Name
Melissa Young
Organization
Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre (QEII Foundation)
Position
Manager, Research Services
APRA Member For
14 years
How long have you worked in prospect research and how did you get involved in this profession?
I have worked in research development since 2002/2003. When the QEII Foundation launched their biggest capital campaign "Working Miracles" a $42.5M campaign, I was asked to become our campaign researcher. Following brief training with KCI Canada in Toronto I became the sole researcher for the campaign.
What does a typical day at work look like for you?
As a prospect researcher, you learn quickly to be flexible to daily requests. A typical day in the life of a prospect researcher can turn into an unexpected day very quickly. I once had a request to find out how many steps it would take to climb Mount Kilimanjaro...don't ask! But, to be honest first thing I do as a researcher is media scan for any news on current donors and prospects and happenings in the news that can have an impact on projects our team is working on. I also run reports, profile & research, review lists, work on current projects, meet with our development team and update the central database with coding and profile information daily.
What do you like most about being a member of the APRA?
What I enjoy most about being a member of APRA is the educational and networking opportunities. Without APRA Canada and International, I would not be as advanced in my career as I am and would not have been able to set-up an efficient research department for our organization. I highly recommend anyone getting involved with APRA as soon as you plan a career in research development.
What is your greatest professional achievement?
My greatest professional achievement is developing an efficient research department with an effective moves management system for tracking MG donors/prospects and various policies (prospect clearance policy, research request guidelines etc.)
What is the most important professional goal you are currently pursuing (i.e., attaining a degree, preparing to give a presentation, launching an initiative at work or in your community)?
I'm currently preparing to speak at the upcoming AFP - Maritime Fundraising Conference 2017 the end of May. There is a demand for prospect researchers to speak at conferences in the Maritimes because there are not many in the field in this area. I plan to speak on what prospect research is and the valuable role a research department plays within the development team. I will teach new researchers the needed essentials to research foundations, corporations, and individuals with the resources to run an efficient shop and talk about the importance of the donor cycle.
Is there a resource, i.e., book, blog, website, etc., that you would recommend to other APRA members?
I would highly recommend new researchers reading APRA Internationals "Body of Knowledge". Prospect Research - A Primer for Growing Nonprofits (Second Edition) by Cecilia Hogan and of course APRA Canada's Prospect Research in Canada - An Essential Guide for Researchers and Fundraisers.
Are there any particular stories, insights, etc., from your experiences in prospect research that you would like to share with our colleagues?
Prospect Research is the intel and catalyst behind your development team. Know your true value! A quick story...Our biggest donor is a grateful patient, because of the care a family member received at our hospital. When the physician called our VP of Philanthropy and indicated that she felt this donor wanted to give a major gift, our VP called me and said the donor’s name. I said, "Get up here, right now"! I had been tracking this donor since our early "Working Miracles" campaign days and I knew the true impact this donor could make to our organization. Prospect Research is a very rewarding career, I feel honoured that I'm part of making changes for health care in Atlantic Canada.
What is the best piece of professional advice you have ever received?
To be an advocate for your own career.