2026 Apra Greater Houston Annual Conference (17 Jun 2026)

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 13:30:00 GMT

Apra Greater Houston Annual Conference

Save the Date!

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

Sessions

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.

More Speakers to Be Announced Soon!

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: