Join us on Friday, November 11th, 2022 for our annual Apra North Texas Conference!
We are thrilled to host our annual conference at the Dallas Zoo this year. This is our first opportunity since 2019 to reunite, in-person as a chapter and we're looking forward to seeing everyone -- both new and current members!
Register prior to October 14th to receive an early bird discount on conference registration!
Registration closes after Tuesday, November 8th.
Conference Sponsors
Thank you to our wonderful conference sponsors!
Nine-Banded Armadillo Level
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Northern Mockingbird Level
Schedule |
8:45 Check-In Opens
9:00 Welcoming Remarks and Board Introductions
Coffee and tea beverage service
9:15 “Abductive Reasoning in Prospect Research: Critical Thinking and the Logic of the Best Guess”
Cayden Ferrin, University of Wyoming Foundation
10:30 Vendor / Networking Break
10:45 Group Discussion Grab Bag
11:15 “The Campaign Matrix”
Sarah Daly, Southern Methodist University
12:15 Lunch – Build Your Own Street Tacos
1:00 Zoo Presentation
1:30 “5 Steps Nonprofits Can Take Today to Prepare for the Great Wealth Transfer”
Patrick Schmitt, FreeWill
2:30 Break
2:35 Panel: “A Year in the Life of Different Shops”
Emma Aguirre, UNICEF USA; Charles Bailey, The University of Oklahoma Foundation; Carrie Hernandez, Southwestern University; and Amanda Sweazy, The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth
2:55 Closing Remarks
Conference Sessions & Speakers
5 Steps Nonprofits Can Take Today to Prepare for the Great Wealth Transfer
In the next couple of decades, older generations are expected to pass on an estimated $30 to $70 trillion in the greatest wealth transfer in history. This event is going to have a massive impact on planned and major giving, as well as shape the way younger generations navigate financial planning, investments, and charitable donations.
For nonprofits, it's an unprecedented opportunity to raise funds for their missions. But if development leaders want to tap into this moment, they need to understand how it will affect charitable giving.
In this session, FreeWill co-founder, Patrick Schmitt, will cover:
- Understanding the Great Wealth Transfer
- Insights into charitable impact
- Trends across donor organizations
- Strategies for planned and major giving
| Patrick Schmitt, FreeWill Patrick Schmitt is the co-founder of FreeWill, a social venture which has helped organizations to generate more than $6.5 billion in new planned gifts, stock gifts, crypto donations, and qualified charitable distributions. Patrick and his co-founder, Jenny, were recently names two of the Top 50 Philanthropists in the World by Town & Country. From 2009-2010, Patrick ran email fundraising for President Obama, where his team invented many of the existing best practices in digital fundraising. He served as Head of Innovation at Change.org, helping to grow that organization to 200 million members in just four years. Schmitt received his BS from Georgetown University and MBA from Stanford University. |
Abductive Reasoning in Prospect Research: Critical Thinking and the Logic of the Best Guess
Abductive reasoning, is a form of logic which research and nonprofit professionals utilize every day. Distinct from both deductive and inductive logic, abductive reasoning is also known as the "Logic of the Maybe," and involves forming conclusions from the information and data that is known. It is also the ideal kind of logical reasoning for making new discoveries. Through sharpening your critical thinking and abductive reasoning skills, you can bring a brand new level of value to the conclusions and consultations your provide as a prospect research professional. Through easy to understand, yet fascinating examples, and a surprising amount of humor, Cayden Ferrin's presentation gives you all of the tools you need to energize, inform, and re-think your approach to prospect research.
| Cayden Ferrin, University of Wyoming Foundation Cayden Ferrin currently serves as the Associate Director of Prospect Development at the University of Wyoming Foundation (UWF), in Laramie, Wyoming. In this role, he leads a variety of research, management and analytics projects. He previously served as a Senior Research Analyst for the UWF. An active Apra member, Cayden has served as the Programs Directors for his local chapter, Apra-Rocky Mountains since 2020. He holds both a BA and an MA in Political Science from the University of Montana. In his free time, he enjoys backpacking, kayaking and hosting his book club. |
The Campaign Matrix
The Campaign is everywhere. It is all around us. We'll survey the current landscape of philanthropic campaigns and explore how prospect development fits into that landscape. Take away some best practices, ideas, and resources to approach your next (or current) campaign.
| Sarah Daly, Southern Methodist University Sarah Daly attended her first Apra event in 2002. Since then, Apra has been an important part of her professional life. Sarah served on the Body of Knowledge Task Force for Prospect Research, was part of the Curriculum Planning Committee for Prospect Development 2017, co-chaired Apra Talks in 2018, and chaired the Conference Planning Committee in 2019. She joined the Apra board in 2019. She has also been involved with Apra North Texas and AASP. Sarah started her prospect development career as a one-person advancement services shop supporting a public/private capital campaign. She joined Southern Methodist University in 2007 and now leads a team of seven professionals engaged in prospect identification, research, portfolio management, prospect pool analysis, and fundraising strategy development. This team was instrumental in the success of SMU's Second Century Campaign, which concluded in 2015, and provides strategy for the SMU: Ignited campaign, which aims to raise $1.5 billion. She serves on the Principal Gifts team, which directs the highest-level gift strategies for the University, and the cross-functional Development Services Leadership Team. Sarah earned her BFA in Theatre from Otterbein University and a master's degree in Liberal Studies from SMU. A proud mama of teenagers and passionate supporter of the arts, she sings with Credo - Dallas Community Choir. |
Travel Information
Recommended Hotel
Though our chapter board has decided not to reserve a block at a hotel this year, our recommendation for our out-of-town travelers is the CANVAS Hotel | Dallas as it is close by the zoo. For a list of their amenities and services they provide, click here.
CANVAS Hotel | Dallas
1325 Botham Jean Boulevard
Dallas, TX 75215
Directions from CANVAS to the Dallas Zoo
By car (~10 minutes)
- Take Corinth St and E Clarendon Dr to Interstate 35E Service Rd/S R.L. Thornton Freeway Service Rd.
- Turn left onto I-35E Service Rd/S R.L. Thornton Freeway Service Rd.
- Turn left onto S Marsalis Ave and continue on I-35E Service Rd/ S R.L. Thornton Freeway Service Rd.
- On the northbound access road of I-35E, you'll find the entrance located by the tall giraffe statue.
By DART (~12 minutes; service every 15 minutes)
- Turn left onto Belleview St. After passing Cockrell Ave, turn right into Cedar Station
- Take the S - Red Line - Westmoreland for two stops.
- Get off DART at the Dallas Zoo stop.
Parking and Meal Information
- Parking is charged by car and will be paid by Apra North Texas. Tell the parking lot staff member at the parking booth that you are attending the Apra North Texas Conference.
- Lunch will be provided.