In March 2014, industry leader and former Apra Board member Helen Brown wrote a viral article and officially declared March “International Prospect Research Pride” month. In addition to sharing her story, Helen challenged all of us in the Apra community to voice pride in our profession and seek opportunities to advocate for ourselves. Seven years later, the Apra Foundation launched the first Pride month fundraiser in March 2021, under a re-branded name of Prospect Development Pride Month (PD Pride for short). The Apra Foundation annually highlights the legacy of Helen’s important message. Every year, the month of March is a time when our Apra community celebrates our industry and the professionals who power philanthropy.  

Think about a moment when funding made your career growth possible. This could be a scholarship. A grant. The chance to participate in professional development, like attending a conference. Those opportunities didn’t happen by accident. They happened because someone chose to invest in these opportunities. I personally have been the recipient of an Apra Award in a time when my organization couldn’t afford professional development. This is one of the many reasons I am so passionate about helping others have the same chances for furthering their careers. 

Unfortunately, professional development budgets are tightening across the industry. Opportunities such as attending conferences and participating in professional development are being cut. Enter the Apra Foundation.  

Since 1998, the Apra Foundation has served as Apra’s charitable arm to support educational opportunities and professional development for individuals in the Apra community. Each year, the Apra Foundation prioritizes raising funds through events such as Apra Walks, Apra Breathes, the Apra Cookbook, recurring donations, direct solicitations, and—of course—PD Pride.  

In 2025, the Apra Foundation made the intentional decision to prioritize raising additional funds in response to shrinking organizational budgets in our industry. Thanks to the generous support from our donors, the Apra Foundation was able to allocate $17,500 for seven individuals to attend the Apra PD conference for the first time, in addition to funding the Apra Awards and grants. To read more about the 2025 Apra PD Lottery winners, click here. Behind every scholarship and grant recipient is a story of someone whose career, confidence, and community impact have grown. 

The Apra Foundation is passionate about long-term sustainability, and we want to continue these awards, scholarships, and grants. To do this, we need help. 

Here is where you come in! This March, the Apra Foundation is calling on our community to give back and help us continue investments in our professionals.  

In 2026, the Apra Foundation needs to raise at least $8,000 to support the Apra Awards and ongoing professional development grants. This is a significant increase from former years and we need your help! I’m excited to share that, prior to March, The Apra Foundation has already raised over $2K in funding, thanks to early commitments from key Apra stakeholders. The Apra Foundation is using this pool of funds to match all new donor gifts made in March 2026. Now we need YOUR help in spreading the word. This is a powerful moment for our community. We can’t control the events that are happening in the world, but we can practice what we preach and give back to our community. 

As Apra Foundation president, I also want to offer an additional challenge. I will give another dollar for every Apra Foundation donor we have in March, no matter the size of the gift. For instance, if there are 50 donors, I’ll donate $50 more. If we have 200 donors, I’ll give $200. I love this community, and I need your help to ensure we can keep offering opportunities to recognize each other and keep the spirit of Apra alive. While the Apra Foundation has an ambitious fundraising goal each year, money should never be an obstacle. You can make a gift of $1, $100, $1,000 – please help us support our community in whatever way you can. Your donation at any level will make a real difference. 

If you can’t financially support the Apra Foundation, you can like and share our posts, create a post of your own, share the opportunity with others, and spread the word. If you or someone you know received a scholarship or grant, post it. The Apra Foundation wants to hear how you benefited from past support.  

Again – we need your help. I’m calling on our community in a time when we need to ensure professional development opportunities can still exist. I may be just one person, but together we all can still change the world. Happy PD Pride Month!  

Stephanie Willis
President, Apra Foundation; Database Consultant, Creative Fundraising Advisors

Stephanie is the author of the book, "The Art and Science Approach to Fundraising Data and Research" (Amplify Publishing Group, 2026), now available on Amazon. She is a seasoned philanthropy strategist and data-driven fundraising leader with nearly 15 years of experience guiding nonprofit organizations toward greater impact. As a database consultant for Creative Fundraising Advisors, Stephanie is passionate about empowering organizations to work smarter, connect authentically with donors, and create lasting change. Stephanie has been an Apra volunteer since 2013 and currently serves as the Apra Foundation President and is a member of the Apra Board.