Apra DC-MD invites the prospect development community to an intimate conversation with Apra International President Lindsey Nadeau and President-Elect Catherine Flaatten about Apra International, Apra chapters, and leadership.
Hosts and moderators Sara Anello and Natalie Walden, Co-Presidents of Apra DC-MD, will pose questions about Apra International's strategic plan and direction, Lindsey and Catherine's leadership philosophies, the Apra chapters-Apra International evolving relationship and opportunities to optimize the member experience throughout the Apra sphere.
Whether you are a member of an Apra chapter or Apra International, member of both, attend chapter or Apra International programming frequently, or are completely new to anything Apra, we welcome you to attend and bring your questions to this hour long conversation.
Registration - Complimentary and Open to All
Apra DC-MD welcomes everyone interested to attend this fireside chat at no cost. The discussion will be recorded so that anyone with scheduling conflicts can register and receive the recording afterward.
Submitting Questions
Attendees are invited to submit questions via the registration form or by emailing info@apradcmd.org. All questions will be provided anonymously to our fireside chat guests.
Apra International Guests
Lindsey Nadeau
President, Apra International
Lindsey Nadeau is the Vice President of Philanthropy Insight at UNICEF USA, where she guides Philanthropy toward data-driven decision-making and automation across prospect development, database management, analytics, gift processing, record management, donor relations, and strategy and operations. She previously held roles at The George Washington University, the Center for American Progress, The American University, and Public Citizen.
Lindsey is President of Apra International, a member of CCS Fundraising’s Analytics Advisory Board, and an instructor of Relationship Management: Data, Policy, & Insight at Rice University’s Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership. Lindsey holds a BA in economics from The American University and resides in Reston, Virginia, as an equestrian, wife of a winemaker, and mom to Adeline (7).
Catherine Flaatten
President-Elect, Apra International
Catherine Flaatten, MPH, CFRE, is the associate vice president of prospect development at BWF, where she advises nonprofit clients on building and strengthening programs in prospect research, management, and analytics. Her consulting is grounded in past practitioner experience at The George Washington University, Share Our Strength/No Kid Hungry, the National Psoriasis Foundation, and the BrightFocus Foundation.
As an industry leader, Catherine currently serves as the president-elect of Apra International. She has previously held numerous volunteer leadership roles with Apra International, Apra Metro DC, and aasp. Catherine is a frequent presenter and author in the field, and her expertise has been featured in the Chronicle of Philanthropy. Her contributions aim to position prospect development as a strategic driver of fundraising success and strengthen the profession through knowledge-sharing and advocacy.
Catherine earned both her BA in International Affairs and her MPH in Maternal and Child Health from The George Washington University. She resides with her partner and their cat in the Chicago suburbs.
Hosts & Moderators
Sara Anello
Co-President, Apra DC-MD
Sara Anello is Senior Portfolio and Pipeline Analyst at The George Washington University. Ten years into her career in prospect development, Sara approaches her relationship management work with frontline fundraisers with intentional connection and analytical precision alike. She drives portfolio optimization and pipeline accuracy through close collaboration with frontline partners as a member of GW’s Research & Relationship Management team.
Sara began her Apra volunteer story in 2020 with Apra Maryland, starting as a micro volunteer before culminating her service as Co-President in 2024-2025. Currently, Sara co-leads organizational growth and strategy for Apra DC-MD as Co-President. After contributing to the merger vision and process between the association's legacy chapters, Sara is dedicated to investing in Apra DC-MD's future through growing the volunteer and board pipeline and supporting enhanced member experience. Additionally, Sara lends her professional perspective to Apra International volunteering (Advocacy Committee, 2020-2021; Nominations Committee, 2026; and currently Vice Chair, Resource Library Committee). The unique camaraderie and generosity of the prospect development community powers her volunteer motivation and commitment.
Sara holds a bachelors degree in History from the University of California at Davis. When not working or volunteering, Sara enjoys spending time with her husband, two sons, and cat Cora; singing on her church worship team, planting a native plant garden; and wistfully aspiring to become a minimalist.
Natalie Walden
Co-President, Apra DC-MD
Natalie Walden is the Senior Associate Director of Prospect Management at Johns Hopkins University & Medicine, where she leads the Relationship Management function within the institution’s central Relationship Management and Prospect Analytics team. While overseeing this team, Natalie partners closely with development leaders across the university and Medicine to advance portfolio optimization, strengthen proposal and pipeline management, and deliver data‑driven reporting and analytics that support major and principal gift strategy.
Natalie brings nearly a decade of experience in prospect development, fundraising strategy, and advancement operations. Prior to joining Johns Hopkins, she built a strong foundation in frontline fundraising support and strategy at The George Washington University, Hillel International, and Capital Camps & Retreat Center.
In addition to her professional work, Natalie has been an active volunteer leader within Apra since 2023. She served on the board of Apra Metro DC and now serves as Co‑President of the newly merged Apra DC‑MD chapter, helping guide the chapter through an exciting period of transition and growth.
Commemorating Apra DC-MD's First Anniversary: Optional Paid Registration Type Raises Travel Funds to Send the Chapter's Apra PD 2027 Scholarship Winner to Apra PD in Anaheim for Apra International's 40th Anniversary
Many of us know how valuable it is to attend Apra International's signature Prospect Development conference. There's nothing like the energy of being with nearly a thousand other prospect development professionals learning and discussing the latest trends and approaches in the field and making vital industry connections. Apra DC-MD is fortunate to have sponsor support from DonorSearch by EverTrue to cover the conference registration cost for a scholarship winner in 2027.
Due to anticipated increased travel costs for a West Coast location for an awardee this year, the chapter invites members and friends of Apra DC-MD to consider registering via the "Send The Chapter's Scholarship Winner to Anaheim" option. By selecting this option, you'll power a peer's professional development and ability to attend a special Apra PD, celebrating Apra International's 40th anniversary! And, you'll also mark Apra DC-MD's first anniversary, which we are celebrating in November 2026!
Thank you for considering this registration type. We recognize not everyone is in a position to contribute, and we warmly welcome your presence at the fireside chat regardless of participation in this completely optional opportunity.
All funds from this registration type will be set aside solely to support a travel stipend for our 2027 PD scholarship recipient. As a 501c6 organization, these registrations are not tax deductible.
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