2026 Apra Greater Houston Annual Conference (17 Jun 2026)

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 13:30:00 GMT

Apra Greater Houston Annual Conference

Wednesday, June 17, 2026
United Way of Houston Community Resource Center
50 Waugh Dr.,
Houston, TX 77007

Schedule

8:30 – 9:00: Check-in and coffee

9:00 – 9:15: Introductions and Announcements

9:15 – 10:15: Monkey in the Middle: A.I. Tug of War in Fundraising Research

10:15 – 10:25: Break

10:25 – 11:10: Leveling up: Prospect Development as a Pathway to Leadership

11:10 – 12:00: Partner Presentation

12:00 – 1:00: Lunch

1:00 – 1:20: Mindful Movement

1:20 – 2:20: To Affinity and Beyond

2:20 – 2:30: Break

2:30 – 3:30: Everyone Communicates, Few Connect: Strengthening Leadership Through Connection

3:35 – 4:00: Trivia

4:00: Happy Hour

Session Details

Monkey in the Middle: A.I. Tug of War in Fundraising Research

Presented by:

Jennifer Fila

You've seen the debate play out. On one end of the rope: people convinced A.I. will upend everything we know about research and prospect management — for better or worse. On the other end: those equally certain it is the key to unlocking capacity, insight, and impact like we've never had before.

And there you are in the middle — trying to do your job well.

This session is for everyone on that rope. Whether you're skeptical, all-in, or curiously somewhere in between, join Jen Filla for a candid, peer-driven conversation about what it actually looks like to navigate A.I. in fundraising research right now — not in theory, but in practice.

We'll explore where caution is warranted, where opportunity is being left on the table, and how professionals across the spectrum are making decisions they feel good about. No hype. No fear-mongering. Just real talk and practical ideas you can take back to your desk.

About The Speaker

Jennifer Filla is a veteran fundraiser with a focus on prospect research. As CEO of Aspire Research Group LLC, she believes that every development officer deserves a methodical, replicable process for major gift success. That’s why Aspire provides specialized major gift consulting, research services, and training. Jen is co author of “Prospect Research for Fundraisers: The Essential Handbook” as well as numerous other research workbooks, and has served as a volunteer and trustee for a variety of organizations.

Leveling up: Prospect Development as a Pathway to Leadership

Presented by:

Sharise Harrison

This session will explore how hands-on experience in prospect development builds skills that translate directly into leadership roles. It will examine how core prospect development competencies—such as strategic thinking, relationship management, research, collaboration, and decision-making—serve as strong foundations for leadership growth. Attendees will gain insight into how the day-to-day work of prospect development can function as meaningful leadership training and how professionals in the field can leverage those skills to advance into broader leadership positions.

About The Speaker

Sharise Harrison (she/her) is the Assistant Vice President of Advancement Services and Prospect Development at Sacramento State University and a Senior Consultant at The Inclusion Firm. Prior to this, she spent nearly 4 years as Senior Director of Prospect Management and Analytics at Santa Clara University. At Santa Clara University, she instituted data-centered DEI prospect development programming as seen in the Chronicle of Philanthropy. She is also the President of Apra International. She has served on the Apra board since 2022. Sharise holds an MA from Georgetown University, a BA from LaSalle University, and a Fundraising Operations Certificate from Rice University.

To Affinity and Beyond

Presented by:

Amanda Whiteside and Dany Roman

How do you move beyond gut instinct to prioritize prospects with confidence? This session walks through one institution's journey to build a custom affinity scoring model — from defining the criteria that matter (giving behavior, mission alignment, and engagement) to translating them into a clear, actionable score that fundraisers can actually use.

Cross-team collaboration between data, prospect research, and senior leadership shaped a model that reduced prospect analysis time, surfaced overlooked high-potential donors, and streamlined portfolio decisions. The session covers the scoring methodology, how it compares to traditional manual ranking, real-world rollout lessons, and what's next as the model continues to evolve.

About The Speakers

Amanda Whiteside currently serves as the Senior Director of Prospect Research and Management at Baylor College of Medicine where she leads the team that oversees all prospect development efforts. At Baylor College of Medicine, she previously supported the foundation, corporation and grateful patient teams before taking on her current role. Prior to joining Baylor College of Medicine in 2022, she spent 6 years at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston where she designed and implemented the first prospect management system at the Museum, successfully managed the prospect management system through a database transition, and managed prospect tracking for a $450 million capital campaign that raised more than $20 million over its initial goal.

Amanda started her fundraising career as a summer intern at Holocaust Museum Houston, going on to work full-time after college as the Museum’s first Prospect Researcher. There she developed the first prospect management system for the Museum. She graduated Cum Laude from Texas A&M University with a double major in Anthropology and History.

Dany Roman is a Director of Business Intelligence at BWF, a global fundraising consultancy that partners with nonprofit organizations and institutions to advance philanthropy through campaign strategy, analytics, and donor engagement solutions. At BWF, he helps organizations translate complex data into clear, actionable insights that drive growth and innovation. Prior to joining BWF, he served as Associate Director of Philanthropic Data Analytics at Baylor College of Medicine.

Dany brings a multidisciplinary background in data analytics and advancement operations to help solve complex challenges in the nonprofit sector. He holds a BS from California State University, Northridge, a PhD from Baylor College of Medicine, a Data Analytics and Visualization Certificate from Rice University, and is a Certified Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst Associate.

Everyone Communicates, Few Connect: Strengthening Leadership Through Connection

Presented by:

Lindsay Lewis

In today’s world, success is not determined by knowledge, experience, or talent alone -it is determined by our ability to connect with people. In this engaging session based on Everyone Communicates, Few Connect, Lindsay Lewis explores the idea that leadership is influence - and influence depends on our ability to connect. While many people communicate every day, far fewer truly connect in a way that drives results. Participants will learn that connection is not a natural talent reserved for a few but a skill that can be developed and strengthened over time. Through practical insights and real-world examples, this session will highlight how improving your ability to connect can positively impact your relationships, your leadership, and your overall results.

Attendees will leave with simple, actionable tools they can apply immediately to strengthen their communication, build stronger relationships, and increase their influence in both their personal and professional lives.

About The Speaker

Lindsay Lewis is the Senior Vice President of Programs, Evaluation, and Membership at the YMCA of Greater Houston, where she leads strategy across membership growth, program innovation, and community impact for one of the largest YMCA associations in the country. With over 20 years of leadership experience, she is known for driving transformation, building high-performing teams, and creating meaningful member experiences.

A certified coach, speaker, and trainer with the Maxwell Leadership Team, Lindsay is passionate about helping leaders grow their influence through intentional communication and connection. She brings both a strategic and personal lens to leadership, equipping individuals and organizations to navigate change, strengthen relationships, and achieve lasting results.

Neurogiving:The Science of Donor Decision-Making (17 Jul 2026)

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Neurogiving: The Science of Donor Decision-Making

presented by

Cherian Koshy, CFRE, CAP®

Session Description:

From Profiles to Predictions: Practical Neuroscience for Prospect Researchers

Prospect research already tells us who can give, but what fundraisers need most is insight into why a donor will choose to give. This session introduces a practical, immediately applicable layer to traditional prospect research using neuroscience and behavioral science. Participants will learn how to reinterpret the data they already collect such as giving patterns, affiliations, and engagement history to uncover motivation, friction, and readiness, and translate those insights into concise, actionable guidance for frontline fundraisers. Without changing systems or workflows, attendees will leave with simple enhancements they can add to profiles and briefings right away to make their research more predictive, more strategic, and more impactful.

Meet Our Speaker:

Cherian Koshy, CFRE, CAP®, is a globally recognized expert in fundraising strategy, leadership, and innovation. He is the author of Neurogiving: The Science of Donor Decision-Making, a multi-week USA Today bestseller and #1 Amazon bestseller in Nonprofits.

As a keynote speaker and advisor, Cherian blends neuroscience, behavioral science, and real-world experience to help organizations inspire generosity ethically and lead with clarity in times of change.

He serves on the global board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and on the board of The Giving Institute. His insights have been featured in Fast Company, Forbes, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, CEOWorld, and Yahoo Finance. He is the founder of the AI-powered platform NonprofitOS, which was acquired by Kindsight, where he now serves as Vice President.

Cherian’s work at the intersection of ethics, technology, and philanthropy positions him as a trusted voice shaping the future of social impact.

We encourage you to bring your questions and your lunch to the session!

For more information and/or questions please contact aprahouston@gmail.com.

We encourage you to JOIN or RENEW your membership today to attend future lunch and learns without charge.

Apra Greater Houston upcoming events

2026 Apra Greater Houston Annual Conference (17 Jun 2026)

Neurogiving:The Science of Donor Decision-Making (17 Jul 2026)

Cherian Koshy, CFRE, CAP®

Session Description:

Meet Our Speaker: