Cheryll McCarty, Prospect Management Analyst, Cleveland State University

What was your first nonprofit job? 

Cleveland Metropark Zoo- Event planner

How did you get into fundraising and/or prospect research? 

I have always been a fundraiser at heart. Every organization, whether it was for personal or work related, I was the first one to spear-head any fundraising needs of the organization. But my true passion is prospect research- I just love the prep work and strategy that goes into preparing a prospect for an ask by one of our professional fundraisers.

What’s a random fact you recently learned? 

That Cleveland, OH has the same amount of rainfall as Seattle, WA: 38 inches of rainfall per year.

Favorite guilty pleasure?

Scrolling on Tik-Tok

What could you give a 40-minute presentation on with absolutely no preparation? 

How to Plan an Event

What skill would you like to master? 

Learn to play the cello (and to read music)

Who’s your go-to band or artist when you can’t decide on something to listen to? 

Grateful Dead

Where’s the next place on your travel bucket list and why? 

Finland- b/c my great grandmother was from there and I want to see the town she was born in.