APRA CAROLINAS 2025

FALL CONFERENCE

Please join us for our 2025 Fall Conference at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, NC on October 16th & 17th, 2025! We'll be hosting a conference Happy Hour and networking session on the evening of the 16th at Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery (or, come a little early and join us for a visit to the Ackland Art Museum). On the 17th, get ready for a full day of engaging sessions and activities! Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Thursday, October 16:

3:00 pm - Museum Visit (if you'd like!)
4:00 pm - Happy Hour & Networking

Happy Hour Sponsored by:

Friday, October 17:

9:00 am - 4:00 pm - Speakers + Sessions

Registration Rates:

Member Registration: $70
Non-Member Registration: $90

Hotel Information:

Hotel room blocks have been reserved at the following hotels:

Hyatt Place Chapel Hill / Southern Village

For reservations: Call the hotel at 919-929-9511 Option 0 and request the “APRA Carolinas” group rate valid for stay dates of October 16-18, 2025. Or, to book direct guests can also visit: APRA Carolinas - Hyatt Link | The Corporate/Group Code is: G-APRA Deadline for reservations: September 19, 2025

Residence Inn Chapel Hill

For reservations: Book direct with this link: Apra Carolinas Conference Reservations | The Corporate/Group Code is: G-APRA Deadline for reservations: September 19, 2025

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Sessions & Speakers:

From Service Provider to Strategic Partner: The Trusted Advisor Journey

Wonder why your gift officers don’t act on your recommendations? Frustrated with sending information out and never hearing back? Wish gift officers would treat you as more of a partner? You have the power to change the dynamics of your gift officer relationships – and it all starts with trust. In this session, we will introduce the Trusted Advisor framework, how to apply its principles in a prospect development context, and explore approaches to relatable, real-world scenarios.

Catherine Flaatten, MPH, CFRE, is the associate vice president of prospect development at BWF, where she advises nonprofit clients on building and strengthening programs in prospect research, management, and analytics. Her consulting is grounded in past practitioner experience at The George Washington University, Share Our Strength/No Kid Hungry, the National Psoriasis Foundation, and the BrightFocus Foundation.

Catherine serves on Apra International’s Board of Directors and has held numerous volunteer leadership roles with Apra International, Apra Metro DC, and the Association of Advancement Services Professionals (aasp). She is a frequent presenter and author in the field, and her expertise has been featured in the Chronicle of Philanthropy. Her contributions aim to position prospect development as a strategic driver of fundraising success and strengthen the profession through knowledge-sharing and leadership.

She earned both her BA in International Affairs and her MPH in Maternal and Child Health from The George Washington University.

From 0 to 100: A Newbie's Journey in Power BI

Learn step-by-step how Janelle leveled up from Power BI newbie to super user in 12 months. In this session, Janelle shares her self-directed learning plan as well as her project management approach to develop and implement a proposal pipeline dashboard for her fundraising team. This presentation will highlight the necessary resources and partnerships needed to undertake a project of this kind and demonstrate how to navigate potential roadblocks and incorporate feedback. Learn how to leverage your newfound skills to create an impactful dashboard that supports fundraisers' data management needs and leadership's access to pipeline data.

Janelle Wilson, M.A., has worked in prospect development at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation for almost three years. Previously, she worked in gift processing for eight years managing the Foundation’s automatic giving program. In her current role, she has developed her skills in prospect research, portfolio management, and data analytics. She received her BS in Anthropology and Archaeology from James Madison University in 2008 and her MA in Art History and Museum Studies in 2010.

Amplify Your Impact: Enhance Your Relationships, Gift Strategies, and Data by Asking the Right Questions at the Right Time

Asking the right questions at the right time is essential for philanthropic success - and this is especially true for prospect development. This session provides a strategic framework for prospect development professionals to improve their effectiveness in three key areas by leading with curiosity in practical, easy-to-apply ways. 

Tayler Rhoades Lee serves as the Director of Pipeline & Prospect Strategy for NC State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, bringing nine years of experience to her role in Higher Education Advancement.  Tayler provides insights on College strategy and initiatives, special projects, campaign planning, and goal setting. She is responsible for developing and managing comprehensive prospect pipelines for the University's largest fundraising team, which contributed over $478 million to the university's last goal of $2 billion. She also served as a subject matter expert during the University's recent CRM conversion and currently serves on the CRM optimization steering committee, as NC State prepares for its next capital campaign.

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Mini-Sessions:

Planned Giving Prospects: Where Data Meets the Road

Jenny Alstad
College of Charleston

In this session, Jenny Alstad, Senior Director of Prospect Development & Strategy at the College of Charleston, shares her approach to identifying transformative planned giving prospects by blending data-driven methods with insights directly from her frontline team of officers. Attendees will learn how to move beyond conventional segmentation such as lifetime giving and recent gifts. By combining quantitative patterns with qualitative insights, this presentation shows how curiosity and strategy can come together to elevate planned giving efforts, uncover hidden prospects, and inspire transformational support.

Jenny Alstad is the Senior Director of Prospect Development and Strategy at the College of Charleston. She began her advancement career as a frontline fundraiser, spending 12 years building relationships and securing support for key initiatives. After five years managing gift officers, she shifted her focus to prospect development and strategy, where she now leads efforts in Prospect Development, specializing in prospect management, campaign forecasting, and pipeline management. Drawing on both her frontline and leadership experience, Jenny brings a unique perspective to bridging data-driven insights with donor cultivation strategies. Jenny currently serves on the board of APRA Carolinas as the South Carolina Regional Representative.

"Can You Just...?" The Prospect Research Role-Play

Rachael Walker
St. Luke's Health Foundation

We've all heard it. Now let's master our response. This live role-play tackles the real questions we field—from the routine to the ridiculous. Get ready to laugh, nod in agreement, and walk away with proven comebacks that showcase your expertise.

Rachael Dietrich Walker is entering her fifteenth year in prospect development. In June 2024, she joined St. Luke's Health Foundation as its first Donor Strategy Manager, a role in which she is building a brand new prospect development program. She comes to healthcare after a career spent in higher education. Rachael is a longtime member of the Apra Carolinas board and currently serves as its President; she has also served in several volunteer roles for Apra International, most recently on the 2025 faculty for Apra Fundamentals: Prospect Research. She holds an MLIS from UNC-Greensboro and a BA from the University of Richmond.