Date: Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Category: Apra Chapters
Artificial Intelligence is transforming prospect development but how can professionals use it safely and effectively?
Join us for a practical webinar exploring today’s leading AI tools, including Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude and Perplexity and what they can realistically accomplish in a prospect development environment.
Key Takeaways:
- Overview of the current AI landscape
- Effective prompting strategies
- Real-world prospect development use cases
- Workflows, guardrails, and risk considerations
- AI-assisted tools and processes that streamline research and analysis
- Designed for prospect development professionals, this session will help you move beyond uncertainty and begin using AI in ways that are responsible, strategic, and sustainable.
Learn More + Register
Meet the Speaker
Thor Gesteland, Assistant Director of Prospect Research
Thor Gesteland serves as the Assistant Director of Prospect Research at the University of South Dakota Foundation, where he has spent the past eighteen years supporting fundraising strategies through in-depth research, data analysis, and systems management. Prior to joining the USD Foundation, he worked for nearly three years as Assistant Director of Development with AD Players in Houston, Texas, where he co-managed the Raiser’s Edge database. With over twenty years’ experience across Raiser's Edge, ResearchPoint, Access, Live Alumni, and other industry tools, Thor specializes in transforming complex data into actionable insights for development officers and leadership. Recently, he has focused on how AI can be used safely and effectively within prospect development. Thor’s work blends technical fluency with a practical understanding of how research supports fundraising outcomes.