Apra Fundamentals: Prospect Research

This course will be held during Prospect Development 2026 on Tuesday, Aug. 11, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET.

Who Should Attend

This foundational program is designed for fundraising professionals new to prospect development who wish to fast-track their technical capabilities and professional skill set.

Learning Objectives

During this event, participants will:

• Explore fundraising terminology and technologies alongside techniques for analyzing biographical and financial information.

• Discover how to build research profiles that translate data-driven insights into fundraising action.

• Apply data to formulate gift capacities and inform organizational fundraising strategies.

• Collaborate with gift officers to navigate research requests and develop effective deliverables.

• Navigate ethical considerations, manage prospect data and create quality research products.

What Else Is Included

Registrants receive access to a private online community to network with fellow attendees, download resource materials and communicate with faculty experts.

Mandatory Pre-Event Learning: To prepare for the live education, participants must complete approximately four hours of online module training. These sessions, ranging from 15 to 70 minutes, cover:

• Prospect Research Overview and Identification

• Wealth Indicators and Biographical Research

• Corporate and Foundation Research

• Capacity Ratings and Relationship Management

• Campaigns, Ethics and Data Science

 

 

Meet the Speakers

Priya Balachandran, Senior Researcher and Development Analyst
Priya Balachandran is a nonprofit professional, strategic researcher, board member and speaker with versatile expertise across the social service, education and healthcare sectors. In her role as senior researcher and development analyst at Northern Illinois Food Bank, she leads and executes all aspects of prospect development, building a solid, ethical, informed and strategic program, including structured prospect research approaches, a new prospect management process and metrics dashboards. Beyond her primary responsibilities, Priya has contributed to organization-wide initiatives, including the Changemakers Taskforce, DEI Committee, Data and Ethics Subcommittee, and the Strategic Plan UNITE—Pathway Advisory Committee. Priya is an active member of the Apra community, volunteering and presenting for Apra International and its local chapters, serving her third term on the Fundamentals Committee, having previously served on the Awards Committee and currently serving on the Apra Illinois board. She is also an active leader in other nonprofit communities, serving as a board member of AFP Chicago, vice president of AFP Continuous Learning Council, an Executive Committee member of the Association of Certified Nonprofit Professionals and playing a key role in launching and driving Feeding America’s PhilOps and Prospect Research Community of Practice. She has presented for AFP and the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, and contributed to planning nonprofit sector conferences, including the International Thirukkural Conference and the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance’s Elevate Conference.

Don Irwin, Sr. Manager of Development Data & Research
Don Irwin is the senior manager of development data and research at Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota. Don earned his BA in history and anthropology at the University of Minnesota Duluth and MSc in science and religion at the University of Edinburgh School of Divinity. He continued in graduate research and teaching history and philosophy of science at Arizona State University before moving back to Minnesota to raise his children close to family. Don joined Apra-MN and Apra International in 2018 and earned his CFRE in 2021. He is grateful for the support of the Apra community and enthusiastic about giving back as a board member and volunteer.

Lindsay Rogillio, Director of Prospect Development & Analytics
Lindsay Rogillio is the director of prospect development and analytics at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, leading the prospect management, prospect research and prospect data analytics efforts. Prior to her current position, Lindsay spent nearly 10 years in higher education prospect development offices at the University of South Carolina and Virginia Commonwealth University. This is her second year serving on the Apra Fundamentals committee as a faculty member and this year as chair. She has volunteered with aasp's Membership Engagement Committee, Best Practices in Prospect Development Committee and as a 2025 Aspire Awards Juror. She is also the 2026 MARC Conference co-chair. Lindsay holds a master's in decision analytics from Virginia Commonwealth University and a master's in library and information science from the University of South Carolina. Lindsay loves traveling, salsa dancing and enjoying every food festival she can make it to.

Rachael Walker, Donor Strategy Manager
Rachael Dietrich Walker is entering her sixteenth year in prospect development. In June 2024, she joined St. Luke's Health Foundation as its first donor strategy manager, a role in which she is building a brand-new prospect development program. She comes to health care after a career spent in higher education. This is Rachael's second year as a member of the Fundamentals faculty, having previously served on Apra's Nominating and Advocacy Committees. In addition to volunteering with Apra International, Rachael is a longtime member of the Apra Carolinas board and currently serves as its president. She holds an MLIS from UNC Greensboro and a BA from the University of Richmond.

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