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Innovation

Building In-House Bridges: Communication Tips from a Gift Officer and a Researcher

By: Jeff Walker | Oct 10
When several departments join forces to support one project, it’s important for everybody to be on the same page. In this Q&A, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Christina Makal McCaffery walks us through her guide to overcoming the challenges of inter-departmental communication.

Crafting a Narrative through Data Science: A Q&A with Brian Xu, Data Scientist at LinkedIn

By: Cristina Rivera-Bosques | Oct 3
Today’s data scientists face the challenge of not only gathering data, but also representing the data accurately through well-written stories. In this Q&A, Plug in to Data Science keynote speaker Brian Xu previews his upcoming presentation, “Crafting a Data Story: U.S. Government Shutdown Impact.”

Apra Reviews: 'Generation Impact: How Next Gen Donors are Revolutionizing Giving'

By: Gillian Sciacca | Sep 26
Tap into the tech-savvy minds of millennial donors by reading 'Generation Impact: How Next Gen Donors are Revolutionizing Giving.' Discover innovative philanthropy trends that will engage this “Do Something” generation.

From the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy

By: Kristin Fields | Aug 6
The latest from our partners at the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP)!

Two Chapter Presidents, Across the Years: Reflections on Volunteer Leadership

By: Jeffrey A. Walker, PhD | Aug 1
With 15 years of friendship under their belts, Jeff Walker and Sarah Bernstein have a lot to share about their experience in the field and leading Apra Wisconsin. Learn about the changes they’ve witnessed, what they see on the horizon and more in this in-depth conversation.

Build Your Network, Help Grow the Profession — Get Involved With Apra!

By: Caroline Oblack Amy Turbes | Jun 26
Volunteering with Apra allows you to strengthen your network and give back to a passionate community. Learn more about the different volunteer opportunities available and check out the volunteer webpage for more information on how you can make a difference in the prospect development community.

Apra Reviews: “Gender Matters: A Guide to Growing Women’s Philanthropy,” by Kathleen Loehr

By: Thomas Turner | Jun 13
Kathleen Loehr’s book, “Gender Matters: A Guide to Growing Women’s Philanthropy” provides a closer look at how women philanthropists approach and engage with charities. Apra member Thomas Turner shares a review and top takeaways from the book.

Message From the President: Setting a Career in Motion With Apra

By: Mark N. Egge | Jan 14
Mark Egge, your 2019 Apra president, recently took a new job at Hamline University — an opportunity he believes came to life in part thanks to Apra and the colleagues he has met through the association over the years.

From the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy

By: The Association for Healthcare Philanthropy | Nov 20
Apra members get special access to articles from the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP). This month, download articles on engaging physicians in philanthropy and service recovery.

Calling All Thought Leaders!

By: Susan H. Faraone | Nov 15
Do you have ideas, processes or observed industry trends to share with the Apra community? This may be your moment.

Mythbusting and Adjusting to the New Normal in Giving: A Q&A With Steve MacLaughlin

By: Emma Frey | Sep 20
It’s time for a reality check. Are your fundraising approaches really working, or are they disconnected from reality? We spoke with Steve MacLaughlin, your 2018 Plug In keynote speaker, to learn about some of the more common myths in fundraising and how you can adjust to the “new normal” in giving.

Message From the President: Leadership Is Hard – And That's OK

By: Liz Rejman | Aug 29
Apra president Liz Rejman encourages you to take the next step in your professional development journey by seeking out volunteer and leadership opportunities within Apra.

Dealing With Change: A Reflection on ‘Switch’ From the Apra Advocacy Committee Book Club

By: Susan Hayes-McQueen | Aug 23
Change is hard, but the Apra Advocacy Committee found a book that can help prospect development professionals take positive steps forward.

Book Review: 'Data Science for Fundraising: Build Data-Driven Solutions Using R'

By: Thomas Turner | Jul 5
Whether you are hoping to have data analytics as part of your prospect development repertoire in the future or already have several seasoned analysts on your staff, you'll want to read "Data Science for Fundraising."

Message From the President: Get Moving, Make a Difference With Apra Walks 2018

By: Liz Rejman | Jun 25
Apra president Liz Rejman shares her excitement for the inaugural Apra Walks, a fundraising and "fun-raising" event that will take place during Prospect Development 2018.

From the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy

By: The Association for Healthcare Philanthropy | May 31
Apra members get special access to articles from the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP). This month, download articles on creating a breakthrough case for your organization and how to keep high performers longer.

The Apra BOK Puts the 'Professional' in Professional Development

By: Susan H. Faraone | May 17
The best way to learn about the special knowledge and skills required for a career in prospect development is to become familiar with Apra’s Body of Knowledge.

From the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy

By: The Association for Healthcare Philanthropy | Mar 22
The following are articles previously published in the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy’s journal, Healthcare Philanthropy. Apra members get special access to these articles as part of our partnership with AHP.

Book Review: 'Philanthropy in the Age of Big Data & Cognitive Computing'

By: Susan H. Faraone | Feb 20
The book "Big Good: Philanthropy in the Age of Big Data & Cognitive Computing" offers a broad and useful overview of the evolution, present state and future application of Cognitive Computing in the nonprofit sector.

Message From the President: Call for Board Nominations

By: Liz Rejman | Feb 15
Have you ever thought about serving on the Apra Board of Directors but weren’t quite sure about the path from member to director? Your 2018 Apra president shares insights.

From the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy

By: The Association for Healthcare Philanthropy | Dec 5
The following are articles previously published in the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy’s Healthcare Philanthropy Journal. Apra members get special access to these articles as part of our partnership with AHP.

From the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy

By: The Association for Healthcare Philanthropy | Nov 14
The following are articles previously published in the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy’s Healthcare Philanthropy Journal. Apra members get special access to these articles as part of our partnership with AHP.

Review: 'Giving USA 2017'

By: Thomas Turner | Oct 12
There is one comprehensive report that will greatly aid the prospect development professional in scouring for benchmark numbers and national and sector-wide giving trends: the 'Giving USA 2017' report from Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.

Discover What Drives You — and Others — at Plug In

By: Emily Schmitt | Sep 14
We spoke to Janice Cunning, CPCC, ACC, an experienced facilitator and certified coach specializing in nonprofit leadership development and coaching, about the ideas behind her Relationship Awareness Theory keynote session at the upcoming Plug In to Prospect Research.

30 Is the New...

By: Jill Meister | Sep 14
Apra Immediate Past President Jill Meister discusses the various upgrades Apra has experienced in the year of its 30th anniversary.

CoolData Delivers

By: Christine A Mildner, CFRE | Jun 22
CoolData blog is a resource for those who work with analytics, predicative modeling and related “cool data” information for higher education advancement. Author Kevin MacDonell's goal is to promote the use of data mining and predictive modeling, particularly in higher education advancement.

In Praise of Our Teachers, and One (Small) Request

By: Susan H. Faraone | Jun 15
As we thank our Apra colleagues who have volunteered to share their energy, expertise and valuable time by presenting something new to the rest of us, we encourage them to extend the reach of their presentation by turning it into an article for Connections.

Spending Money to Raise Money

By: Anne C. Givens | Jun 8
With most nonprofits having limited resources, convincing your leadership to spend five, 10, even 15,000 dollars per year on research tools can be a hard sell. So how do we make the case to our leadership for dedicating these financial resources?

Apra’s Keynote Creates Change, and So Can You

By: Emily Schmitt | Jun 6
We recently spoke to Derreck Kayongo, keynote speaker at Prospect Development 2017, about the hard work and passion that led to his success. Read on for highlights of just some of the wisdom Kayongo shared, and discover how this year's conference can help you put his words into action.

Something Funny Happened on the Way to Being a Presenter

By: Cecilia Hogan | May 24
Nearly all presenters, almost without exception, have come to you with a small or big bundle of nerves, very much determined to do a good job by you, and to have you leave the presentation inspired and more knowledgeable about our work. Let's talk about how that went for a few of them.

Book Review: "Prospect Research in Canada: An Essential Guide for Researchers and Fundraisers"

By: Amy S. Turbes | Mar 29
“Prospect Research in Canada: An Essential Guide for Researchers and Fundraisers,” edited by Tracey Church and Liz Rejman, is the Apra Canada Chapter’s labor of love to support prospect development professionals who further the missions of their organizations in Canada.

Apra's Ongoing Transformation

By: Jill Meister | Mar 22
Welcome to the next step in the evolution of Apra! The new online format for Connections is a great example of the way Apra is evolving to meet the needs of our members in the ever-changing landscape of philanthropy and prospect development.

Insight That Inspires: The Evolution of Connections

By: Susan H. Faraone | Feb 28
Welcome to the new Connections! We are looking forward to hearing from you about how we can continue to fulfill our mission—making Connections the premier information resource for professionals in fundraising research, analytics and relationship management.

Book Review: "Building Your Analytics Shop: A Workbook for Nonprofits"

By: Thomas Turner | Feb 13
In “Building Your Analytics Shop,” Marianne Pelletier sets forth an easy-to-follow process for brainstorming what analytics looks like for your particular organization, how to build consensus with leadership and turn momentum into real deliverables.

Prospect Development in Practice

By: Emma Frey | Feb 13
The themes and issues dominating the evolution of the prospect development profession and community were prevalent throughout all the keynotes, educational sessions and networking events that comprised Prospect Development 2016.

The Value of Persuasion and Influence

By: Christine A Mildner, CFRE | Feb 13
According to Mish, one of the cornerstones for building influence — whether up, down or sideways — is listening. She says Steven Covey’s habit number five in "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” "seek first to understand, then to be understood,” captures this.

Being an Intrapreneur

By: Jennifer A. MacCormack | Feb 13
Simply stated, intrapreneurship is the act of behaving like an entrepreneur while working within an organization, including the willingness to accept risk and sometimes failure.

Focusing on Top Prospects in the Chaos of a Campaign

By: Susan Hayes-McQueen | Feb 13
Here’s a story of how we at the University of Washington (UW) tried to help our fundraising team keep their eyes on the largest, more transformative gifts during a campaign.

The Other End of the Rainbow

By: Susan H. Faraone | Feb 13
My brother likes to tell a story about the time we found the end of the rainbow.

A storm had passed, and a brilliant rainbow touched down in our backyard. “See if you can find the pot of gold," said our dad.

It's All About Relationships, Networking and Connections

By: Jill Meister | Feb 13
A new season has begun, and so has the annual change in the leadership of Apra. I am humbled and honored to begin my term as Apra’s president.

In-depth analysis, case studies, trend pieces and how-to topics.

Commentary, Q&As and reviews of books and other relevant resources.

Timely news and updates from Apra chapters and committees.

Infographics, data and metrics relevant to the Apra community.

Background and links to the experts contributing their intelligence to Apra.

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