me.

What has been your most impactful professional development activity? Books, trainings, conferences, etc.

I am a huge fan of David Lively's book Managing Major Gift Fundraisers: A Contrarian's Guide for more of a philosophical approach to portfolio management. His arguments make so much sense to me, though we have not fully adopted the recommendations he shares for our shop. I also love the podcast Prospect Research #Chatbytes for quick conversations about specific topics. Each episode is less than 20 minutes, so it's a super digestible listen!

Tayler Lee

Director of Pipeline & Prospect Strategy, NC State University

NC Regional Representative

How many years have you worked in fundraising/prospect development?

I have been in the field for nearly 10 years.

What inspired you to join the Apra Carolinas board?

I wanted to get to know and contribute to my local network of peers and colleagues.

What do you like most about working in prospect development?

I love that fundraising connects resources and needs! I am proud that I get to contribute to that goal. With regard to prospect development, I really enjoy taking data points and turning them into insight and actionable strategy.

What has been your most impactful professional development activity? Books, trainings, conferences, etc.

Over the years, I have been fortunate enough to be mentored by several phenomenal leaders and professionals who have helped me grow in many different ways. It's been such a gift, and I am grateful to all of them!

Kristen Reagan

Prospect Research Coordinator, Georgia Southern University

SC Regional Representative

How many years have you worked in fundraising/prospect development?

Will be 1 year on April 1st (not an April Fools' joke!)

What inspired you to join the Apra Carolinas board?

As someone newer to the field, I was really interested in volunteering in some capacity. When I saw there was an opening for the South Carolina representative, I thought that was a great way to plug in and get my feet wet. In addition, I found my current job through the Apra Carolinas job board, so this is a way I can pay it forward.

What do you like most about working in prospect development?

I love researching in general, but finding that "needle in the haystack" is always gratifying. Perhaps there is that one little piece of information that can help paint a better picture of a prospect of their ability and/or desire to potentially become a major donor.

What has been your most impactful professional development activity? Books, trainings, conferences, etc.

I attended my first Apra PD conference last August, and it was wonderful to network, learn from other shops, and really see first-hand how supportive the prospect development career field is!

Written by Michelle Mast, Prospect Research Analyst, Clemson University 

Hi, Apra Carolinas members! My name is Michelle Mast, and I am a Prospect Research Analyst at Clemson University. I have been with Clemson University for two wonderful years so far and have been fortunate to attend the Apra PD 2023 Conference in Indianapolis and this year’s Apra PD Conference in Baltimore.

I am deeply grateful to Apra Carolinas for awarding me the Apra Carolinas Professional Development Grant. Thanks to this generous support, I was able to attend the Apra PD 2025 Conference in Baltimore, MD. With the current funding challenges facing higher education, many universities have struggled to provide opportunities for employees to participate in professional development at this scale. Being awarded this grant gave me the chance to attend in person, and I feel truly blessed for the opportunity. The conference sessions covered a wide variety of topics, each offering valuable insights that I have already begun sharing with my coworkers.

The conference opened with an inspiring keynote by Leah Marone titled “The Recovery Blueprint” which covered a topic that strongly resonated with me. She explained how people-pleasing behaviors often lead to stress, anxiety, and burnout, and shared practical self-regulation techniques to break that cycle. I have already started implementing some of her strategies and found them to be incredibly helpful. Beyond the keynote, every speaker offered something meaningful, and I was able to take away knowledge from each session I attended. In between sessions, I connected with dozens of researchers and began building professional relationships that I hope will continue to grow.

Attending the Apra PD 2025 Conference solidified my belief in the value of professional development opportunities. I left Baltimore renewed, motivated, and eager to sharpen my skills even more. Thank you again to Apra Carolinas and to the entire awarding committee for selecting me as this year’s recipient—I am sincerely appreciative of your support. I want to encourage everyone to apply for the Apra Carolinas Professional Development Grant each year and attend the Apra PD Conferences in person. It is so important to be able to learn from colleagues in the field and make connections with others who work in your field.

Written by Jennifer Kehoe, Apra Carolinas Membership Chair; Director of Prospect Research at Clemson University

Every so often, it’s important to pause and ask ourselves: what does our Apra Carolinas community really want and need? Thanks to those of you who took the time to respond to our recent membership survey, we now have a clearer picture—and the results are both energizing and inspiring!

A Strong and Growing Membership

We’re thrilled to see that the vast majority of respondents—32 out of 37—are current members. Even better, most of you have been with us for several years, showing that Apra Carolinas continues to be a home base for prospect development professionals. On average, members bring about 10 years of experience in the field, which means we’re learning and growing together with a wealth of expertise across our region.

Community Spirit: Networking and Engagement

If there’s one word that sums up how members see Apra Carolinas, it’s community. Respondents described our chapter as “networking,” “collegial,” “educational,” “helpful,” and “friendly.” That sense of belonging came through strongly in your requests for more in-person networking opportunities. From Charleston to Winston Salem to Charlotte, members want to gather closer to home in addition to our signature fall conference.

Speaking of conferences, many of you plan (or are considering) attending our October gathering at UNC Chapel Hill—and we couldn’t be more excited to see you there.

Ready to Pitch In

We were delighted to see that many members expressed interest in volunteering, with enthusiasm for event support, committee work, writing for the blog, speaking at webinars, mentoring, and even helping with the 2026 MARC Conference. This is wonderful news—our chapter thrives when members step forward to share their time and talents.

What You Value Most

When it comes to benefits, members emphasized how important virtual webinars, networking with local professionals, and relationship-building opportunities are to their experience. Several of you also suggested a membership salary survey.

Training Priorities: What’s on Your Radar

Your responses also highlighted clear areas of professional development interest:

• Data analytics and dashboards topped the list.
• Pipeline development and prospect identification are hot topics.
• Many of you are curious about artificial intelligence and how it fits into our work.
• And don’t worry—we hear you on the need for career development, campaign planning, and even diving into stocks and securities.

Satisfaction Across the Board

The best news? Overall satisfaction with Apra Carolinas is very high. Members are especially pleased with email communications, social media, and the website—and programming and networking events also scored well. That’s a testament to the hard work of our committees and volunteers who make these resources possible.

Looking Ahead

It’s clear that Apra Carolinas is more than just a membership—it’s a community of learners, sharers, and doers. Your feedback will directly shape our programming, volunteer opportunities, and networking plans for the coming year.

Thank you for lending your voice to the survey, and for helping us continue to grow as a chapter. Together, we’ll make 2025–26 our strongest year yet!

Written by Jenny Alstad and Andi Judt

Jenny Alstad (L) is the Senior Director of Prospect Development at the College of Charleston. Andi Judt (R)is a Gift Planning Officer at the College of Charleston. Together, we’re exploring how to combine quantitative and qualitative data to surface transformational planned giving prospects.  

What makes someone a great prospect for planned giving? It sounds like a simple question, until you start digging into the details. A quick Google search turns up countless articles on the topic, each offering a slightly different take on the standard segments.

At the College of Charleston, we’ve spent a lot of time discussing this question together. When Andi stepped into her new role as a gift planning officer in 2024, her first instinct was to get out of the office and meet with prospects. 

Together with our team, we crafted a portfolio that included a mix of current planned giving donors, what we would call traditional planned giving prospects, and a healthy mix of pure discovery work. What we found was both fascinating and transformative to our pipeline.  

What the Data Tells Us

When it comes to identifying strong planned giving prospects, the data in your database can be your most powerful guide, if you know where to look. We’ve certainly found that there is no one-size-fits-all formula, but certain patterns consistently emerge among those most likely to include an institution in their estate plans. 

Our starting point is always loyalty. Planned gifts are often (but not always!) rooted in long-standing relationships, so it’s important to identify individuals who have demonstrated consistent engagement over time. A few of our favorite segments include: 

• Recent gifts - Particularly within the last three years

• Lifetime giving - Consistent giving over time, regardless of size. 

• Event attendance - Those loyal event-goers who show up for everything. You may need to do some digging here if your organization doesn’t track event attendance in your database!

• Volunteer service - Who are those volunteers that have served in every role ever created at your organization? 

• Family relationships - Individuals without direct heirs often think differently about their legacy and are more open to talking about their lasting impact.

Real Stories from the Field

Analyzing data is always a smart first step in growing your planned giving program, but one of the most valuable prospect pools is right in front of you: your current planned giving donors. Your team likely already understands the importance of strong stewardship for these donors, whether through special recognition events, impact newsletters, milestone acknowledgments, or behind-the-scenes updates. But one essential stewardship opportunity often gets overlooked: regularly checking in with planned giving donors to review their gift documentation.

These reviews are more than just administrative—they’re moments to strengthen relationships and gain valuable insight. Has the donor updated their estate plans? Increased their commitment? Changed the designation of their gift? Perhaps they’re now considering additional assets to include in their legacy. A one-on-one conversation every five years or so is a meaningful touchpoint that can lead to welcome surprises. In fact, we recently met with a planned giving donor who shared that he had increased his estate commitment to the College from six figures to seven. What a transformational gift we might not have known about otherwise!

While quantitative data from prospect research is critical, qualitative insights from conversations can be just as impactful. Reviewing visit notes and looking for common themes among current planned giving donors can reveal helpful patterns. At the College, we’ve found that many donors choose to include us in their estate plans between the ages of 50 and 70, so we plan our marketing and outreach accordingly. We’ve seen strong engagement from undergraduate alumni working in academia, several of whom have established scholarships through their estate plans. Our peers in the advancement profession have also been remarkably generous, often just waiting for the opportunity to talk with someone about their philanthropic goals. Another trend we’ve noticed is donors choosing to direct their planned gifts to existing honor or memorial funds - cementing their legacy and highlighting the deep connection to the College community.

Bringing It All Together

For us, the most exciting part of this work is seeing how strategy and curiosity intersect. We’ve found that when we combine the analytical lens of prospect development with relational insights, we uncover opportunities we might have otherwise missed. As our work together continues, we’re excited to keep refining our approach and learning from the unexpected connections, thoughtful conversations, and generous individuals who make this work so rewarding.

Written By Jenny Alstad – Senior Director, Prospect Development & Strategy, College of Charleston

Over the past decade, Giving Days have established themselves as a key cornerstone to fundraising programs of all shapes, sizes, and sectors. Prior to transitioning to Prospect Development, I spent eight years in Annual Giving and am now a proud lifelong annual giving enthusiast. This past March, I experienced my 11th Giving Day. Along the way, I’ve seen just how impactful these campaigns can be. Here are a few ways Prospect Development teams can leverage Giving Days to support gift officers and drive year-round success.

Before the Big Day: Spotting Challenge Donors Early

Before your Giving Day even begins, Prospect Development teams can play a major role in helping officers identify prospects who may have an interest in setting up a Giving Day challenge – but aren’t yet on their radar. Look for indicators like board service, consistent annual giving history, strong history of unrestricted giving, participation in past Giving Days or broad-based annual campaigns, and of course, capacity to make a larger commitment. We’ve found particular success engaging prospects who have already voiced an interest in rallying others, have shown their support for leadership’s vision, and have championed unrestricted giving. Beyond the data, review contact reports for prospects who’ve expressed a desire to help grow your base. These are your potential challenge champions.

Game Day: Real-Time Supports That Drives Results

When the big day arrives, Prospect Development teams have the opportunity to shift into high gear, though our teams are often overlooked in the Giving Day execution plans. If your Giving Day platform integrates in real-time with your CRM, Prospect Development can be a huge asset to gift officers by helping them pull up-to-the-minute donor lists or track specific priority segments. If your platform doesn’t sync directly, there’s critical behind-the-scenes support to officers like monitoring the donor lists and alerting officers when their top prospects have made a gift. Additionally, keep a close eye out for surprise gifts from high-capacity or priority prospects. These may signal opportunities for a real-time stewardship text or video message from leadership or senior staff, helping deepen engagement while the moment is still fresh.

Post-Giving Day: Turning Insights into Action

Once the dust settles, Prospect Development can help translate Giving Day activity into long-term opportunity. Start by looking for shifts in donor behavior. Did someone give to a new fund, area, or initiative? That might signal a developing passion or interest for officers to explore. It’s also a great time to surface previously unassigned or lower-engaged donors who gave unexpectedly or increased their giving. If you have access to run a wealth screening, you can quickly cross reference these triggers to further prioritize. Use this momentum to flag potential new assignments and update portfolios quickly.

The Lasting Impact: Giving Day as a Prospect Development Launchpad

Giving Days are much more than a 24-hour sprint. They’re a high-visibility touchpoint that can unlock valuable insights and engagement for months to come. With thoughtful planning and real-time support, our teams can turn Giving Days into catalysts for deeper relationships, stronger portfolios, and smarter strategies. Whether it’s identifying challenge donors, enabling day-of stewardship, or uncovering new prospects, our teams play an essential role in making the most of the momentum. Let’s keep building on it.

Written By Lucy Pastier – Director of Prospect Management & Research with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Treasurer of Apra Pennsylvania

Being able to effectively search the web is an essential skill for individuals in Prospect Development. Investigating a prospect often starts and ends with what information we can find about them online. However, search engine functionality, results display, and search results have all changed massively in the 30+ years since I first started using search engines.¹ Periodically revisiting our use of web search engines and reassessing search techniques are things any professional researcher should strive for. Here are some tips on how you can search smarter – and not just within Google’s ecosystem.

Banish AI Summaries

In 2024, Google rolled out AI summaries at the top of most google results. The results have not been stellar. As someone who uses Google’s search engine dozens of times a day for work and personal use, I was desperate for a way to opt out of summaries at the top of the search results. After a few months, I learned about the magic of “udm=14”. Adding that string of text brings you to Google’s “web filter,” showing you results only from websites – no AI generated summaries, no map results, no shopping links. There are a few ways you can use this method without adding the string into your search.  You can bookmark https://www.google.com/search?q=%s&udm=14 to use as your default search page or use one of the many extensions and plug-in for your preferred browser.

Advanced Search Operators

When Ask Jeeves first launched, their hook was being able to ask a question in natural language to Jeeves, your faithful digital butler, who would do his best to bring you websites that answered your query. At a time when optimum Google search results required Boolean logic and carefully selected terms, this was petty revolutionary.  Now, Jeeves has long since retired and most search engines have embraced the natural language searches.  While this approach is more user friendly, it often leads to broad results that may not answer your question. Search operators are still an incredibly powerful tool for getting more targeted results – and they’re often underutilized!

If you’ve ever used the “Advanced Search” option in Google, you probably know the basics of search operations (such as quotation marks to get the exact phrase you’re looking for, plus or minus symbols to include or omit words from your search results) but do you know how to limit your search results to a specific website, in order to see mentions of your donor only on their alma mater’s website?  Or how to limit your results to PDFs only, which can be extremely helpful in finding event programs and annual reports? Or how to limit your searches to instances before or after a specific date? Dan Russel, a research scientist and the former Principal UX Researcher at Google, has put together the ultimate guide for Advanced Search Operators at bit.ly/AllTheOperators.²

Search Tweaks

If you want a masterclass in internet searching, you need to follow Tara Calishain’s work. Tara is an app builder, has been writing about internet search engines for almost 30 years, and is a North Carolinian to boot.  Her site Search Tweaks offers a wide array of tools that can assist you with news searches, time-bound searches, and even searching for a name with multiple variations across a variety of sources. See her local news search in action here.

The Internet Archive and Wayback Machine

Using archived versions of websites can be a real treasure trove of information on otherwise hard to research prospects. How many times have you tried to research someone, only to find the board service listed in their corporate bio does not correspond with the nonprofit’s current board listing? Or tried to research someone who held a leadership position at a company but retired a few years ago? Or found what appeared to be a great biography of a prospect in the search preview, only to find the page has been 404’d? I’ve used the Wayback Machine to check older versions of sites of interest – board of trustee listings, leadership listings on corporate websites, etc. – to find information that has been removed from websites more times than I can count. It often gives me access to information that is otherwise unavailable and has given me a better idea of timelines for board transitions.

Beyond the Wayback Machine, the Internet Archive also has an impressive array of genealogy reference tools; tens of thousands of yearbooks from US High schools, colleges and universities; and over 4 million items in library collections, which give you access to a mind-boggling amount of newspapers. Even just using their search function to research a person allows you to search for mentions on them in TV news captions, radio transcripts, and text across their vast collections.³

Try Other Search Engines

Which brings me to my point: Google is not the only game in town. It’s worth checking other search engines, not only to get out of your own Google algorithm bubble, but to protect your browsing data and online privacy as well. If you’re stuck on where to start, PC magazine had a good review of 15 search engines which compared results, privacy options, and security of the services. However, echoing my warning from before, please stay away from the AI-driven options.⁴

1-Let’s have a moment of silence for AOL keywords.

2-He also runs a fascinating blog about searches and published the book “Joy of Search: A Google Insider’s Guide to Going Beyond the Basics.” 

3-PS, the Internet Archive is doing important work which is being threatened by legal battles. Consider supporting them to help maintain this resource!

4-Hat tip to Andy McMahon, who is always thinking about AI and large language models in a very thoughtful way.

Written by: Rachael Walker

In honor of Research Pride Month, I want to share my professional journey, from a new kid to what I still have trouble seeing myself as: an industry veteran. My story is one of generosity from others that has inspired me to be generous in turn.

If you’ve ever encountered me in a professional context, you’ve probably heard me say that my favorite thing about this industry and the people in it is how willing people are to share their time and knowledge with others in the field. I’ve said it in one-on-one conversations, in small networking sessions, and in the Apra Talks panel on the PD main stage last year: we are an incredibly generous group of people by our very nature.

This generosity has had a huge impact on me in the fifteen years I have been in prospect development. Because of the impact the volunteerism of others has had on me, I always leap at any opportunity to pay it forward. It feels wonderful to share my time and knowledge because so many people shared their knowledge with me. If I can give someone foundational knowledge to build upon, if I can contribute in any way to advancing our field, that’s worth every bit of time and effort I invest.

For me, volunteering means more than just serving on boards or committees. It’s about giving of my time wherever it’s needed. Whether it’s a Zoom call for someone to pick my brain on a topic or presenting at a big conference, I am here for it!

A Walk Down Memory Lane

Fifteen years ago, PRSPCT-L, then still a listserv, was a vital resource for a newbie prospect researcher just starting out in the field. I devoured every email digest, absorbing every crumb of information shared by people who took the time out of their days to answer questions sent in to the listserv. With time, I felt comfortable asking some of my own questions - and with even more time, answering some, too!

A few years into my time in prospect development, I was recruited to serve on the Apra Carolinas Education Committee by then-chair Katie Fulcher. My first exposure to volunteering in a professional capacity was so inspiring - working to develop content to educate the others in our chapter was my first taste of how it felt to pay forward everything I had learned from others willing to share their knowledge.

A Volunteer Develops

As a result of a post I shared on PRSPCT-L about the parent screening validation process developed at my first research job at Wake Forest University, I was asked by Apra Greater New York to contribute an article summarizing the process for their newsletter. This was the first time I truly felt as if I had a level of expertise to share, and I leapt at the opportunity. Again, how could I turn up the chance to pay it forward?

I presented for the first time in 2015 as part of the UNC Advancement Symposium, as I then worked at the UNC System Office, on a needs assessment process I had performed at Wake Forest as part of my capstone project for my MLIS degree. The following year, I turned my validating wealth screening article into a presentation for Apra Chapters Share the Knowledge - my first time presenting a webinar! This ultimately became a half-day pre-conference workshop for Apra’s PD conference in 2017 and 2018. I didn’t submit it as a workshop, but the content was apparently of enough interest that the committee wanted it expanded. How was I developing into an industry veteran whose knowledge was respected? I sure didn’t know (and still don’t, to be honest).

At the same time, I moved up from the Education Committee to the NC Regional Representative for Apra Carolinas, then began a four-year tenure as Education Chair. I also began serving on Apra International committees, simultaneously as a member of the Curriculum Planning Committee for PD, and on the Advocacy Committee. And all along, I was making myself available for anyone who ever had any questions about things I knew about - and reaching out to others who had information I needed.

The Now

Somehow, I have made my way to serve as President of Apra Carolinas, where I am incredibly proud to head up an extraordinary board that works hard to provide benefits and professional development for our members. I served on the Apra Nominating Committee last year. For years, I’ve been a member of the committee for the Mid-Atlantic Regional Chapters group, a collaboration between the Apra chapters representing Pennsylvania, Maryland, Metro DC, Virginia, and the Carolinas that works together to provide excellent professional development content at an accessible cost to members of our chapters.

I may not be Education Chair anymore, but I haven’t stopped working to provide professional development to peers, either. I was a member of the Apra Fundamentals faculty this year, and will be on a panel for Apra Plug In to Small Shops this summer. I was a panelist for “We Are All Data Scientists” at Apra Talks at PD last year, a main stage event in front of all live and virtual attendees. I have several presentations in rotation that I am still asked to present as webinars for chapters. All of these opportunities allow me to share my hard-won knowledge and give advice - sometimes unasked for, as anyone who's been to a networking session with me can attest.

It feels sometimes like I blinked and became one of the admired industry veterans whose names I learned in those very early days of PRSPCT-L. People know my name. They reach out to me without ever having met me to ask my advice or input on things that they’re working on. They attend my webinars and thank me for what I share. All it ever took was putting up my hand, saying “yes,” and leaning into the desire to give back what this field has given me.

Volunteering in any capacity, sharing knowledge, and making professional development accessible are all ways I contribute to our community - and they’re ways anyone can contribute, whether you’re comfortable in front of a crowd or would rather answer questions on PRSPCT-L. I encourage everyone to get involved, share their expertise, and help build a supportive and thriving professional environment. You will get back everything you put in, and then some. I’m living proof.

Steps to Advance Your Prospect Research Career

Written by: Chris Copsey

“Hey, you- yes, You! C’mon over here and let’s talk shop for a little bit away from the crowds. I heard that you are looking for ways to advance your career in the Prospect Research area. Well, the good news for you is that is something that I would love to help you out with.”

If you are anything like me - and you must be since you are reading this! - you have probably been working in the Prospect Research and philanthropic field long enough to wonder if that above conversation would ever happen to you. Well, consider this article a version of that conversation. You see, although I have only been in the field of prospect research for 8 years, I have gone from performing basic, individual prospect research, to healthcare philanthropy data analytics, to now leading a whole Prospect Development team for a major healthcare philanthropy organization. And the good news is that with some experience, nerve, and a lot of confidence, you too can give yourself the background and experience necessary for advancing in your career.

Hi, my name is Chris Copsey, and I am the Assistant Vice President of Prospect Development for the UNC Health Foundation, based out of UNC Chapel Hill. I have spent my entire fundraising career at UNC and have loved every minute of it. Aside from my professional work, I am also the incoming President-elect of Apra Carolinas. 

Here are some things to consider when you are ready to advance in your career in this field. And no, these won’t be any of those that you heard in the 1990s, like “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have”, or always laughing at your boss’s unfunny jokes.

1. Make sure your fundamentals are sharp: whatever your current role is, you want to make sure that you are already performing at a high level. How can you expect to move up to a new position if there are weaknesses in your current position? Take stock of what you do, and especially those times where you either took on tasks outside of your job’s scope, or successes where you went above and beyond. If you take stock and find yourself deficient in any area, consider the resources that Apra has, reach out to your network, or even utilize LinkedIn learning- I myself used a LinkedIn learning class to learn the basics of Tableau and then reached out to a thought leader for more advice- how is this Dashboard? What can I do to make it better? You’d be surprised how happy people in our field are to help each other!
   
   
2. Working horizontally is equally important as working vertically: while we all want to impress those in positions above us, it is equally important to ingratiate yourself with those at your current level. Make yourself indispensable to those you encounter on an everyday basis for run-of-the-mill projects.  If you are worried about being too good at this and potentially depriving your office of your current skills, I would counter and say that taking on a new role is about expanding your talents, not depriving anyone of them, so this should not stop you from advancing.
   
   
3. Become familiar with all the jobs in your office: you might excel at research but having knowledge of what a Development Officer does will make you better at providing them with help. If you don’t, ask to shadow them at a donor meeting. 
   
   
4. Know who to lobby: we all equate lobbying with the political and corporate world, but lobbying for yourself is essentially advocating for yourself. But you wouldn’t just advocate to anyone - you should know who to advocate to. Knowing who in your office has sway or soft-power can be crucial as you make plans to step up in your office. Is an office shakeup happening? Ok, great - lean into it, and figure out who is going to be calling the shots at a future date, even if they are not right now. Org charts and budget allocations are gold when trying to figure this out, so ask around to see if this kind of information is handy.
   
   
5. Raise your hand: most importantly, and it is probably the thing that can get you where you want the most, is to raise your hand; for all you know, no one else has raised theirs! 

These are only a few things that could help you advance your career in prospect research. Of course, getting involved in a professional development space like Apra Carolinas doesn’t hurt either!

Meet the Board

We are ushering in the New Year with an opportunity for you to get to know the Apra Carolinas Board. This year, we are welcoming new and returning members, all of whom are dedicated to providing professional development and networking opportunities to our members in the Carolinas (and beyond)!

Engaging our community, providing resources, the thrill of detective work and working with a team to support impactful work and missions are a few shared sentiments among our board members about their interest in leading the chapter and continuing their prospect development careers - which of these resonates with you?

Rachael Walker

Donor Strategy Manager, St. Luke's Health System

President

How many years have you worked in fundraising/prospect development?

14

What inspired you to join the Apra Carolinas board?

I was asked by a previous education chair to join the then-extant education committee! I had a grand old time, then moved up to NC Regional Rep. My natural bossiness (sorry, I meant “organizational skills”) was well-suited to being Education Chair and now I’ll get to really flex those muscles as President.

What do you like most about working in prospect development?

The community. Absolutely my favorite thing about this field is the willingness my fellow professionals have to share what they’ve learned with each other. I try to pay it forward all the time – which is why Education Chair was such a great place for me for so long!

What's your favorite snack? 

It’s unfair to make me choose just one. I’ll go with what I always pick up on road trips - Cool Ranch Doritos!

Chris Copsey

Assistant Vice President of Prospect Development, UNC Health Foundation

President-Elect 

How many years have you worked in fundraising/prospect development?

8.

What inspired you to join the Apra Carolinas board?

A desire to be locally involved with our industry's professional group.

What do you like most about working in prospect development?

The detective work of finding new potential donors!

What's your favorite snack? 

Popcorn!

Megan Crenshaw

Research & Database Manager, Cone Health Philanthropic Foundation

Treasurer

How many years have you worked in fundraising/prospect development?

I have worked in prospect development for 5 of the 13 years that I have been in fundraising.

What inspired you to join the Apra Carolinas board?

After joining the Research team at Elon in 2019, I was continually amazed by, and grateful for, all that Apra Carolinas offered me. The professionals I met are not only incredibly knowledgeable and skilled, they are also genuinely warm, engaging, and encouraging. It felt very fulfilling to give back to an organization that provides so much to those of us who work in this niche field. When I received the invitation to join, it was a no brainer for me. My hope is to inspire others to plug in as much as I did so that you can meet an incredible group of individuals and acquire invaluable insight into the field!

What do you like most about working in prospect development?

My favorite part of prospect development is the “detective” skills it takes to do my job well. I love those moments when a prospect has been a bit elusive to research, but I suddenly search for the right term or pull on the right string that reveals valuable information I had been searching for. Several people in my hallway can attest to the times they’ve heard an excited “Aha! Found you!” coming from my office.

What's your favorite snack? 

Hands down, I could eat apples and peanut butter any day of the week!

Vicki O'Brien

Prospect and Database Manager, Purpose Built Communities

Secretary

How many years have you worked in fundraising/prospect development?

Over ten years

What inspired you to join the Apra Carolinas board?

Being involved in the leadership of a community of prospect development professionals.

What do you like most about working in prospect development?

The thrill I still get when I uncover a hidden prospect with staggering potential to support my organization's mission, followed by strategy discussions to make an introduction and invite them to support our impactful work.

What's your favorite snack? 

Movie Candy!

Rachael Daniels

Prospect Management Analyst, Clemson University

Education Chair

How many years have you worked in fundraising/prospect development?

I have worked in fundraising for about 12 years, the last 5 of those in prospect development.

What inspired you to join the Apra Carolinas board?

I wanted to be more involved with the prospect development community and get to know more people in the field. I also owe a lot of my success in my first prospect development role to what I learned through Apra Carolinas. I hope to help others do the same in my role on the board.

What do you like most about working in prospect development?

The best thing about working in prospect development is being able to help team members be successful. Finding that major donor hidden in the database or even just a tiny piece of information about a prospect that can move the relationship one step closer, whatever it is that can help a fundraiser get past a roadblock or get one step closer to meeting their goals.

What's your favorite snack? 

Cheese!

Jennifer Kehoe

Director of Prospect Research, Clemson University

Membership Chair

How many years have you worked in fundraising/prospect development?

23 years. First 4 years of my career were as a CFR Development Officer before moving into the Prospect Development side of things. I’ve always known my calling to be in the PD realm rather than as a front-line Gift Officer. 

What inspired you to join the Apra Carolinas board?

The desire to be more involved with my fellow Prospect Development folk (in all of our different organizations) and to feel like I’m giving back. The Board is the perfect place to work with great people and meet other great people in our industry. 

What do you like most about working in prospect development?

I enjoy the challenge of the work and the everyday “puzzles” we face. I have always found a great deal of satisfaction working in philanthropy and the idea that we can work for a greater good. I’ve also been blessed to meet and work with some truly talented colleagues.

What's your favorite snack? 

Wow, I feel like this changes, but right now…Dot’s Pretzels (Original and Honey Mustard flavor).

Jenny Bunn

Prospect Research Manager, UNC Asheville

Communications Chair

How many years have you worked in fundraising/prospect development?

I have worked in Prospect Development for two years, but have worked in non-profit fundraising in various capacities for decades.

What inspired you to join the Apra Carolinas board?

Apra Carolinas has been an excellent professional resource for me. I have been so impressed with how welcoming and helpful everyone has been to a newcomer like me, and I am eager to give back to this organization that has already given so much to me.

What do you like most about working in prospect development?

It’s such a great job. I love the research. I love the strategy meetings. I love the camaraderie with gift officers and other members of our advancement team - it’s really wonderful to be part of a team that is so collaborative.

What's your favorite snack? 

Salty chips with really fresh guacamole

Merissa Lawson

Prospect Development Manager, National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA)

NC Representative

How many years have you worked in fundraising/prospect development?

I’m coming up on 21 years in prospect development.

What inspired you to join the Apra Carolinas board?

I first joined the board in 2015, after attending chapter events for several years; I really just wanted to help. After a stretch of board membership that included multiple roles (including President), I took a short break, but am rejoining now to jump back into the fray. I enjoy giving back to the community and can’t seem to stay away.

What do you like most about working in prospect development?

I love all of the different aspects of the work. The combination of critical thinking, investigative work, communication skills, strategy – and the satisfaction of knowing my work is the foundation for future gifts. What’s not to love?

What's your favorite snack? 

Popcorn, always and forever!

Jenny Alstad

Senior Director, Prospect Development & Strategy, College of Charleston

SC Regional Representative

How many years have you worked in fundraising/prospect development?

I’ve worked in fundraising for 17 years and have been in prospect development for the past three years.

What inspired you to join the Apra Carolinas board?

Since joining Apra and Apra Carolinas in 2022, I’ve been so impressed by the community. After three years of attending conferences and webinars I’m ready to get involved and start making an impact! In 2024 I was awarded the Apra Carolinas Professional Development Scholarship and used the funds to attend Apra PD in Seattle. The opportunity to attend this conference allowed me the opportunity to meet and connect with my peers - such an invaluable resource! On the Apra Carolina board I hope to help facilitate connections amongst our members in the Carolinas.

What do you like most about working in prospect development?

For me, prospect development is the perfect combination of data, relationship management, and strategy. I love having days where I’m head down digging into data projects that are then balanced with days where I’m collaborating with our fundraisers on strategies and next steps.

What's your favorite snack? 

Anything chocolate!

Apra Carolinas 2024 Fall Conference in Review

Written By: Jenny Bunn

This October, prospect research, development, and nonprofit professionals from across the Carolinas met at Clemson University for a one day conference. Held at the Madren Center on Clemson’s campus, the conference was chock-full of compelling speakers balanced with time for fellowship and networking. 

I appreciate that the Apra Carolinas conference features sessions led by both nationally known speakers and local colleagues. It is a way to hear both big picture ideas and creative, practical applications on an institutional level. After a warm welcome from Brian O’Rourke, VP of Advancement at Clemson, the conference kicked off with a session from Jim Langley. In his session - It’s About Meaningful Interactions, not Moves Management - Jim spoke about maintaining consistent elements in a donor’s biography or record so that a relationship could be managed by anyone. It was an a-ha moment for me - my VC has encouraged our team to know the answers to a list of 10 questions for our donors - but we don’t actually record those answers into a shared action, note, or bio. So what if we did? How might that impact the way we are able to interact with our donors over a length of time, even if individual staff members don’t remain with our institution? I was furiously scribbling notes - arrows pointing to new thoughts, words with boxes drawn around them - whatever I could do to attempt to solidify my thoughts so that I could effectively communicate them later to my team.

Chris Copsey’s session made it seem easy - or at least attainable! - to create a custom AI chatbot. Katalina Williams and Kayla Ly discussed remote onboarding strategies, which I need to revisit as I work on updating some elements of our training guide. During Cecelia Poplin and Marianne Pelletier’s sessions, both of which focused on the potential benefits of AI in prospect research, my takeaways included using AI to automate alerts and to summarize family relationships from obituaries, marriage announcements and company bios. 

I very much enjoyed the built-in networking activities. Not only was I able to meet new people in our shared field, I was able to learn about the work of other non-profit organizations in the region, including one dedicated to conservation in the area where I grew up. Over breakfast and lunch, I learned who was an EMT, who was a Weird Al fan (surprisingly - or not! - there were more than a few of us), and who was baking with apples for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. Since I mainly see my Apra colleagues over Zoom, it was really quite wonderful to be together in-person and to be surrounded by people who are working hard to make the world a better place.

And speaking of making the world a better place, it was announced that a portion of the conference fees would be donated to non-profit organizations in the Carolinas working to mitigate the destruction in our region of Hurricane Helene. As we face a long recovery from this devastating storm, the board and membership of Apra Carolinas stepped forward with thoughtfulness and constructiveness to be a part of the solution. 

Thank you to Apra Carolinas for a fabulous Fall Conference - already ready for the next one!