The Birthplace of Apra
Andrea Dowd Seeking Employment
Q. How long have you been an Apra-MN member and what was your first Apra experience?
A. I have been a member of Apra-MN since moving back to Minnesota from the East Coast in 2015. My first experience with the Chapter was reaching out to the board to inquire if they were doing any programming aside from the Conference...that then led to me stepping into a committee member role not long after!
Q. What do you enjoy most about Apra-MN?
A. The community of researchers is astounding! Having a group of people who understand the special differences in our organizations and donors in Minnesota and the Mid-West is invaluable. I have never met a more dedicated group of people ready to lend a helping hand when it is most needed in both professional and personal spheres!
Q. What do you like most about your career?
A. I learn something new all the time. My college self would have been amazed that I understand how SEC filings work or what a Form 4 is!
Q. Best piece of advice you've received?
A. Ask for help from the Apra community---someone always has an answer, a suggestion, or knows a person who can help with whatever you might need.
Sara Buesing Prospect Development Associate Catholic Charities of St. Paul & Minneapolis
A. Five years -- I attended my first spring conference just a few months after taking my first job as a prospect researcher.
A. I love that our chapter is always looking for new ways to engage and educate our members.
A. It's never boring! Every day brings a new question to answer -- and usually a new way of answering it.
A. Listen.
Christen Tarantino Director of Advancement Research Saint Paul Academy and Summit School
A. I've been a member of Apra-MN since moving to Minnesota in 2012, and first joined Apra International and NEDRA as a brand-new prospect researcher at Amherst College in 2006.
A.The members! This is such a supportive community of brilliant and creative thinkers, and I feel lucky to be a part of it.
A. I like how much the profession has grown and changed with the times while still sticking to the fundamentals of using data to build relationships and advance our organizations' missions. When I first started out in the field, I used to describe my job as a cross between a reference librarian and a technical writer. Now I'd say it's more like a cross between a reference librarian and a technical writer...and a data scientist...and a project manager...and a business analyst...and an armchair psychologist. I'm excited to have a career where I can continue to grow and learn new skills, and where no two days are ever quite the same.
A. "Be kind. Everyone you meet is carrying a heavy burden."
Adri Viswanatha
Donor Development and Analytics Manager Children's Cancer Research Fund
Q. How long have you been an Apra-MN member?
A. I have been a member since 2017. My predecessor introduced me to her mentor, who in turn made sure I was able to become a mentee. One of my first experiences was attending the Apra-MN spring conference and learning what a large community Apra is, and how important prospect research is as a career. (An actual quote from me in 2017: "Wait, this is a job that people do? Wait, there's like a hundred people here who all do this job?!")
A. Apra-MN is such a welcoming community and a great place to go for guidance when questions arise in my job. I inherited the bones of a prospect management program, and conferences, webinars and the Apra online community had a huge impact on helping me learn the ropes and build my organization's program into something robust and effective. I joined the mentorship program as a mentee very soon after starting my job, and I give my mentor a lot of credit for helping me learn how to be successful in my work.
A. Prospect research is like having a bunch of puzzle pieces in front of you that you piece together; data analytics is finally seeing the pattern of the puzzle emerge. As I have grown my role at my organization, I get to combine all parts of my field into something coherent, and help strategize for success with my development team.
A. Prospect research isn't just a support role - it is an integral part of the fundraising world. Know that and advocate for recognition of your contributions and accomplishments to your fundraising team!
Ryan Marshall
Prospect Development AnalystConcordia University, St. Paul
A. Five years. The colleague I replaced encouraged me to become a member. However, my first experience with Apra was before I joined. I attended a workshop on advanced wealth management techniques which jump started my interest in prospect development.
A. I really enjoy the community. I don't have to explain the passion I have for my career because it is shared by those around me.
A. I like that I get to integrate technology into my career. Software platforms have to adapt to stay competitive. I get to innovate along with them as new options are made available.
Prospect management was my least favorite task until we migrated it to a new platform. The end result is a far more efficient process, but the project from the start was challenging and engaging.
A. Invest in the tools that are needed for a project. Over time, you'll amass the wisdom and confidence to approach new challenges and have the tools to overcome them.
Alisa Lamont
Assistant Director of Prospect Management and Research
University of St. Thomas
A: I joined Apra-MN three years ago, when I returned to MN after 16 years living and working in NYC. Apra-MN members were welcoming and helped me develop my professional network in the local community. Several Apra-MN members have become personal friends.
A: The members! Apra-MN is made up of over 100 talented, knowledgeable (and fun!) individuals. I sincerely enjoy learning and sharing with other members at our board and committee meetings, events, and annual conference. Our programming committee has created some fantastic, relevant virtual events to keep us connected during this uncertain time.
Q. What do you like most about your career? What is a typical day like for you?
A: Like all of you, my typical day has changed dramatically over the past month! I’m grateful that prospect development work lends itself well to a remote environment. I’m able to continue partnering with eight major gift officers here at University of St. Thomas. My focus is on prospect/pipeline management, proposal tracking and portfolio optimization. We accomplish this via Zoom meetings, phone calls and emails (with the occasional pause to help my three kids with distance learning).
A: My mom, who is from Thailand, told me, “You cannot clap with one hand.” I have taken it to mean that we must work together to reach our goals. Professionally and personally, I welcome the opportunity to collaborate with others, and I respect their perspectives.
