I’m honored to serve as your Apra president this year! When we gather for Prospect Development 2025 in Baltimore next summer, it will mark 20 years since attending my first Apra conference. The association and our profession have changed so much in that time. If you told 2005 Anne that she would be president of Apra one day, she wouldn’t have believed you. (She might have also run away. Talking to people I didn’t know was harder back then.)

Just like Apra, I’ve grown, too. Somewhere along the way, I found the confidence to be a speaker, an Apra Chapter board member, an Apra International Board member and now president.

One of the things I’ve appreciated most about my time with the association is the wealth of resources it offers, driven by the expertise, time and thoughtfulness of our many volunteers. Rather than waiting for others, Apra is the one to push open the door and lead in multiple areas.

An area I continue to return to throughout my career is the many Apra toolkits that have been developed by members. If there’s an area that requires guidance and standardization, chances are Apra’s volunteers have created (or have a plan to create) a toolkit for it.

In particular, these toolkits come to mind:

• Ethics and Compliance Toolkit
  • The Ethics and Compliance Toolkit is my north star in this profession! Over the years I have found myself reminding others that just because information is on the internet, doesn’t mean we should use it (and sometimes we aren’t allowed to use it). Having such a comprehensive overview of ethics and compliance in our industry can help us all navigate the situations that come up as well as build policies for our own teams and make sure we are in compliance with ever-changing regulations and laws.
• DEI Data Guide
  • I often return to Apra’s toolkits when building out policy documents for my team and organization. They have all be extremely helpful, but I think the DEI Data Guide is the one I reference most often. Identity data has been a hot topic at multiple organizations where I’ve worked. Having the DEI Data Guide to reference has helped me navigate conversations about how we acquire, store and use identity data. (for example: self-reporting = good; assumptions = bad).
• Ethics of AI in Fundraising
  • Artificial intelligence (AI) is a hot topic everywhere and our organizations are no exception. Apra’s newest toolkit will help all of us navigate the ethical questions that come up when using AI in fundraising. It is a fast-moving technology, and the toolkit was built to provide all of us with the framework to consider how we use AI in our work. My personal favorite short quote from the toolkit: “If you aren’t paying for the product, you ARE the product.”  

Other Apra toolkits worth exploring include:

• Data Minimization Toolkit
• Due Diligence Toolkit
• Vendor Due Diligence Toolkit

This year I hope Apra will be a part of your every day, whether it’s diving into one of our many toolkits, engaging with peers on the Apra Exchange & Communities, considering joining one of our many committees and registering for PD2025. There is always something going on!

I hope to see many of you at events throughout the year. I want to encourage the 2024 version of 2005 Anne to get involved, meet new people and embrace the fullness of the Apra community.

Anne Brownlee
President, Apra; Managing Director of Prospect Strategy and Research, Teach For America