The Apra Member Spotlight series, guided by the Apra Content Development Committee, introduces us to some of the many amazing individuals who make up our professional community. With thousands of unique, inspiring stories to tell, this series offers perspectives into our peers’ prospect development (PD) origin stories, key career accomplishments, predictions for the future and much more.

In this spotlight, you’ll meet Ryan Clement, manager of philanthropic research at the Cleveland Museum of Art, and learn about his PD journey.

How many years have you worked in PD, and what prompted you to join the field?

I’m in my second year as a philanthropic researcher, and my journey to PD began at life’s crossroads. After years in the corporate world, I enrolled in college and studied how brains and organizations actually make decisions. It’s fascinating how people can have the same information but come up with different solutions to problems.

When I volunteered as an AmeriCorps member in Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood, I fell in love with service work. The COVID-19 pandemic started in the middle of my service, and that prompted me to pivot to coordinating fundraising efforts and researching resources for people in the community.

When businesses started reopening to the public, a friend ran across a job posting for a prospect researcher at the Cleveland Museum of Art. She shared it with me and said, “This was written for you!” I applied and sent a sample profile with my résumé. The rest is history.

How does your background in organizational/business psychology and neuroscience research affect your approach to PD?

My background allows me to understand donor behavior, decision-making processes and relationship dynamics. This knowledge helps me tailor strategies for donor engagement and create effective prospect profiles. 

You’ve been a one-person shop at the Cleveland Museum of Art for two years. What unique challenges and opportunities have you found in your role?

Fundraising is so fast-paced. I love it! I started at the beginning of the quiet phase of our capital campaign and, on day one, was already creating bios on museum members. I love challenges and found them fun. I also like the balance of having autonomy and working closely with the best people.

Are you fully remote, hybrid or in-person? What are the pros and cons of your work arrangement?

I am in-person, and there have only been pros. I really enjoy the daily feedback and learning.

Tell us about your involvement with Apra. How long have you been a member, and are you involved with your local Chapter?

I’ve been a member of Apra for two years and was fortunate that the person I replaced referred me. I also joined the Ohio Prospect Research Network (OPRN) at the same time. I’ve since participated in workshops and meetings with fellow OPRN members.

What would you say to encourage someone to volunteer with Apra?

Although I have not volunteered with Apra yet, I know I will. Apra is so helpful for anyone starting off in PD. A big part of my own success is due to the support from Apra and its members.

Has there been a time when you successfully implemented lessons learned from an Apra event or program?

Apra University, the Prospect Development conference workshops and OPRN programs have all been wonderful. Through Apra University and the workshops, I learned about managing expectations, thriving as a solo shop and developing key skills. The research profile templates and the tips on using tools like LexisNexis and Kindsight’s iwave were invaluable. A presenter at PD 2024 in Seattle showed the best data analysis practices from multiple sources. I immediately started using his process and with it came great results, such as finding excellent prospects for a particular campaign we were beginning.

What has surprised you the most about PD?

How many people take data for granted when looking at prospective donors, and how important it is to keep your data clean. 

What PD accomplishments are you most proud of?

Creating a weekly tracking list of museum members who have tickets to upcoming exhibits and letting gift officers know in advance when members in their portfolio will be at the museum. I also use this list to find new potential members at the major gift level.

Look ahead five to 10 years. How do you think PD will have changed?

PD will become even more data-driven and AI technologies will become the norm. The efficiency of using AI today is mind-blowing. I cannot wait to see how it will evolve and help us identify potential partners — and, similarly, how it will help individuals find organizations that best align with their philanthropic priorities. Of course, the human element in relationship building and strategic thinking will remain crucial. I also anticipate a greater focus on ethical considerations around data usage and privacy.

What would you say to inspire someone to consider PD as a career?

If you love change, and decisions that are based on data, you’ve found the field for you! Every day is different, and you routinely get to see the results of your hard work.