“We are experts at becoming experts”:
My Experience at Apra PD
Written By: Jenny Alstad
Senior Director, Prospect Development & Strategy
College of Charleston
My goal in applying for the Apra Carolinas Professional Development Scholarship was to attend the Apra PD Conference in Seattle, WA. So, when I received the news that I was awarded the 2024 scholarship, it was an easy decision on how to use the funds. From making new friends at the airport (shoutout to my Richmond buddies!) to participating in thought-provoking and cathartic sessions, my experience at Apra PD was exceptional.
As I review my pages of scribbled notes from the conference, one quote keeps resonating with me and it comes from our own backyard. On the second day, our Apra Carolinas Chapter President, Rachael Walker, shared during a panel discussion, “We are experts at becoming experts.” That statement struck a chord with me.
While I’ve worked in development for over 15 years, I am relatively new to the world of Prospect Development. Self-doubt can be a tricky hurdle to overcome. Questions like, “Is my program where it should be?” “Are we working with the right vendors?” and “Am I in over my head?” creep into my mind. What Rachael and others at Apra PD helped me realize is that no one can be an expert in everything, but we as Prospect Development professionals have the unique tools in our mental toolkit to figure it out!
I left the conference excited about what to implement first. After attending a session hosted by Jack Pitfield from the University of Chicago on basic coding skills, I spent some time over the weekend setting up an Excel Macro to simplify a pipeline report I pull twice per week. I estimate that this Macro saves me about 10 minutes each time I generate the report. Over the course of a year, that’s at least 17 hours of mind-numbing data work saved!
Next on my list is formalizing our definition of a “meaningful contact” and creating templates for officers’ contact reports (shoutout to Prisca Zaccaria and Katalina Williams up the road at USC). After that, I plan to tackle a more robust training program modeled after Lauren Woodring’s approach at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
I’m incredibly grateful to Apra Carolinas for granting me the opportunity to attend this conference. Thank you!
