Where were you on June 12, 1981? We know; some of you weren’t even born! Or, perhaps you were watching Sesame Street, sitting in a grade school or high school classroom, or working. On that day, however, the first unofficial group meeting of Minnesota prospect researchers convened at Augsburg College in Minneapolis. Inez Bergquist, a prospect research assistant at the University of Minnesota at the time, hosted the group that called itself “Fund-Raising Researchers.” The seeds of APRA and the annual conference were planted.

Inez_Bergquist Kathleen_Foley

Alexis de Tocqueville, a French political thinker during the 1800s, said, “When the past no longer illuminates the future, the spirit walks in darkness.” Can it be? Yes, it was more than 30 years ago when I joined the Kalamazoo College Development Office to do some temporary work between teaching engagements.

Bobbie_Strand

In the 1980s, a typical researcher’s day began with the local newspaper and The Wall Street Journal. With no computer available, you relied on your memory and a maze of filing cabinets to decide which articles to save.

Leading futurists confidently predict that artificial intelligence will surpass human intellect in just 22 years. The evidence is in the unrelenting ascent of processing capacity since the turn of the last century.

But as prospect researchers and fundraisers know well, capacity is not the same as propensity. Because something can happen doesn’t mean it will. Besides, powerful machines don’t always equate with results.

This year represents a special time for APRA. Looking back, the distance we traveled since APRA was founded in Minnesota 20 years ago is monumental. Through the years — thanks in no small part to the visionary leadership of past presidents, board members and countless dedicated volunteers — APRA expanded, evolved and matured. It concurrently raised the standards and visibility of the profession in the fundraising and philanthropic communities at large.

Pamela_Poland

Developing a comprehensive program like the one APRA offers at its annual international conferences is always an exciting challenge! This year’s special conference was no exception.

Hodan Hassan & Karen Stitsworth

Throughout the last year, APRA has been moving at an incredible pace, undertaking many projects and succeeding in many areas by working with a plan. The APRA Board of Directors and volunteers meticulously followed a blueprint — the newly created APRA Strategic Plan. Their hard work made it possible to accomplish an amazing amount of work in just 12 short months.

Julie_Sutter

Imagine that you’re peering over the edge of a well and you see only a tiny spot of light reflected in the bottom. The stone you drop takes several seconds before making a faint “plunk” in the water. For years, the well of international students in the United States was always near to overflowing, but it drained suddenly and significantly after Sept. 11, 2001.

Helen_Brown

From our profession’s beginnings, prospect researchers have been trying to figure out how work relates to the front lines of fundraising.

Do we support our front-line colleagues’ efforts or are we considered to be equal partners, full-fledged team members? Do they rely on our ability to find accurate information or do they look to us for leadership in identifying and qualifying new prospects and strategizing for successful fundraising outcomes?

This special year commemorating the 20th Anniversary of APRA’s Annual International Conference has beckoned us to reflect upon the past, present and future impact that research, information and relationship management professionals have on the nonprofit sector. As partners in fundraising, our profession is making a difference — helping organizations raise more money and increase the power of philanthropy all around the world.

Elizabeth_Crabtree

Strategic planning is a journey that begins and ends with commitment. The process of developing a plan is orderly and deliberative in an examination of the past and present and in envisioning the future.

Julie_Sutter

Failing to dream big ultimately means living in the service of other people’s visions, others’ versions of tomorrow. Collectively, we have both an opportunity and a duty to help with creating the future we want: for our organizations, for advancement research and for philanthropy generally.

Fasten your seat belts; advancement research in the future will be conducted at lightening-fast speed! Clearly, this statement is not meant to be an all-encompassing, thought-provoking reflection on the future of the profession. However, in order to understand the trends and influences that may reshape the delivery of research services in the years ahead, it is beneficial to consider the past for context.

Barbara_Fanning

While titling this article, I considered how a prospect researcher’s resources, or tools of the trade, might play in the day-to-day work of data gathering, analysis, and prospect profiling when those resources are defined as “open source intelligence.”

Laurel_Porter

A perfect storm has been brewing within and around our profession for several years due to three factors.

It is befitting that as we welcome the advent of springtime we also celebrate several milestones in the evolution of APRA and our profession. As APRA continues to grow in membership and stature, we are responding with new plans and programs that will further enhance APRA’s role as a leading fundraising organization.

Elizabeth_Crabtree