2012 Winter Conference | Session Information

Session Title:
Building & Maintaining Your Prospect Pool - How to Integrate Prospect Research & Management Into Your Major Giving Program

Description:
Learn what goes into developing a prospect research/management program no matter the size of your organization and how it’s used in successful major gift fundraising.

Speaker Bio: Jessica Balsam

Jessica oversees prospect management at the University of Washington as the Associate Director of Relationship Management, managing prospect data and portfolios for the 100+ major gift officers at the university. Prior to UW, she held positions as one-person prospect research and prospect management shop for The Evergreen State College, and head of development services at Tacoma Art Museum. She has also acted as a database consultant for small non-profits. She is president of the Northwest chapter of the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement and regularly speaks for small groups as well as at the APRA International annual conference. She has served on a handful of non-profit boards and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Illinois.

Speaker Bio: Barron Cato

Barron Cato is a Research Strategist for Advancement Research & Relationship Management at the University of Washington. He has over fifteen years of experience working in development. His areas of expertise include higher education advancement services and research, nonprofit fundraising, and fundraising consulting. Prior to joining the University of Washington, Barron worked for Washington State University, Seattle Audubon, and The Collins Group.  A graduate of Project Lead, Barron is currently a NDOA board member and has presented on research in multiple training sessions including the UW Certificate in Fundraising Management and NDOA.

Speaker Bio: Lee Heck

Lee Heck is the Associate Vice President for Individual Giving Programs at the University of Washington, working with the central-based major gifts programs.  During his ten-year tenure at the UW, he has held a number of positions and has supported alumni and friends who are interested in programs all across campus.  Prior to working with the UW, Lee was the Director of Development and Marketing at the Northwest AIDS Foundation (which merged with Chicken Soup Brigade to become Lifelong AIDS Alliance).  He also worked in development in Dallas, TX before he and his partner moved to Seattle in 1996.

Lee is a former board member and board president of the Northwest Development Officers Association, and has led and participated in many training sessions at NDOA, AFP, UW, SU and other organizations.  He volunteers with several organizations, and is especially excited about his work with the Pride Foundation.  Lee has a long-held passion for the non-profit sector.

When he’s not working, Lee enjoys time at home with his partner, friends and animals; spending time in the outdoors in the beautiful northwest; cooking (and eating!); and having adventures in and around Seattle.