Apra Awards 

Apra is proud to recognize industry accomplishments through several awards. Applications for Apra Awards are now closed.

Winners will be recognized at Prospect Development 2019. View the Apra Past Awards Winners page for a list of previous award recipients.

Please note that current Selection Committee members are not eligible to receive awards. 

Apra Scholarship

In support of Apra's goal to promote professional growth, Apra's Scholarship Award ensures accessibility to educational programming by awarding a scholarship to a prospect development professional based on financial need and professional merit. In a review of applications, the selection committee will consider professional achievements, proven leadership within and outside their organization, and volunteer participation with local/regional groups. Selection is weighted on both merit and financial need.

The Apra Scholarship covers the costs of conference registration, accommodation (up to four nights) and travel expenses (not to exceed U.S. $1,000), plus a one-year membership with Apra International.

Eligibility/Qualification:

• Applicants must demonstrate financial need
• Applicants must work at least 50% of the time in prospect development, prospect management, and/or analytics for a non-profit organization in a non-consulting capacity
• Scholarship winners must wait 10 years before applying again.

The recipient of the 2019 Apra Scholarship is Ryan Cassidy, Advancement Manager, University College Dublin Foundation.

About Ryan

In Ryan's current role at University College Dublin, he established and leads the university’s prospect development function, providing strategic counsel to the executive directors of UCD Foundation. Day to day, Ryan oversees prospect management, research and data analytics at UCD Foundation, managing the portfolios of development officers across the university as well as coordinating donor relations, stewardship and alumni relations activities to best serve the university’s major gift portfolios. Ryan's works closely with senior academic leaders to design and execute UCD’s philanthropic strategy, maximizing the engagement, international travel and networks of the President, VPs, Board Members and our Ginger Group.

Prior to joining UCD, he founded and led an educational nonprofit in Malawi.

In Ryan's spare time, he loves to travel and has traveled extensively throughout Europe and Africa. When he is at home, Ryan can usually be found sampling local restaurants, at the cinema or theater or more likely, planning his next trip away.

Apra Margaret Fuhry Award

Funded by the Apra Foundation

Established in 1998, this award is given to an Apra member who shows a commitment to the prospect development profession based on his or her leadership, mentorship and volunteerism. Apra's 2019 Margaret Fuhry Award grants a full conference scholarship, including registration, transportation and hotel accommodations. A committee of Apra members will select one (1) Apra Margaret Fuhry Award recipient, and the award will be presented at Prospect Development 2019.

Eligibility/Qualification:

• Employed in prospect development and/or related fields in a non-consulting capacity 
• Apra member
• Volunteered within two years of the submission due date

The recipient of the 2019 Margaret Fuhry award is Julie Craig, Sr. Director of Prospect Analytics and Research, KSU Foundation. 

Apra Professional of the Year Award

This award was established in 1999 and is open to all Apra members. Formerly known as the Researcher of the Year award, it recognizes an outstanding prospect development professional who has made a significant positive impact on his or her organization's success in fulfilling its mission. The award is intended to recognize the skills, talents and accomplishments of a member in our profession who has gone above and beyond the scope of their core duties and played a leadership role in their organization.

The Apra Professional of the Year award recipient receives a full complimentary conference registration and accommodations.

Eligibility/Qualification:

• Be employed by a nonprofit organization registered with its national governing authority (if in the United States, a 501(c)(3)
• Conducts prospect research and/or relationship management in his/her position at least 50% of the time
• Be an Apra member in good standing

The recipient of the 2019 Professional of the Year award is Caroline Deaton, Development Associate, Bethesda Lutheran Communities.

About Caroline

Bethesda Lutheran Communities’ development associate, Caroline Deaton, known to all as Carrie, does more than informally knock together numbers and data.

With more than 25 years of her best work in stewardship, customer-service, team-building and development, including eight years from Vanderbilt’s Divinity School development department, she’s passionate about using her extensive experiences to implement strategic vision to increase brand awareness, to research initiatives for lead generation of new donors and to contribute motivating efficient ways to affect the bottom line, retention and solve problems.

Carrie has always known her true calling was working with people, of all abilities, to serve their communities and neighbors. She inspires those around her to never give up, to fill their lives with laughter and to always learn from the lessons that life hands you…it keeps you growing!

Apra Distinguished Service Award

Funded by the Apra Foundation

Established in 1990, the Distinguished Service Award honors an individual who has enhanced both the prospect development profession and Apra through exceptional contributions beyond his/her daily paid work. The award takes into account professional competencies (the Apra Skill Sets and the Body of Knowledge) and personal competencies (contributions that facilitate learning and talents that are exceptional). Self-nominations are permitted.

Eligibility/Qualification:

• Apra membership in good standing at the time of nomination
• At least five years of experience in the field of prospect development

Nominees cannot be employees of the award sponsor or current board members of Apra International.

The recipient of the 2019 Distinguished Service award is Beth Inman, National Director, Prospect Management, JDRF

About Beth 

Beth Inman is the National Director, Prospect Management for JDRF, the world’s largest nonprofit funder of type 1 diabetes research. Prior to joining JDRF, she was the Senior Director of Prospect Management and Research Analysis at the University of South Carolina and Director of Development Services at The Citadel Foundation. At all three of these organizations, she was hired into newly created positions designed to introduce prospect management systems to drive the work of the major gifts enterprises.

Before her development career, Beth was the Associate Curator of American and Decorative Art at the Columbia Museum of Art in Columbia, South Carolina. She is currently in her second year on the Ethics and Compliance Committee for Apra International and serves as Immediate Past President of Apra Carolinas.

Beth is a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, and holds a bachelor’s degree in art history from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a master’s degree in art history from the University of South Carolina. She is a mom to a 15-year-old daughter and is passionate about literacy, the arts and women’s rights causes.

If you have questions about Apra awards, please view our Frequently Asked Questions page, or contact Apra Headquarters.