In a move toward transparency, the CDC co-chairs are highlighting Apra’s recent management shift. They’re using this transition as a natural moment to "look under the hood" and ensure they are meeting member needs in a fast-changing industry. To help, please complete their 7-question survey by March 15 to help shape future content.
This year, I had the pleasure of interviewing, via email, Kelli North, the recipient of Apra’s 2025 Distinguished Service Award. This honor, established in 1990, recognizes an individual who has significantly advanced both the prospect development profession and Apra through exceptional contributions beyond their daily paid work. The award recognizes excellence in professional and personal competencies that elevate learning, collaboration, and talent in our field.
Kelli currently serves as Associate Director of Development Research, Fundraising, and Strategic Alignment at the University of Michigan. Her work centers on embedding inclusive, pipeline-expanding practices into prospect development. She has led efforts to evaluate bias in wealth screenings, develop policies for identity and affinity data, and align development practices with social justice principles.
Tired of vague or "overkill" research requests? Traditional models rely on gift officers to translate strategy into research deliverables, often leading to wasted time.
Stage-Based Research fixes this by mapping specific frontline needs to appropriate, right-sized intelligence at each donor cultivation stage. By prioritizing the purpose of the research, your team shifts from service provider to strategic partner, ensuring every effort is efficient, drives action, and scales your impact across the pipeline.