In our continuing PD Pride series, we asked Abby Christensen from the National FFA Foundation some questions regarding her experience in prospect development.

Q. What inspired you to pursue a career in this field, and what keeps you motivated in the work you do today?

A. I became interested in prospect research because I love research and writing and I wanted to work in non-profits. Continuously learning and working with a great team are what keep me motivated.

Q. What do you find most rewarding about your role, and how has your perspective on the industry evolved over time?

A. What I find most rewarding is seeing the impact that fundraising has on our organization. Prospect research is becoming increasingly data-focused, allowing us to work more strategically.

Q. What trends or innovations do you see shaping the future of our field, and how do you think we should prepare for them?

A. AI is already having an impact on prospect research and will continue to do so in the future. We should prepare by working with our colleagues on best practices and learning how AI can help us do our work more strategically and efficiently.

Q. If you could give one piece of advice to someone just entering this profession, what would it be?

A. Be sure to get involved with Apra and try to attend in-person conferences when you can. I have learned so much from my peers in Apra.