In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, Apra invited members of the prospect development community to share what they love most about their work. Through stories, reflections, and candid perspectives, respondents revealed a profession grounded in curiosity, collaboration, and purpose. 

Members spoke about meaningful donor relationships, evolving technology, lifelong learning, mentorship, and the satisfaction of seeing their work translate into real-world impact.  

What follows is a snapshot of what our community shared. 

Responses have been lightly edited. 

💖 Memorable Donor Stories 

What we heard: Respondents shared stories that reflect the heart of prospect development – from grassroots generosity to transformational giving. These moments highlight how curiosity, stewardship, and relationship-building can create lasting impact. 

♡ “There was a boy who used his lemonade stand to raise money for our local animal shelter. It went viral, the community matched his donations, and he was so proud. He continues the tradition every year and is now becoming a lifelong philanthropist.” — Anonymous 

♡ “One of the wealthy families in my area is incredibly philanthropic, and I love seeing the many different ways they support and uplift others.” — Anonymous 

♡ “Being part of the fundraising effort for the Kennedy-Baird LGBTQ+ Student Lounge was incredibly meaningful. It’s a visible space meant to signal inclusion, support, and belonging for students.” — Christine Bitner, Prospect Development Consultant, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center 

♡ “Two sisters left the university nearly $20 million after years of modest giving and declining visits. Through research and a yearbook, I discovered their father was an alumnus from 1918. Honoring their wishes while staying connected through stewardship helped plant the seed for a transformational gift.” — Jennifer Liarakos, Program Director, Prospect Research, Humane World for Animals 

♡ “An alum returned to present to a business class and agreed to a discovery call, even though he had never donated. A few months later, he gave $1 million to the business school—all because he was asked.” — Stephanie Willis, Database Consultant, Creative Fundraising Advisors 

♡ “As a brand-new researcher, I found an old newspaper article with a donor’s family details that didn’t match current records. When I shared my research, he was so impressed that he increased his gift. That’s when I knew this was the right field for me.” — Anonymous 

♡ “We discovered a family had more capacity than expected, engaged them over time, and welcomed them onto our Board. They recently gave a beautiful speech about philanthropy, and we’re thrilled they’ve made our mission a priority.” — Natasha Westenberger, Senior Director of Campaign Research & Analytics, Viewpoint School 

🤖 AI: Tool, Tension, and Opportunity 

What we heard: Respondents expressed both enthusiasm and caution about AI, recognizing its efficiency while emphasizing the importance of verification, context, and human judgment. 

♡ “I absolutely love it. We need to embrace it, upskill quickly, and learn how to use it responsibly in our work.” — Lindsey Nadeau, VP, Philanthropy Insight, UNICEF USA 

♡ “AI and I are frienemies. Sometimes it’s incredibly helpful, and other times it causes more problems. I’m learning when to rely on it and when to rely on myself.” — Lauren Woodring, Associate Director, High Net Worth, Yale University 

♡ “It can be a great tool if used correctly, but nothing can replace human connection, critical thinking, and professional experience.” — Stephanie Willis 

💘 Why We Love Prospect Development 

What we heard: Curiosity, problem-solving, and meaningful connection emerged as central sources of professional fulfillment. 

♡ “I love answering questions that keep leaders up at night and helping them make smarter, more strategic decisions.” — Lindsey Nadeau 

♡ “What other job pays you to read about fascinating people and help ensure students have a chance to achieve a degree?” — Christine Bitner 

♡ “I’m naturally curious and enjoy problem-solving, and this profession really serves those tendencies.” — Natasha Westenberger 

🥰 Seeing the Impact 

What we heard: Respondents shared moments when behind-the-scenes work translated into visible results and personal affirmation. 

♡ “It’s the long game, but when you finally see that gift agreement come through, it feels amazing to know you were part of it.” — Anonymous 

♡ “My analytics work has changed how my organization operates and makes decisions. It’s been rewarding to see that growth.” — Lindsey Nadeau 

♡ “My boss was floored by the caliber of my work and told me so. Being recognized like that really matters.” — Natasha Westenberger 

🤝 Mentorship and Community 

What we heard: Across responses, respondents emphasized how deeply mentorship and peer support have shaped their careers. From chapter leaders who encouraged experimentation to colleagues who modeled excellence, these relationships foster confidence, growth, and a strong sense of belonging within Apra. 

♡ “Anne Dean taught me to raise my bar, set high expectations, support my team as a coach, and center people in my leadership.” — Lindsey Nadeau 

♡ “Kim Braun, who was Apra PA president when I joined the board, really let me find my own path. She encouraged new ideas and gave me room to fail, which helped reinvigorate the chapter and made me feel like part of the team.” — Lauren Woodring 

♡ “My colleague John Thelin was a tremendous mentor. His humor, wisdom, and impeccable edits made me a better and more confident researcher. Having someone nearby to talk through real scenarios was invaluable.” — Jennifer Liarakos 

♡ “I’m grateful to Nicole Wright, Cheryll McCarty, and William Robbins for mentoring and encouraging me to become active in our chapter and ultimately run for office.” — Christine Bitner 

♡ “Shoutout to Rodger Devine, former Apra President, who always advocated for my professional growth and introduced me to this incredible community.” — Anonymous 

♡ “Sarah Daly has been an incredible leader in our community, both as CPC Chair and as a member of the Apra Board.” — Stephanie Willis 

❤️‍🔥 Falling in Love with the Field 

What we heard: Respondents described discovering prospect development as finding work that aligns with their curiosity, values, and desire to make a difference. Whether through learning, collaboration, or meaningful outcomes, many shared that this field feels less like a job and more like a calling. 

♡ “Helping disadvantaged students and meeting other professionals helped me realize that I had found my place.” — Christine Bitner 

♡ “Every day is different, and every day brings a new opportunity to advance a cause I care deeply about.” — Lindsey Nadeau 

♡ “One of my favorite things is helping newer professionals learn a new trick or approach research in a different way. Being part of a larger team and learning together has been incredibly rewarding.” — Lauren Woodring 

♡ “We work in a field full of people who are curious and committed to learning. The shared understanding that this is an accessible path—whether early in your career or through a pivot—creates a culture of kindness and generosity.” — Jennifer Liarakos 

♡ “It felt like such a natural progression from my library science degree.” — Stephanie Willis 

♡ “My curiosity and the feeling that I’m not really working drew me in. It’s fun, exciting, and feels like a true career—not just a job.” — April Shayeb 

💝 Favorite Free Resources 

What we heard: Prospect development professionals are experts at maximizing publicly available tools. Respondents highlighted peer communities, government databases, public records, social platforms, and creative workarounds that support accurate, high-quality research. 

♡ “The Apra Exchange and Prspct-L are invaluable. Being able to learn from peers, ask questions, and share solutions makes a huge difference.” — Lindsey Nadeau 

♡ “Years ago, I learned about using H-1B visa data to estimate salaries, and it completely changed how I approach research.” — Lauren Woodring 

♡ “ProPublica’s Form 990s are incredibly helpful. Digging into the full source material has allowed me to connect complex foundation and DAF activity.” — Jennifer Liarakos 

♡ “Facebook and LinkedIn are great ways to get to know prospects as people—their interests, careers, and connections.” — Anonymous 

♡ “Email Hippo and auditor websites are resources I lean on regularly to validate and verify information.” — Christine Bitner 

♡ “Family Tree Now provides a lot of great information. You just have to be patient and avoid the ads.” — Stephanie Willis 

♡ “SEC.gov is an incredible resource, especially when working with donors who have stock options.” — Natasha Westenberger 

🤩 Unexpected Discoveries 

What we heard: Research often leads to surprising insights that deepen donor understanding. 

♡ “I once researched sheep prices in Jordan to help assess a donor’s capacity, and it turned out to be very useful.” — Anonymous 

♡ “I discovered that a donor with a traditional finance career was actually passionate about koi fish, which added real depth to his profile.” — Lauren Woodring 

♡ “I love learning about people’s hobbies and interests—it makes the work more human.” — Anonymous 

🌟 Staying Engaged Over Time 

What we heard: Curiosity and mission-driven impact sustain long-term engagement. 

♡ “My North Star has always been impact, especially education equity. That keeps me motivated.” — Anonymous 

♡ “This job forces me to be a lifelong student, especially as technology continues to evolve.” — Natasha Westenberger 

♡ “Even when the work feels familiar, the learning never stops.” — Victoria Senger, Director of Research & Prospect Management, The Lawrenceville School 

🗣️ How We Describe Our Work 

What we heard: Respondents see themselves as strategic partners, investigators, and connectors. 

♡ “I help fundraisers raise more money, smarter and faster. We are the insight engine.” — Lindsey Nadeau 

♡ “I’m like a detective, a CIA agent, and a professional Googler all in one.” — Anonymous 

♡ “We find donors who want to make meaningful gifts and help inspire them to act.” — Jennifer Liarakos 

✨ What We Sometimes Forget to Celebrate 

What we heard: Respondents noted growing recognition of the profession’s value and strategic importance. 

♡ “More CDOs are recognizing the value of prospect development and making real investments.” — Lindsey Nadeau 

♡ “We know a little about everything—people, history, and connections.” — Christine Bitner 

♡ “Leadership is finally seeing how much impact this work has.” — Anonymous 

A Community Built on Curiosity and Care 

Taken together, these responses tell a clear story. Prospect development is fueled by curiosity, strengthened by relationships, and sustained by purpose. It balances data and discernment, technology and trust, independence and collaboration. It connects donors to causes- and people to meaning. 

This Valentine’s Day, we celebrate the professionals who bring rigor, heart, and imagination to this work, and the Apra community that supports them every step of the way. 

Thank you for sharing your stories. We are grateful to be in this field with you.