Welcome to APRA-MN!

Building on our Minnesota legacy, APRA-Minnesota’s mission is to serve and educate fundraising professionals interested in the field of philanthropic research.

Announcements

Complimentary iWave Webinar

You’re to participate in a complimentary iWave PRO webinar on Wednesday July 28th, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM CDT. The presenters will be discussing how Prospect Research Online (PRO) can help increase your organization’s fundraising success despite the current economic conditions.  

The online event will provide you with an overview of PRO. You will learn how PRO will help your organization determine:

• Who to ask for financial support?
  
• Who are most likely to give you that support?
  
• When to ask for the support?
  
• How much support should you be asking for? 

This event is offered FREE! To register simply click here. By registering, you will automatically receive a recorded copy of the event via email, even if you don’t view the live webinar. Don’t delay - iWave will honor registration on a first-come, first-served basis.

"Is Your Favorite Charity Spying on You?"

By now, many of you have read the article originally published in the Wall Street Journal(SmartMoney, "Is Your Favorite Charity Spying on You?" May 16, 2010) that portrayed our profession in a rather negative light. APRA International has responded in 

a number of ways, including a letter to the editor written by the APRA President, Deborah Mueller and the President Elect, Robert Scott. You can read their response here. 

Thank you Melanie Sherman!

The APRA-MN Board of Directors wishes a fond "farewell" to Melanie Sherman, a longtime board member who recently stepped down as Treasurer at the end of May. Melanie began in this position in 2007, and during her tenure significantly improved on the financial recordkeeping and reporting for our organization.

APRA-MN is a better organization due to Melanie's efforts, and we thank her for her years of dedicated service!

2010 APRA-MN Spring Conference Scholarship Winners

APRA-MN is proud to announce three scholarship winners for the Spring Conference!

Congratulations to Gillian Schoonover, Minnesota Orchestra; Suzanne Pasch, YMCA of Metropolitan Minneapolis; and Kelly Mulleady, Ridgeview Foundation for winning scholarships to attend the Spring Conference on May 5.

A special thank you to Marcy Cheeseman who managed the process of awarding scholarships and the scholarship committee who had the difficult task of choosing the winners.  Scholarship committee members included: Sharon Carter, Brenna Sonke, and Andrea Kaufman.  APRA-MN is proud to offer this important resource to its members.  Thanks again to all!

New Board Members for the 2010-2011 Term

Congratulations to new APRA-MN board members Deborah Derringer, Mark Egge and Karla Davis!

These new members will replace Jodi Kohrs (president), Jeanne Morales (secretary and editor of The Networker) and Melissa Worthington (communications director).  A special thank you to Jodi for her leadership as president for the last two years, and to Jeanne and Melissa for their service to APRA-MN as well. 

Returning board members include: Marcy Cheeseman, Sharla Donohue, Kari Dreher, Melanie Sherman and Gail Whitney.  In the next couple of months the board will be busy planning for 2010 so stay tuned for more information soon! 

2009 APRA International Conference Scholarship Winner - Awarded by APRA International

Congratulations to APRA-MN's own Sharla Donohue, for winning the APRA International Scholarship! 

Sharla Donohue, Programming Director
Like many organizations, 2009 presented many financial challenges to the Minnesota Historical Society. Due to revenue shortfalls in membership, museum visitation, and public and private contributions, we were faced with the prospect of laying-off a considerable number of our staff, cutting hours at our museums and library and possibly even closing down several of our historic sites around the state. Out of state travel was completely out of the question!

So I am extremely grateful that I was awarded the APRA International 2009 Scholarship. It was a wonderful learning opportunity, as always. And even though many of you were unable to attend, I was thinking of you while I was there. As the programming director for APRA MN, I was thinking of new and emerging topics to present at upcoming conferences. I was networking with potential speakers and presenters. I was talking to our colleagues about how they run events for their local chapters. I was thinking of ways to bring the APRA International Conference home for the benefit of our local chapter. I’m excited to start sharing my thoughts and ideas with the chapter in the coming months!

APRA-MN's Former President Is Elected President of APRA International

Former APRA-MN president, Debbie Mueller, was elected as president of the APRA-International board at the annual membership meeting in Boston last summer.  Debbie began her new role September 1, 2009.  Congratulations Debbie!

AFP Minnesota

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iWave Partner Program

APRA-MN is proud to partner with iWave.