It's the beginning of 2023 we love to kick off a new year with Apra Carolinas by introducing you to your board. This year is a mixture of new and returning faces who are all dedicated to providing professional development and networking opportunities to our members in the Carolinas (and beyond)! We have some exciting things planned for the year ahead; to see the faces behind the plans, please read through to learn a little more about your board.  

Jennifer Vincent

Account Executive, Blackbaud 

President

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

I worked directly in Advancement for over a decade before joining Blackbaud, where I now work adjacent to the field. 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's your favorite snack? 

Hmm, favorite any day snack is homemade popcorn with nutritional yeast and garlic salt. Favorite road-trip snack is Doritos [Cool Ranch!] and Muddy Buddies … depending on a sweet or salty mood.

Rachael Walker

Prospect Analyst, Cornell University

President-Elect

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

I’m on my 13th year! Where does the time go?

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-Elect.

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 would say probably Trader Joe’s seasonal key lime kettle corn. I stock up every summer and try to make it last, but I never can.

Emily Hinz

Assistant Director of Prospect Development, UNC Charlotte

Treasurer

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

Coming up on 6 in May!

What inspired you to join the Apra Carolinas board?

I connected with a few of the other Carolinas board members at big Apra PD in 2019, and really appreciated their expertise and friendly vibe. When they said they had a board opening it was a no brainer!

What do you like most about working in prospect development?

I truly love portfolio review- connecting with development officers to celebrate their wins and help them hone in on the best prospects in their area. Being a resource for them is the best.

What's your favorite snack? 

Toughy as I am a snack queen... does chips and queso count? Best pre-dinner snack ever.

Megan Gregg

Senior Development Research Analyst, Elon University

Secretary

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

I have worked in prospect development for 3 of the 10 years that I have been in fundraising.

What inspired you to join the Apra Carolinas board?

Since joining the Research team at Elon in 2019, I have been continually amazed by, and grateful for, all that Apra Carolinas has offered me. The professionals I have met are not only incredibly knowledgeable and skilled, they are also genuinely warm, engaging, and encouraging. My boss is a former President of Apra Carolinas, and I saw the fulfillment she got out of giving 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!

Emily Glesias

Foundation Operations Manager, Novant Health Foundation

Education Chair

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

This year will be seven in fundraising operations, almost five with a focus on prospect development.

What inspired you to join the Apra Carolinas board?

The community and brain power behind this stellar group of professionals is really what inspired me to joining the board! The opportunity to network with peers, have a sounding board for ideas or project issues I am encountering at work, and exposure to others in the industry that I’d otherwise not have an opportunity to communicate with are a few of the great aspects of Apra C board membership. Joining gave me a chance to personally make sure others in the Carolinas had regular access to educational opportunities, networking and a support system of likeminded individuals, especially as they’re starting out their prospect development journey. I needed the connections when I was first starting out and Apra has been a huge resource for me so giving back only makes sense!

What do you like most about working in prospect development?

I love the “but why or how?” that comes with so many of our projects/finds – and that we’re encouraged to FIND the why and figure out HOW the prospect connects to our nonprofit! It’s a very rewarding treasure hunt through data, identifying nuggets of otherwise hidden information and crafting a story using them. My colleagues and I will often joke that we’re “super sleuths” for data that isn’t easily traceable which may be true and is part of the allure of prospect development but, it’s also the magic of how we’re usually the first ones to share said information and see how it’s ultimately translated into a meaningful, deeper relationship with a donor who makes an impact on your organization or community.

What's your favorite snack? 

Can I say coffee? Specifically iced lattes of the vanilla or cinnamon varieties. My Nespresso machine gets lots of love throughout the day!

Teresa Pezdek

Director of Prospect Development, Furman University

Membership Chair

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

I have been in prospect development for 6.5 years.

What inspired you to join the Apra Carolinas board?

I was excited for the opportunity to connect with new colleagues and give back to others. I couldn’t wait to play an active role in all that Apra Carolinas offers.

What do you like most about working in prospect development?

I love the strategy and creativity that goes into our work, along with the internal relationship building. It is also so satisfying to see the positive impact prospect development staff can have on fundraising efforts.

What's your favorite snack? 

Chips and salsa! A side of queso never hurts either.

Andi Marrs

Prospect Researcher, UNC Charlotte

Communications Chair

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

I've been in the fundraising/prospect development world for around 7 1/2 years now and I love it!

What inspired you to join the Apra Carolinas board?

Such a good question! I really wanted to give back to the Apra community that helped shape my early career days, help provide opportunities for growth and learning in the prospect research/development sector and expand my connections in the NC/SC fundraising community.

What do you like most about working in prospect development?

I think what I like most about working in prospect development is the diversity of the work we do. One day it could be a profile on an individual, the next we're analyzing a portfolio, and then the next we're working across departments to see how we can provide expertise. I also love seeing my gift officer colleagues succeed and build lasting relationships with donors.

What's your favorite snack? 

Sweet snack would be sour patch kids and savory snack would be french fries. Always.

Kathy Mills

Senior Donor Identification Analyst, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist

NC Regional Representative

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

11 years

What inspired you to join the Apra Carolinas board?

This is my second time on the board. I was previously treasurer, and after a short hiatus, decided to rejoin because I missed the networking and camaraderie. I originally joined due to encouragement by two coworkers who’d been on the board.

What do you like most about working in prospect development?

I love knowing the work I’m doing is helping others, and I really enjoy hearing donors tell us what motivates them to give, regardless of the gift size.

What's your favorite snack? 

Dark chocolate

Jennifer Kehoe

Senior Director of Prospect Development, Clemson University

SC Regional Representative

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

21 years. First 4 years of my career were as a CFR Development Officer before moving into the Prospect Development side of things, and I’ve never regretted it for a minute!

What inspired you to join the Apra Carolinas board?

The desire to be more involved with my fellow Analysts (in all of our different organizations) and to feel like I’m giving back. I’ve been in this area for 4 years now and I don’t know nearly enough people, this is perfect opportunity!

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 flavor).

Kelly Kemp, Development Research Analyst from Furman University, was awarded the 2022 Professional Development Scholarship from Apra Carolinas. She chose to use the award to attend Apra PD in Atlanta, GA. Below is a Q&A between Kelly and Rachael Walker regarding her experience. 

Kelly Kemp, Ready to go!	View from Kelly's room

Blog post by Amy Jackson, NC Regional Representative. Amy lives in Indian Trail, NC and is assistant vice president of foundation relations and development at Wingate University. She previously worked as grants manager for the Charlotte Symphony and has 8 years of fundraising experience, primarily in the areas of grants management and grant writing, prospect research and prospect management, campaign planning, and donor relations. 

Prospect Research plays an important role in the success of nonprofit organizations. While the bulk of philanthropic dollars received each year comes from individuals and continues to rise, we are also seeing an increase in the second largest category, giving by foundations. According to the annual report from Giving USA, giving by Foundations in 2020 was $88.5 billion, accounting for 19% of all contributions that year and increasing 17% over 2019.

Support from foundations serves as a key source of revenue for many nonprofits as they seek to carry out their missions, and private foundations must pay out at least 5 percent of their assets each year in the form of grants and operating charitable activities. So, where do you start with foundation research and what tools are available to help in your efforts?

Foundation Research Tools

Candid, formerly Foundation Center and GuideStar, is a wonderful resource and it’s free to use. My favorite things to access via Candid are GuideStar and Foundation Directory Online (FDO). Candid also has some great e-newsletters delivered straight to your inbox to keep you up to date on subject-based philanthropy, links to resources, and funding alerts. GuideStar houses information about every IRS-registered nonprofit organization, including the three most recent 990s. While FDO Pro is a paid tool, many public libraries offer free access to the database. FDO Pro features 140,000+ grantmakers and 11 million+ grants, and it is updated weekly. I would recommend that you watch this free 1-hour tutorial first, and then bring a flash drive with you so you can download search results and profiles for more in-depth research once you are back at your desk. Search here for a library that has FDO Pro near you. FoundationSearch is another database option if you have the budget funds to add it to your shop. Relationship Science (RelSci) (relationship mapping to find board member connections) and iWave (one-stop-shop for prospect research and donor wealth screening), other paid tools, can support your foundation research efforts, too.

When I’m in FDO Pro or FoundationSearch, I like to narrow my search by looking at foundations with the largest assets, a geographic scope that corresponds with where my organization is located, and a granting category that fits my type of organization. I don’t always exclude foundations that don’t accept unsolicited proposals, because you may be able to connect with those folks in another way. Perhaps you have a board member or individual donor that knows one of their board members or staff members. Another tip is to search for organizations with similar missions to yours to see which foundations are giving to them. Maybe they would be interested in giving to you as well.

Three additional sites related to foundation research are The Grantsmanship Center, NC Network of Grantmakers, and South Carolina Grantmakers Network. The Grantsmanship Center provides training, publications, technical assistance, and consulting for nonprofits in addition to resources by state, including top giving foundations, community foundations, and corporate giving programs. NC Network of Grantmakers and South Carolina Grantmakers Network serve grantmaking organizations across their respective states. Their news pages are particularly useful for information about staff changes at foundations, grant awards, requests for proposals, and more.

Digging into 990s

Foundations are required to submit a Form 990 to the IRS each year. This form contains a slew of helpful information for research purposes. For foundation research, here’s what I look at:

Foundation Profiles

You’ve done your research and now it’s time to put together a profile. I’ve found the following template to be most effective when sharing prep information with gift officers and/or senior leadership.

Happy foundation prospecting!

A big thank you to everyone for taking the time to complete the membership survey which was emailed out in the past couple of months! Your participation helps give us a clearer understanding of things that are being done well, things that may need some tweaking, and areas that we can focus on in the future within the chapter. This year, we received responses from just under 30% of our membership base.

In this blog post, we’ll share some survey questions and how members responded. Please know that even though this membership survey is a great way to share your thoughts with the chapter, you are more than welcome (and encouraged) to reach out with thoughts & feedback any day of the week throughout the year.

 

“What areas of Apra Carolinas provide value to you?”

Overwhelmingly, every single respondent answered ‘Webinars’ as an area which provides value to them. Point taken! The two response that shared second place, both with about three-quarters of respondents answering, were ‘Recorded webinars on Member Resources tab’ and ‘Newsletters.’ Along the same line, members said that the most valuable benefit was ‘Webinars’ at 64% with ‘Conferences’ in a well-earned 2^nd place spot at 25%. ‘Recorded webinars’ were once again mentioned with just over 10% of the responses given.

 

"What is something that you wish was offered by Apra Carolinas to its member base?”

Without being able to include every open-ended response, some great feedback was provided such as:

• “More live educational opportunities via webinar. …”
• “While Apra International offers a Body of Knowledge feature, it would be incredibly beneficial if Apra Carolinas published a guide, whether through a webinar or blog post, on what a career trajectory in Prospect Research looks like for those who are interested in growing their expertise.” 
  
• “More webinars/mentoring on data analysis, modeling, … anything data.”

A growing interest in recent years is on data analytics, on which this response touches: “More webinars/mentoring on data analysis, modeling, okay anything data.” Data analytics were mentioned several times in the post, but nothing about specific interests. We want to deliver, so we scheduled a roundtable in April to dive in and learn more!

Members may find it interesting that 39% of respondents indicated that they were members of Apra International and the same number indicated that they were not members. Additionally, close to one-fifth of respondents indicated that they were not currently Apra International members but previously were at one point in time.

We also asked members how many years they’ve worked in prospect development; an impressive 43% have been working in the field for more than ten years! Following this, 32% in the 3–5-year range and 14% in the 1–3-year range.

“How interested are you in attending virtual networking?”

Since we’ve become so accustomed to virtual networking in the last couple of years, we made sure to include several questions on the topic. Member responses showed that out of a scale of 1-5, almost 40% gave a response of 3 (mildly interested). When asked what kind of virtual networking should be offered, members overwhelmingly responded with ‘Professional topic led discussion groups’ (82%) and ‘Personal topic led discussion groups’ (46%) followed.  Members indicated that if they haven’t attended a networking event yet, it’s mostly due to scheduling or timing issues.

On the topic of conferences (Fall conference planning underway!), we asked members if they currently prefer an in-person or virtual setting. Votes were very close with just over half of respondents indicating a current preference for virtual conferences. When asked if they’d be willing to attend if a conference was offered in-person, 61% said yes. Location and schedule conflict were the two greatest obstacles for conference attendance with each vote contributing 33% of the total.

This year, just over two-thirds  of members indicate that they have a budget for travel and professional development in place. Although this question was not directly asked in 2020, we did receive some responses that cost was a prohibitive factor when considering conference attendance. Thankfully, Apra Carolinas offers a Professional Development Scholarship (congratulations to our 2022 winners - Kelly Kemp & Gillian Hayden!) which may provide financial assistance to those restricted due to budget. Scholarship applications will reopen on January 1^st, 2023, on the Apra Carolinas website for any member interested.

 

“What topics would you like to see in upcoming programming?” 

 

We received numerous help and constructive thoughts in response to this question. These suggestions are taken very seriously and discussed by the board thoroughly in various stages of planning our programming. There are too many to share in this one blog post, so we created a word cloud visualization so that it can be viewed in a fun and different way, highlighting the more frequently mentioned (larger text) subjects.

 

Upon wrapping up the membership survey, we wanted to know what else you, the member, wanted to share with us. Those suggestions and comments were shared with the board. We appreciate every single piece of feedback - the gracious compliments, encouraging messages, and everything in between. As mentioned previously, this survey is a good way to assess and improve Apra Carolinas, but our ears are open year-round for any feedback, big or small. The Apra Carolinas board appreciates your participation, and we can’t wait to see you all at the next webinar, networking event, or conference!

Finally, please join us in congratulating member Michele Tanzosch of Grinnell College for winning the $50.00 Amazon gift card raffle!

Guest blog post by former President-Elect, Allison Kiglics. Allison resides in Wilmington, NC and recently left the prospect development field to work as a Small Business Banking Underwriter for Live Oak Bank. She would love to connect on LinkedIn and is happy to discuss her experience.  

Prospect Development was a field I fell into. We often hear that from those in the field and, like so many others, I quickly realized I had found home. In 2017 I was hired by my alma mater, the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW), as a Prospect Development Analyst. I jumped in with both feet, learning the development world inside and out under current Apra Carolinas president Jennifer Vincent. My first month at UNCW was a total blur. I was learning ethics, terminology, industry norms, and getting to know the development officers and other teammates I would be working with.

Prospect Development utilized a skill set I had been crafting for years as a wannabe super spy. I had a background in data analytics from my sociology undergraduate studies, and while I enjoyed analytics, I didn’t really want to work in data science full time. I am an introvert, after all. Prospect Development gave me the perfect balance of working alone, working with others, and working with data.

Jennifer took the role of president-elect with Apra Carolinas, and then received an amazing offer at Blackbaud. I moved into her prospect management role at UNCW, where I oversaw prospect research. When Jennifer moved into the president role of Apra Carolinas, I signed on as the president-elect.

Like so many others, I began wondering what my next role would be when ‘the great resignation’ hit. I was at the top of the department at UNCW and was the president-elect of Apra Carolinas. There wasn’t much opportunity for me to advance at UNCW; if I wanted growth, I would need to look elsewhere to find it. Left and right, there were remote development jobs being posted as non-profits began to see the advantages of remote employees. I was wrapping up my Master of Science in Business Analytics at UNCW, and it was great timing to start my search. Suddenly, out of nowhere, an opportunity came to me to join the Underwriting team at Live Oak Bank here in Wilmington, NC. I would still get to spy on people (I even get their tax returns!) and I would get to dive even further into my skill set of Business Analytics. I knew it would be a scary change, but the opportunity to join one of the best banks and places to work in Wilmington was one I couldn't pass by. So, I took the scary plunge into the for-profit world, and I have loved every minute of it.

The work I’m doing at Live Oak is so meaningful. We are almost exclusively a small business banking lender working with Small Business Administration loans. For example, I worked on a loan this week for an existing funeral home owner to acquire a location a few miles away as that owner retires. We were able to finance the loan at 100% because of the SBA program. It’s somewhat parallel to my development career, except now there are loan officers instead of gift officers and a loan servicing team instead of a stewardship team. There are many skills from my prospect development career that served me well to secure the job here at Live Oak. I had a good foundation of financial and business literacy from my prospect development career, which was an asset to this new role. In Prospect Development, we’re always in the middle of different teams; from front line fundraisers, advancement services, stewardship to working with executive leadership. We need to be chameleons, fitting in wherever we go. Adapting to different styles. That skill is transferrable to any career in the private sector.

We have this joke on the Apra Carolinas board about the “Curse of the President” which came about after several presidents left their term early due to outstanding job offers that pulled them away from the Carolinas or the profession. If you’re wondering if the curse is a myth… join the board and find out for yourself! 

Apra Carolinas Mugshots

The 2022 Apra Carolinas board recently met for our annual – now virtual – board retreat where we focus on mapping out the year ahead. One area of focus for the board is around engaging with chapter members and helping to make sure you know we are here to support your professional development efforts. During this meeting, we decided to share with you all our favorite mugs and why we love them. There are some recurring themes in our favorite mugs – see if you can spot them!

Please join us on social media by sharing your favorite mug along with #ApraCarolinasMugshot

Check out our: Apra Carolinas Mugshots

In a time of great uncertainty, it’s hard to know what lies ahead – but we do know that the world is changing, and philanthropy will certainly change with it. That’s why “Generation Impact: How Next Gen Donors are Revolutionizing Giving” felt like a particularly timely selection for our Apra Carolinas book discussion group. According to the authors, the Gen X and Millennial (and soon Gen Z!) philanthropists are looking to “disrupt” the world of charitable giving.

What does that mean, for us and for them? Well, here are some key takeaways from the book and questions to ponder moving forward:

• These donors want to see the IMPACT of their donations (or at least indicators of progress towards a goal).

Question: How does your organization show the impact of donor gifts? Is there a way that you can communicate that more effectively, especially if your fundraising focus is on something that is hard to quantify?

• They want to upend philanthropic norms and “change systems, not treat symptoms.”

Question: Is your organization addressing overarching societal issues (access to healthcare, education, clean water, etc.)? If not, can you show how your organization may help alleviate more systemic problems?

• They want to focus on fewer organizations rather than spreading their gifts around and would prefer to work with smaller organizations where their donation can have a big impact.

Question: If you work at a larger organization, how can you highlight specific programs where a philanthropic gift would make a significant (and/or immediate) difference?

• They are focused on “giving while living” – they want to see their donations working now and are less interested in bequests/estate gifts.

Question: How can you frame the impact of planned gifts beyond leaving a legacy? (An example might be suggesting that their gift could inspire others in their network to be philanthropic, or that an estate gift could make a larger impact over time than an immediate gift now.)

• They want to use new approaches to giving beyond standard donations, like impact investing, microloans, and crowdfunding.

Question: Does your organization offer any of these options? Would it be feasible to work with next gen donors to create fresh funding ideas that appeal to them?

• They want to help beyond just writing a check – to contribute their time and expertise in meaningful ways and leverage their networks to help as well.

Question: What options do you have for donor engagement beyond serving on a board or planning/hosting an event? Do you have any experiential learning opportunities or intensive volunteer activities that could allow them to use their skills?

• They don’t see family giving as a hierarchy. They want to be a member of a multi-generational, multi-branch team that works together, and not just follow the lead of those that came before them.

Question: How does your organization approach inherited wealth and family giving? Do you engage with children of wealth differently (and separately) from their parents? How can you cultivate and solicit the family in a way that appeals to all its members?

That’s just some of the highlights. The real-life next gen donor interviews were particularly insightful, though (in my opinion) it would have been helpful to also hear some stories from fundraisers or even family members of different generations and how they have experienced working with these individuals. There will be a learning curve ahead but thinking strategically about these things now will give you a great head start!

I’d highly recommend reading this book if you’re interested in finding out more. As a member benefit, we are offering copies to the first thirty members that fill out our Google Form. Please do check it out and start planning for the future of fundraising.

-Merissa Lawson (Immediate Past President, Apra Carolinas)

WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?

 

With October as Cyber Security Awareness month, there’s no better time to dive into what it means to be digitally secure and to listen to feedback from experts in the tech-world.  In a constantly moving and advancing digital world, it’s more important now than ever to make sure devices are secure whether it’s for personal or business use. There have been several big-ticket instances in the past few years where malicious scammers have broken through company security forces and held software for ransom, stole sensitive client information, phished passwords from high ranking officials, and various other attacks.

One might hastily think “were these attacks avoidable?” The answer probably isn’t as easy as just saying “yes,” but using better methods for security from the groundwork up certainly could help reduce risk. Sometimes, these deviant occurrences are unavoidable, and the user or company is targeted for no particular reason. Other times, the user may have inadvertently compromised their own device, or worse yet, their business’ whole system.  Let’s look at some tips that industry experts have offered to prevent these instances from occurring in the first place.

 

EXPERT TIPS & TRICKS

 

1.       Xavier Mertens, Freelance Cyber Security Consultant & Owner at Xameco recommends several tips and tricks. For one, he urges users to enable 2-factor authentication if offered by the service. Using a password manager can also help to declutter an old-school notebook for trying to remember all previous passwords and is innately more secure. Xavier also believes users should keep their devices and software as up-to-date as possible. This includes not just phones and computers, but also modems, smart TVs, and any access point that is routinely used. Lastly, Xavier believes that the end user should always ask the question: why? If something might sound too good to be true when a stranger offers something, it probably is. Don’t answer or offer information if you don’t understand the request or if you don’t even know the entity asking.

 

2.       Lee Munson, Senior Technical Writer at McAffee believes that the common practice of using the same password for every website and service is an “extremely risk behavior” which can be used by the attacker to have, in essence, “gained access to your entire digital world.” Lee further states that many individuals are too trusting and might click on a link found in an email even if they aren’t familiar with the sender. His advice is to not do this, ever. His last tip for cyber security is to be careful what you are downloading. Since so many downloads are freely available today, users often become a little nonchalant about where they are downloading resources from. Lee says to think twice about where you’re downloading from and to ensure that the website has a ‘padlock’ icon or a URL beginning with https://.

3.       Kelly Jackson Higgins, the Executive Editor at Dark Reading, strongly encourages all internet users to browse using a VPN connection, or a virtual private network. She believes that this is applicable whether you are using a corporate network, Wi-Fi Network, or a public wired network. Kelly indicates that even though many corporate employers use VPNs for their users, it’s helpful for individuals to use this outside of work as well, even on mobile devices. Kelly agrees with Xavier in that it’s important for users to keep all applications up-to-date with the latest patches and even goes further to say that it can be beneficial to use less-targeted browser option. Ms. Higgins believes that a final key to web security is the creation of a strong and complex password and remembering to change them often and to never reuse them.

CONCLUSION

 

These tips and tricks from industry experts might sound easy, but can just anyone learn how to become more cyber-secure? The answer is yes; not only is there plenty of advice on this topic found through legitimate sources, but there are also courses developed specifically for cyber security. For example, Clark State College offers six free Cyber Security courses offered to any individual interested in advancing their knowledge of cyber security without having to be a student. LinkedIn Learning also offers a free, 30-day trial for courses which include various Cyber Security topics including security & risk management, cloud computing, and the basic foundations of cyber security.

 

In one sense, you can view cyber security training and prowess as a benefit to yourself directly, gathering knowledge that will protect your devices and your own wellbeing. However, becoming fluent in cyber security will actually benefit you, your place of employment, your future, your past, and even help to bolster your resume within this digital age where using technology is not a step of the job but a requirement. There aren’t many good reasons to not be knowledgeable about cyber security in the year 2021. Use this month’s blog post as a reminder to update your applications, change your passwords, and do not open any suspicious links!

 

 

SOURCES:

Zaharia, A. (2021, May 25). 50+ internet security tips & tricks from top experts. Heimdal Security Blog. Retrieved September 28, 2021, from https://heimdalsecurity.com/blog/security-experts-roundup/.

About 2021’s Professional Development Scholarship Winner: Bridgette Holley, Advancement Researcher and Advisor at HOPE International, was the 2021 Apra Carolinas Professional Development Scholarship winner. She used her scholarship dollars to purchase recorded sessions from Apra University and the PD2020 Virtual Conference.

About HOPE International: HOPE International is a faith-based non-profit that provides underserved and impoverished individual and businesses with savings services, microloans, and small business loans to restore dignity and break the cycle of poverty in underdeveloped nations.

About Apra Carolinas Grants & Scholarships: We strive to put professional development in reach of all Apra Carolinas Members, without the limitations of their organization’s professional development budget. The Professional Development Scholarship is a $1,500 award available annually to any Apra Carolinas member to cover professional development by Apra International or Apra Carolinas. Our 2022 Application will open 1/1/2022.

Additionally, we offer a Road Trip Grant ($300) to cover travel expenses for an Apra Carolinas member to travel to another organization for the day to learn about procedures, a specific project, or some other Prospect Development related topic. In response to COVID, we also opened a membership scholarship; a merit-based scholarship that considers financial need. Awardees will have their annual membership dues covered by Apra Carolinas - unlocking all of the Apra Carolinas programming for the calendar year. Details about these awards can be found on our Scholarships and Grants page.

The Interview

Tell us a little about yourself. How long have you been doing prospect development?

Almost four years. My first advancement services role was from 2008 to 2011. I was hired as a prospect research analyst at North Carolina State University along with four other analysts. Our manager was director of prospect research at the time. Before we came on, she was a one-person shop. I was tasked primarily with helping validate the results of a database screening during the public phase of the university’s first $1 billion campaign. I also did research on individuals, corporations, and foundations. There was another division focused on prospect management, so my work was strictly research.

I joined HOPE International in December 2020, nearly 10 years after my previous experience in prospect development. There is an advisor component to my role, so for the first time, I am involved in consulting with front-line development staff about data analytics and management in addition to research.

What does prospect development mean to you?

We all have God-given gifts, talents, and abilities to steward well. I would say the highest area of stewardship is relationship. I define my role in prospect development as helping people grow intentional relationships in a healthy and sustainable way that honors Jesus Christ. I love working with data, particularly making connections, like seeing how patterns in historical data can inform future decision-making.

How did you use your professional development scholarship?

I know the value of APRA conferences, having attended, "Envisioning the Future, Leading the Change" in Denver, CO in 2008. Nevertheless, I decided not to attend the virtual conference this year knowing that had nearly a decade of change in the industry to catch up on. I used my scholarship for on-demand learning through APRA University to get up to speed.

Do you have a favorite on-demand learning session?

I purchased a few standalone sessions, and a couple of bundled sessions centered around a common theme. My favorite is the 2020 Plug In to Campaigns Recordings Bundle.

What is one thing your organization is doing really well and you felt affirmed in while viewing any of the sessions?

There was a session in the bundle about the Importance of innovation, intentionality, and risk in virtual engagement. I felt affirmed that HOPE pivoted exceptionally well as an organization when everything went virtual in 2020. Many of the things discussed have been implemented.

Is there anything that you’d like to implement at your organization as a direct result of experiencing APRA University?

Creating a prospect development road map using the pattern from this presentation, basically a framework for change based on input from various stakeholders and observations. Combined with my understanding of agile principles, like the concept of a minimum viable product, it would be a living framework. So you see, some things we might dream of doing could be tried using tools we already have in our hands instead of waiting for the perfect database object.

How would you recommend that the next recipient of the scholarship use their funding?

Think about the roadmap of your year. Decide what type of learning is most needed for the short-term so that you can apply it immediately with the hope that its effect will have long-term benefits for you and your organization.

For our July blog post, we wanted to tackle the topic of Donor Advised Funds and talk about the open proposal to change the way these funds function.

What is a DAF?

The short answer is a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is a money-earning holding account focused on charitable contributions that allow a donor to receive an immediate tax benefit, without immediately gifting the money to charity. A donor can contribute assets (e.g., cash, cryptocurrency, liquid assets, etc.) to the account and receive the immediate tax benefit, but the assets remain in the account and are distributed to charitable organizations over time. The donor loses direct ownership of the funds but can advise – over time – where the funds should be distributed. The over time portion is important, because these funds are allowed to grow tax-free within the DAF account. While the DAF can continue to grow, the donor only receives the tax benefits on the amount initially contributed during the tax year the assets were added to the fund.

For example…

Let’s say a donor was given stock in their company and they are retiring this year. They paid $0 for the stock, which is now worth $25,000. To avoid a capital gains tax of $3,750 they decide to put the stock into the DAF, which nets them a tax deduction of $6,000.^[1] These stocks go into the DAF and they can decide when and where they would like to charitably transfer the stock in the future. Conversely, if they sold the stock and gave the proceeds to charity, they would end up being taxed the capital gains ($3,750), the non-profit would only receive $21,250, thus the donor tax deduction would be lowered to $5,100, which nets them a personal tax benefit of $1,350.

TL;DR …

DAFs also allow donors to make grants anonymously, though many continue to tie their name to the grants. The important part is that they can contribute to their DAF, receive an immediate tax benefit, and their contribution is set aside solely for charitable uses that they can select for an indefinite period of time.

DAF grantmaking

According to the National Philanthropic Trust’s 2020 Donor-Advised Fund Report, for the tenth consecutive year, DAFs grew in every key metric. Grants from DAFs accounted for over $25 billion in 2019, which was a 93% increase from 2015. From 2018 to 2019 the assets held in DAFs increased 16.2% to $141.95 billion. That is nearly 142 billion philanthropic dollars not in the hands of charitable organizations. The average size of a DAF account has continued to decrease since 2016, currently averaging around $162,556. The decrease in average size has been attributed, in part, to DAF accounts gaining in popularity, the emergence of employer-sponsored DAF accounts, and many organizations requiring no contribution minimums. This allows donors to open and maintain accounts at a smaller level.

The report projects that “grantmaking from DAFs to charitable organizations will continue to grow at an extremely high rate in the next Donor-Advised Fund Report.” It points to the global pandemic response as well as racial justice and other urgent issues from 2020 as a driving force for DAF grantmaking.

What is changing?

Currently nothing, but there is an active proposal from the Initiative to Accelerate Charitable Giving (IACG) which is targeting that over time portion we discussed. The proposal is hoping to free up the money currently sitting in DAFs and close the loophole that allows them to be, in essence, mini endowments. To free up these dollars, the proposal suggests creating two different types of DAF accounts with different tax benefits – sort of like an IRA vs. Roth-IRA account structure focusing on tax benefits rather than penalties.

1.       15-year DAF: Retains the current tax benefit structure, but the funds must be distributed within 15 years.  
2.       Aligned Benefit Rule: Allows the funds to be distributed over a longer time frame, but the donor only receives the income tax deduction once the funds have been distributed.

Why should you care?

Donors who gift via their DAF have a belief in philanthropy and are likely savvy philanthropists. After all, they set aside a specific amount of money to be used toward philanthropy, and there is no tax advantage to be gained or lost by keeping money in the DAF. So – what kind of difference can they make at your organization by investing in your cause? Almost $142 billion is currently invested in DAFs – imagine the impact a portion of that could make if invested at your organization.

Looking forward

Whether or not the IACG proposal is accepted as law, it appears that DAF giving will continue to remain a popular choice among donors. If you do not currently have a plan in place for DAF donors, now is the time to set up and assess fundraising strategies as they pertain to DAF donors.

Keep in mind, if you send a thank you note, it should go to the donor who advised on the grant rather than the institution holding the grant money. So, if a gift came from Fidelity Charitable from Jane Doe’s DAF, you want the thank you note to go to Jane Doe – but you must make sure to remove any reference to tax deduction. The donor is not eligible to receive another tax deduction for the grant. However, the note is a great chance to get them involved at your organization. After all, they have already told you they are interested in philanthropy (i.e., they have a DAF) and a cause (i.e., where they donated.) Now it is up to you to engage them.

New options are becoming available to make DAF granting easier for donors. For instance, DAF Direct is a free online application you can add to your giving page that helps donors initiate a grant from their DAF to your online fundraising campaign. Additionally, many organizations target communications specifically to DAF donors, knowing there is likely much more in the account that what has been granted. All of this is dependent on making sure you have a good system in place for tracking your DAF grants and the donors who initiated them.

How are you tracking DAF grants and donors in your database? Do you steward DAF gifts differently? Do you want to learn more from your peers? Drop us a line on social media or email us at ApraCarolinas@gmail.com to share your process or let us know if you would like to learn more.