Couldn’t make the conference or listen to the recording? No need for FOMO! This article brings the conference experience to you!
The 2025 Apra Debates focused on three critical prospect development issues: data access for fundraisers, the problem of too much data, and AI readiness. Debaters weighed data transparency against the need for expert interpretation, and the strategic value of comprehensive data against the risk of "analysis paralysis." While the audience leaned toward compromise on access and adopted an optimistic view of AI, the session underscored a core theme: prospect development professionals must remain strategic, adaptable, and focused on continuous learning to navigate the evolving industry landscape successfully.
Unlock the secrets to building a truly data-driven culture by learning from the strategic, multi-year journey of the Iowa State University Foundation. This article outlines a successful, multi-layered approach that moved the organization beyond subjective impressions toward quantifiable, data-informed decision-making. Discover the four key phases: from establishing an executive-level vision and declaring a "Year of Data," to creating a reporting blueprint that aligns organizational structure with analytical needs, inspiring adoption through key leaders, and operationalizing broad needs with standardized dashboards and unified terminology to foster data literacy at every level.
What if some of the most valuable sources of data on your prospects weren’t external at all, but rather were already inside your organization? There’s one internal data source you may not have thought of before that can be a rich treasure trove of information: your organization’s event attendance data.