We are deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic loss of our colleague and friend Tom Brown. He joined the Apra-MN board in January 2021 and quickly became involved in committee work before becoming Treasurer in January 2022. Tom moved back to the Midwest in 2014 to be closer to family after spending 7 years in the political field working for a U.S. Senator and a U.S. Congresswoman. The skills he learned from performing constituent research and engagement from the political field easily transferred to the nonprofit sector and allowed him to successfully establish prospect research programs at three separate nonprofit organizations in the Twin Cities. Tom was serving on the Membership and Programming Committees and as a mentor in addition to preparing to serve as the Apra-MN President in January 2024. 

Tom was one of the first people to volunteer for projects or lend a helping hand. He was a fierce advocate for the Prospect Research community and the work we all do to better the organizations we serve. He shared the knowledge he gained over the years with others not only in Minnesota, but throughout our country. Tom will be missed by many in our community, including his team at Gillette Children’s Hospital, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, the South St. Paul Library, and the St. Paul Conservatory of Music. Please keep his family, friends, and colleagues in your thoughts and remember our friend during this difficult time.

As his passing has left a gap in more than just our hearts, our Board of Directors will work over the next few months to identify a new incoming president for 2024. We will work on how to honor Tom and his legacy during that time. We are very appreciative of the tasks our board member, Alison Hope, has taken on over the past few days to step in as the Interim Treasurer. Her experience on our current board and on other Apra Chapters will help us to work with the thoughtful 2023 budget that Tom completed in February and will carry us on into 2024. 

To read Tom’s obituary and to find out about services and condolences to his family, please follow this link: Thomas L. Brown obituary

To leave a message or memory of Tom for the Apra community, please follow this link: Tom Brown - Stories & Remembrance