Last issue, I launched my president’s letter with a conversation about change. As I now write my last communication as president of APRA, I find myself reflecting upon all that has changed — and all that we have accomplished as an organization — since I first joined the APRA board six years ago served as president during the last two years. It’s been an exhilarating and enlightening experience, and one that I will always consider to be a highlight of my professional career.

 

Elizabeth_Crabtree

Welcome to the summer issue of Connections. With the official and long-awaited start of the summer season just days away, and APRA's 22nd International Conference in Boston just weeks away, now seems like a most refreshing time to talk about our profession and its tools of the trade. Yes, in this issue, we explore some of the unique and non-fee based (free!) online research tools that we have found, often by happenstance, and now use daily, thereby making our jobs easier, more precise, and, dare I say, maybe even more fun.

 

Sharon_McAndrews

In his prescient article published in 2006, “The Privacy and Security Policy Vacuum in Higher Education,” Fred H. Cate concluded that “if we don’t figure out how to behave responsibly toward personal data, and how to demonstrate that fact convincingly and publicly, the government is likely to do the job for us.” Three years later, we can see the truth in his prediction.

 

David_Eberly

Since 1997, Merrill Lynch and Capgemini have published the World Wealth Report (WWR), which details investment and attitudinal habits of individuals with at least $1 million in investable assets (excluding principal residence), which they called High Net Worth Individuals, or HNWIs.

 

Troy_Smith

Prospect research is the craft of synthesizing and analyzing data about a potential donor (prospect). The work involves finding wealth indicators (assets), such as real estate, stock ownership, salary, philanthropic giving, etc. and biographical/career information. Researchers use this information to create a profile of a prospect’s assets and work/life history that can be presented to a front-line fundraiser. The front-line fundraiser can then use the information as a starting point in the stewardship and solicitation process. With all of this in mind, here are 10 tips that can help you at any stage of the research process.

 

Bill_Powers

For those of us used to searching immediately for Jeff Walker’s column in the old PDF format of Connections, or scrolling down the new HTML version, this issue will mark a sad occasion, for his “One Foot in the Future” column will no longer appear.

Jeff had already established himself as one of Connections most popular contributors when I took over the editorship from Lisa Howley. I quickly learned how inventive a writer he is, and from the point of view as his editor, how good. No idea was too far-fetched and no comma was ever out of place. I was amazed by how, issue after issue, Jeff would tirelessly suggest subjects and then admirably fulfill their tantalizing promise. I have my favorites — “Prospect Rating and the Performance of Identity,” with its discussion of privacy and profiling, is certainly one. Jeff took on many topics: a “philanthropic research major,” our “cultural addiction to paper,” and, most recently, host of vibrant discussion of post-election philanthropy. Jeff has been an indefatigable columnist.

Jeff has supported Connections in more ways than as a writer. A tireless member of the Connections Editorial Committee, Jeff served as sounding board and support. Over my tenure as editor, I came value his commitment, his passion for research, his point of view as an author, which we shared, and his advice. But Jeff will not be disappearing from Connections. Just a few days ago he sent me, quite spontaneously, a suggestion for an article. One foot in, one foot out — stayed tuned!

David_Eberly