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March 1, 2017 By Helen Brown 3 Comments

This is Pride

For the past two years, I’ve gotten more and more excited as March approaches. Here in New England, March is not a month that you tend to look forward to, weather-wise. There are no bank holiday weekends. And it’s a loooong month. But if you’re in prospect development, March is now a very special month.

Because March is prospect development pride month, and boy do we have a lot to be proud of. We are a professional community of really smart people who get the opportunity to make the world a better place every day we go to work. Who are actively motivated to learn something new every day. And who are generous in sharing tips, methods, and resources with each other.

I mean, really. Does a profession get much better than that?

Sure, we all get bogged down in the day-to-day. But when you pull back to the 40,000-foot view, it’s easy to see that we are the fundraising intelligence engine that helps drive philanthropy. And that’s pretty cool.

As we begin our fourth March celebrating #researchpride, one of the things that struck me recently was just how much (and how quickly) this party has grown. The first year, it was just a few of us. (Okay, tbh it was really just me shouting to the rafters in frustration with how wrong the public perception of our work was and wanting to do something to show the world how cool we are).

My rant struck a chord (I mean, thirty comments! Yow!). That’s when I figured out I was onto something – and knew that I wasn’t alone. So the second year it got a little bigger, and then last year we had 18 bloggers and countless tweeters, Facebookers, and LinkedIn users – a whole chorus of proud voices in harmony – all sharing their pride stories. It was fantastic.

And this year? I’ve heard from individual bloggers to whole Apra chapter boards that they are excited about this pride celebration. And Apra is joining in support by cross-posting articles in Connections, sharing on their social media platforms, and adding info to the Apra website as well!

So there’s going to be lots to read, to share, to inspire you and – I hope – fill your chest with pride. Does it get much better than that?

To kick things off this year, I wanted to tell you three things that make me really proud of our profession.

NUMBER ONE

I’m incredibly proud of how generous we are as a profession in sharing our skills and knowledge with each other.

For example, the participation in last month’s Apra Chapters Share The Knowledge was amazing. Did you see all that stuff the chapters did? If you missed any of it – the presentations, the white papers, the twitter talks and more, just click here to take a look and see what you can still take advantage of. You don’t even need to be an Apra member, which just slots in perfectly with the spirit of generosity.

As an added bonus, Apra is making available, for free, the Best of Connections 2016, a curated assemblage of some of the most popular articles from the Apra newsletter last year.

PRIDE DEUX

The second thing I love is the creativity in our profession. It just constantly inspires me. This section is going to fill out over this month with links to all of the clever things that people are doing for this #ResearchPride month. But just to give you some inspiration, so far I’ve heard people mention that they’re going to write blog posts; host an Ask-A-Researcher open house; and spread out a coffee-tea-and-cake meetup morning for their development team (now that’s a great idea!).

As for me, well, it didn’t quite make it chronologically into pride month, but I’m going to be part of a NEDRA-sponsored career-day panel at Simmons College early in April to help share how awesome our profession is. Because if you’re like me, you fell into prospect research; now I want to help spread the word so that students can purposefully decide they want to be part of this!

What are you or your team doing to celebrate your pride in our profession? Let me know and I’ll mention your awesomeness and put a link to it right here. (And keep checking back – if last year is any guide this section is going to fill up quickly and daily with new stuff).

  • Stephen Lambert lichens (sorry) the new growth of spring with his pride in prospect development in this LinkedIn article “Apracadabra! Magical March is PD Pride Month.”
  • This article by Lindsey Nadeau is fantastic: “In 2012, I made a very conscious decision to commit to my industry and make Prospect Development my career.” Read more on the APRA Metro DC blog.
  • This great poster Jennifer Vincent put up at UNC-Wilmington to celebrate the month and share her team’s pride with their development colleagues. ->
  • The fund-tabulous Preeti Gill shares her thoughts on women leading in prospect research, and the process of wordsmithing your elevator speech in “When a woman self-advocates, does she show too much #ResearchPride?“
  • Our friends at iWave in beautiful PEI, Canada share their #ResearchPride by thanking the prospect development community and launching a new Research Roundtable listening tour on the question, “what does it really mean to be a researcher?”
  • The best, the Best, the BEST inspirational true-life story about one researcher’s action to Step Out of the Box and convert data into real, donor-centered, relationship-based, prospect research supported, fundraising success. Out of the park, James Rygg!
  • Sharon Parkinson, Elizabeth Crabtree, Estee Pierce, David Schein, Danny Feygin, and more share their pride (and their knowledge!) at the APRA-Greater New York Prospect Development Summit on March 17. More info here.
  • A question from her 4-year old helps Crystal Leochko Johnston – and all of us – reflect and distill prospect development’s purpose in her post Happy #ResearchPride Month!
  • Sarah Bernstein shares her career-long love affair with prospect research in her wonderful article Research Pride: a love story.
  • In a nod to a vintage ad campaign celebrating women’s achievements, Marianne Pelletier offers a classic reminiscence piece with a nudge to the future in “We’ve Come A Long Way, Baby“
  • With the confluence of #ResearchPride month and International Women’s Day, Jen Filla shares the important things to remember when researching women prospects.
  • Marissa Todd shares some of the things she loves about prospect development in her article Pride Points. Don’t miss her presentation at the Apra conference if you’re going!
  • A wonderful story about the generosity of our profession by an active tweeter and dedicated Apra North Texas chapter leader, Matt Farrow: Research Pride
  • Six strong prospect development role models from the great Apra-IL chapter share the aspects of their job they love the most in their collective post Research Pride Month 2017.
  • This story by James Rygg is the perfect dessert for the feast that has been Research Pride month: Showing Pride by Sharing “The Story”

THE THIRD THING – GLASS CASES

Philanthropy – and its importance in American society – is getting chest-swelling recognition in a major way.

Three months ago, the Smithsonian Museum of American History in Washington, DC opened a new permanent exhibit called “Giving in America.”

Which I think is just a huge shot in the arm for our profession.

Because, for me, when the philanthropic sector is recognized as helping strengthen our country, each individual cog in the philanthropy machine should take pride in that. We helped build that. You and me.

#ResearchPride isn’t just pride in our specific profession. It’s also our pride in what each of us does that helps our organization succeed. It’s pride in what our organization does to improve the part of the wider world that it sets out to. And how that changes – and improves – our society.

All of us are enriched by philanthropy, and it’s wonderful to know that our proudest moments are now on display in glass cases at the Smithsonian!  I really can’t wait to see it.

As the exhibit grows, matures, and evolves, how exciting will it be to see all aspects of fundraising – including the role of prospect development professionals – being featured and honored for the part we play? Because you know that the curators are going to want to provide a complete picture of everything that helps define what makes philanthropy work in America.

As museum curator Bonnie Lilienfeld says, philanthropy is “[t]his idea that we come together in a crisis, we come together to take care of each other, we come together to get things done.”

That sounds a lot like prospect development professionals to me.

And you know that recognition is coming, because I have evidence we’re hitting the mainstream. I was watching a tv show this past weekend, and one of the main characters was stopping by her kid’s school. When she said to the person she was with “I’ll be there in just a second – I have something I need to drop off at the development office” my jaw dropped. That was the first time I’d ever heard those words on a tv show. Definite wow moment.

What’s your plan for the month?

During prospect research pride month, we come together virtually and in person to celebrate our role in philanthropy and to share the importance of our work with others. We use this time to educate and advocate with eloquence, humor, cake, and creativity.

And that’s something to be really proud of. I can’t wait to see what this month will bring!

Filed Under: Career development, News, Research Department Success Tagged With: #ResearchPride, Amelia Aldred, Crystal Leochko Johnston, Danny Feygin, David Schein, Elisa Shoenberger, Elizabeth Crabtree, Erin Gernon, Estee Pierce, iWave PRO, James Rygg, Jen Filla, Jennifer Vincent, Joan Ogwumike, Kate Ingrao, Lindsey Nadeau, Marianne Pelletier, Matt Farrow, Preeti Gill, prospect development, prospect research, Sabine Schuller, Sarah Bernstein, Sharon Parkinson, Stephen Lambert

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David’s career in prospect research began in 2009, as a graduate research assistant at the Shippensburg University Foundation. In 2011, He became a development researcher for the University of Virginia. In 2015, David became assistant director of prospect research at the University of Baltimore, serving for 3 years. Recently, he was the director of development for Trees Forever. David Joined the Helen Brown Group as a research assistant in January 2020. He earned a B.A. in Theater at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a M.A. in Applied History at Shippensburg University. David is a member of APRA and APRA Great Plains.

Kenny has worked in development since 1999 and has been involved in prospect research since 2002.

Prior to joining The Helen Brown Group, he was the director of donor and prospect research at the United Way of Massachusetts Bay. Kenny is a member of APRA and NEDRA.

Tara first began her career in development in 2002 supporting the Major Gifts department at Simmons College, and ultimately went on to serve as Assistant Director of Prospect Research. Since that time, she has also worked as a Senior Research Analyst at MIT, as Associate Director of Prospect Management and Research at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and as Director of Development Research at Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP).

Tara originally joined the Helen Brown Group team in 2007 and served as a Research Associate and ShareTraining coordinator until 2008 – she rejoined the company as a Senior Researcher in 2013 and was promoted to her current role in 2018.

She has been an active volunteer with NEDRA for many years and served on the board of directors from 2010-2016. During her time on the NEDRA board, she served in many different roles, including terms as Vice President, Secretary, Chair of the Website and Technology Committee, Chair of the Volunteer Committee, and as Chair and Editor of NEDRA News. She is currently a member of the NEDRA Bootcamp faculty. In addition, Tara has also been involved as a volunteer with Apra, serving stints on the Membership Committee, Chapters Committee, and Bylaws Task Force.

Angie began her career in development in 1999 at Virginia Tech in Corporate and Foundation Relations and later in prospect research at the University of Connecticut Foundation.

A graduate of the University of Tennessee at Martin, her experience includes grants management at the University of South Carolina, program evaluation for South Carolina Research Authority and human resources analysis for Nissan North America.

She returned to development in 2007 and worked in various prospect research positions at Vanderbilt University, including Associate Director. She was named Director for Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s research office in 2015, and joined The Helen Brown Group in 2016.

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Josh began his career in development as the Phonathon Coordinator at Keene State College. He then worked at non-profit consulting firm Schultz & Williams in Philadelphia.

He started his research career at the University of Pennsylvania as a Research Assistant in 2005. He then moved over to the Wharton School of Business, where he became the Associate Director, Research and Prospect Management. Josh joined the Helen Brown Group in 2016.

Josh is also a Colorado licensed Realtor and graduate of Lehigh University.

In March 2017, Kristina joined the Helen Brown Group as a Research Associate. Before joining HBG, she was the Research Manager at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and an Associate Manager of Prospect Research at City Harvest, a food rescue organization. Kristina started her non-profit career as a legal assistant at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2004.  She is a member of Apra and Apra Greater New York. She was Apra Greater New York’s Director of Programming from June 2014 to May 2016. Kristina graduated from The University of Chicago and the Bard Graduate Center.

Grace began her career in development in 2001 as Executive Assistant to the Chief Development Officer with Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), a Harvard Medical School-affiliated academic medical center.

In 2003, she became a prospect researcher for the BWH principal and major gifts team and spent the next 11 years in various research positions with BWH, culminating as Assistant Director of Prospect Research. She has been affiliated with The Helen Brown Group since January 2014.

Heather began her career in 2002 as a prospect research coordinator for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and then moved to Carroll College in 2004.

In 2005, Heather began working on her own as a freelancer and eventually started her own consulting firm, Willis Research Services, in 2007. She joined The Helen Brown Group in 2012.

Heather is a member of the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement and the Montana Nonprofit Association.

Jennifer began her career in development at her alma mater, Wheaton College, where she was an administrative assistant for the major gifts department.

She joined The Helen Brown Group in March 2008. She earned a master’s degree in library science from the Southern Connecticut State University in May 2009. Jennifer is a member of APRA and NEDRA.

Rick has been a member of the Helen Brown Group team since 2005. Prior to joining HBG, Rick was director of research at St. Paul’s School in Concord, New Hampshire. Rick has worked in development since 1996, both in prospect research and major gifts fund raising. His experience includes the University of Vermont, Phillips Exeter Academy and St. Paul’s School.

Rick is past president of NEDRA and is a member of and frequent volunteer for APRA.

Josh began his career in development as the Phonathon Coordinator at Keene State College. He then worked at non-profit consulting firm Schultz & Williams in Philadelphia.

He started his research career at the University of Pennsylvania as a Research Assistant in 2005. He then moved over to the Wharton School of Business, where he became the Associate Director, Research and Prospect Management. Josh joined the Helen Brown Group in 2016.

Josh is also a Colorado licensed Realtor and graduate of Lehigh University.

Mandi has worked in prospect research and management since 2006. She began her development career as a research analyst in development research at City of Hope, an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center in Los Angeles. From there, she became the manager of prospect development at Huntington Memorial Hospital, a community hospital in Pasadena, CA. Most recently, she was the associate director of prospect research and management at Occidental College, a private liberal arts college in LA.

Mandi has a BA degree in print journalism from Southern Methodist University and a master’s degree of library and information science from UCLA.

She joined the Helen Brown Group in May 2019.

Kelly began her career in development in 2008 as an administrative assistant in Major Gifts at Wheaton College.

In 2010, she became a research analyst at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in the Division of Development & Jimmy Fund as part of the prospect identification team. Kelly joined The Helen Brown Group in 2013.

She is a member of APRA and NEDRA.

Jayme began her career in development in 2008 at the Rutgers University Foundation, where she spent the next seven years, first in prospect management and then prospect research. She spent several years at Monmouth University as their senior prospect research analyst, working with the fundraising staff, university president, and top leadership. She has worked as both a volunteer and consultant for non-profits in the areas of research and writing.

She earned a bachelor of arts degree from Drew University and a master of communication and information sciences from Rutgers University. She is a member of APRA.

Jayme joined The Helen Brown Group in April 2019.

Julie has managed finances for The Helen Brown Group since its founding.

In her spare time, she is an editor for the PBS series Masterpiece at WGBH. Julie was nominated twice for an Emmy award for her work on the PBS show Zoom.

Heather began her career in development in 2001 as a prospect researcher for National Wildlife Federation (NWF). She was with NWF for more than thirteen years, including nearly five years as director of research and analytics. Heather is a former secretary of the board of directors of APRA-Metro DC.

She joined The Helen Brown Group in October 2014.

David began his career in development at The Gunnery school in northwest Connecticut in 2011, where he worked in database management and prospect research. Subsequently, he joined the College of Saint Rose as a development research analyst before leading Albany Medical Center Foundation’s prospect research efforts as Associate Director of Prospect Research. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Siena College and is a member of APRA and CASE.

Michele began her career in development in 2012 when she joined the UC Berkeley corporate and foundation relations team as a development analyst. She spent a year and a half at Cal before returning to UC Davis as a prospect analyst. She was with the prospect management and relations team at UC Davis for almost three years prior to joining the research and relationship management team at George Washington University as a Senior Prospect Analyst in 2016.

Michele received her BA in creative writing from Florida State University and her MA in higher education leadership from CSU Sacramento. She currently resides in Northern Virginia, is a member of Apra International, and serves as the social media chair for Apra Metro DC. Michele joined The Helen Brown Group in July 2018.

Angie has worked in development since 2002, partnering with a wide range of nonprofit institutions. She began her professional career at Vanderbilt University in research and prospect development.

She has also worked with a number of community nonprofits in front-line fundraising, grant-writing, and event management. Angie holds an MPA in Nonprofit Management from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and a BS in Journalism from Middle Tennessee State University. She resides in Nashville, Tennessee, and is a member of AFP Nashville and APRA MidSouth, where she has been active on the executive team.

She joined The Helen Brown Group in October 2015.

Maureen has been a part of the non-profit world since 1991. She started out in annual giving at Harvard Law School and continued her career as director of annual/special gifts at UC Santa Cruz.

In 1999 she made the switch from front-line fundraising to serve as director of prospect research/management at Bentley University and in 2001 began her role as administrator for the North American Foundation for the University of Manchester. She became part of the HBG team in September of 2011.

Helen has been a development professional since 1987. Her previous experience includes The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Albert Einstein Institution, Boston College, the Harvard School of Public Health and Northeastern University.

Currently she works with a variety of clients to establish, benchmark and re-align research departments; identify major gift prospects; and train researchers and other fundraisers through on-site and web-based training services.Helen is a former member of the board of the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (APRA) and is past president of the New England Development Research Association (NEDRA). In 2006 she received the NEDRA Ann Castle Award for service to the prospect research community.

Helen is Special Advisor on Fundraising to the North American Foundation for the University of Manchester and is a member of the board of directors of Factary Ltd. (Bristol, UK). She is a member of NEDRA, APRA, the Association of Independent Information Professionals (AIIP), Women In Development, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and Researchers in Fundraising (UK).

Helen is a frequent speaker and has led seminars for a number of professional associations, including Action Planning, AFP, APRA, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), NEDRA, RIF, the Planned Giving Council of Central Massachusetts, the Georgia Center on Nonprofits, the International Fundraising Congress and Resource Alliance.

Helen is also co-author (with Jen Filla) of the book, Prospect Research for Fundraisers (Wiley & Sons, 2013).