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!