Ohio Prospect Research Network upcoming events

Live AI Prospect Research Workshop with DonorAtlas (October 22, 2026)

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Live AI Prospect Research Workshop with DonorAtlas

In this interactive session, you'll put AI to work to navigate some exciting prospect research scenarios with Will Schrepferman, the co-founder & CEO of DonorAtlas! And the best part: you'll get to vote on which scenarios we work through (and even propose your own). You'll leave with new skills, fresh ideas, and real sample data + AI prompts you can apply to your day-to-day prospect research & development work. You won't want to miss this one!!

Presenter:

Aberdeen Morrow
DonorAtlas

Book Club - Recommendations (October 30, 2026)

Fri, 30 Oct 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Book Recommendations

We are doing something different for October’s book club! Rather than read a specific book, this meeting will be an opportunity to share and discuss books that have inspired our professional growth, expanded our thinking, or offered valuable insights into fundraising, philanthropy, leadership, or advancement work.

As part of the discussion, everyone is encouraged to come prepared with one book recommendation. This could be:

A professional development book that has influenced your work or career
A fundraising or philanthropy-focused book
A leadership or management-related title that you found particularly helpful

Whether you've recently discovered a great read or have a longtime favorite, we'd love to hear what made it meaningful and why you recommend it.

This will be a relaxed and engaging opportunity to learn from one another, exchange ideas, and build a reading list that can support our individual and collective professional growth.

All are welcome!

Webinar - Neurodiversity in Research: Designing Workflows for All Kinds of Thinkers (November 04, 2026)

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Prospect research is a cognitively demanding field—requiring focus, pattern recognition, and adaptability. These are often strengths of neurodivergent professionals, yet traditional workflows and expectations can unintentionally create barriers.

Led by a neurodivergent researcher with nearly two decades of nonprofit experience, this session explores how to design inclusive, flexible research environments where all kinds of thinkers can thrive. We’ll examine common challenges—like time blindness, sensory overload, and communication mismatches—and offer practical strategies for building workflows that support diverse cognitive styles.

Whether you identify as neurodivergent, manage a team, or want to foster a more inclusive research culture, this session offers tools, language, and a fresh perspective on what it means to do research well.

Presenter: Jessica May

Development Analyst at Mid-Ohio Foodbank

Jessica May, MPA (she/her), is a neurodivergent prospect researcher with 19 years of experience across the nonprofit sector, including foodbanking, small business resources, adult learning, and adaptive training design. She brings a unique blend of lived experience and professional expertise in workflow design, accessibility, and inclusive team culture.

Leveling Up: Turning Prospect Profiles Into Fundraising Strategy (November 13, 2026)

Fri, 13 Nov 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Leveling Up: Turning Prospect Profiles Into Fundraising Strategy

Description
A prospect profile brings together useful information about a person. How can we use that information to help a gift officer decide what to do next?

This session demonstrates how AI can help researchers add evidence-based fundraising strategy to an existing profile. Using a fictional prospect and sample CRM exports, we’ll connect giving history, Contact Reports, Next Steps, Proposals, and recorded capacity to assess donor interests, engagement, and readiness.

We’ll follow the process from clarifying the research request to preparing a strategy section with a recommended next action, meeting questions, and follow-through. Along the way, we’ll distinguish documented facts from researcher interpretation, identify gaps that could change the recommendation, and discuss where human judgment remains essential.

Attendees will leave with a practical approach to creating profiles that support prospect management and donor conversations. Examples will use Slate, but the approach applies across CRM systems.

Speaker
Ryan Clement, MS, is Director of Prospect Research at the Cleveland State University. His work combines prospect research, portfolio management, and AI-assisted analysis to help development officers prioritize engagement and plan fundraising strategies. He previously served as Manager of Philanthropic Research at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Ryan holds a master’s degree in business psychology and brings a practical focus on behavior, communication, and human judgment to his work with data and AI. He is an Apra and OPRN member and presented at OPRN’s 2026 Annual Conference.

NE Ohio Duckpin Bowling at Pins Mechanical (November 18, 2026)

Wed, 18 Nov 2026 23:00:00 GMT

NE Ohio OPRN Regional Event

Join NE Ohio OPRN and local prospect development professionals for an evening of networking and community. Enjoy conversation, refreshments, and snacks at Pins Mechanical Co. inside 16 Bit Bar and Arcade.

We will provide appetizers and one game of Duckpin bowling. Additional games and beverages will be available for purchase.

When: Wednesday, November 18, 2026 at 6:00pm-8:00pm

Where: Pins Mechanical Co. – 16 Bit Bar and Arcade 1880 W. 25th St. Cleveland, OH 44113

Bring a colleague! This event is free for OPRN members and anyone interested in learning more about Prospect Development.

Come and hear about the newest plans and activities for OPRN's 40th Anniversary.

Please RSVP to help us plan.

Hot Chocolate Chat (December 18, 2026)

Fri, 18 Dec 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Year-End Hot Chocolate Networking Chat

Take a well-deserved hot chocolate break and connect with fellow prospect development professionals. Meet colleagues from a variety of organizations, exchange ideas, and share successes, challenges, and lessons learned from the year.

Feel free to wear your favorite festive sweater and join us for a fun and engaging conversation.

All are welcome!

Webinar - Keeping Your Ducks in a Row… and Your Geese, Too: Practical Prospect Management Strategies (January 20, 2027)

Wed, 20 Jan 2027 16:00:00 GMT

Keeping Your Ducks in a Row… and Your Geese, Too: Practical Prospect Management Strategies

Prospect management works best when it’s both structured and flexible. In this session, we’ll talk through practical approaches to managing prospect portfolios, proposal strategy, metrics, and data integrity—while acknowledging the realities and pressures faced by frontline fundraisers. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s clarity, alignment, and momentum. Attendees will leave with ideas they can apply immediately to keep prospects moving forward and teams working together more effectively.

Presenter: Elise Martin

Associate Director, Prospect Development at Miami University

Elise has over 10 years of experience in advancement fundraising and prospect management within higher education. She currently works in prospect management, where she partners closely with development officers to support portfolio strategy, proposal tracking, and metric reporting. Elise holds an MBA from Miami University’s Farmer School of Business and brings a practical, collaborative approach to prospect management—focused on helping teams stay organized, aligned, and effective.