Apra Missouri/Kansas Chapter Board of Directors
President
Marissa Todd
Prospect Research Analyst, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Contact
Marissa has been working in non-profit and higher education fundraising for over a decade. Although she has dabbled in prospect development since 2008, she really found her passion for the profession at her first Apra conference in 2014. Since then, Marissa has focused on developing and growing small shops, first in higher education and now at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. She is very involved with Apra, serving as president of the Missouri-Kansas Chapter, a member of the Apra Chapters Committee and the 2018 Nominations committee. She has also presented at several conferences and loves to share her passion for prospect development with anyone who will listen.
Marissa earned her BA and JD from the University of Missouri and her MBA from Stephens College. In her free time, Marissa likes to experiment with cooking and wine, devour books and cheer on her favorite sports teams. She also likes to plan adventures with her husband, Michael, and snuggle up on the couch with their cats, Artie and Faurot.
Vice President/Secretary
Julie Craig
Senior Director of Prospect Analytics & Research, Kansas State University Foundation
Contact
Julie’s career in development launched when she obtained a position supporting development staff at the Kansas State
University Foundation in 2004. The opportunity allowed her to support her alma mater as a recent graduate and to discover an
interest in Prospect Management & Research.
Two years later, she joined the department and became a member of Apra-International. In 2008 Julie and her husband,
Rodney, moved to Charlotte, NC to be near family. She launched the first satellite office for the foundation, and in her spare time,
was able to experience many firsts including mountain hiking, white water rafting, indoor skydiving and zip lining. She worked
remotely for four years before moving back to become Director of Advancement Services at the KSU Foundation. Just six months
after starting her new position, their daughter, Allison, arrived. A couple years later, they welcomed twins, Evelyn & Olivia, to the
family.
Julie and Rodney are high school sweethearts who practiced their parenting skills on beloved dogs, Bandit and Shadow. The family enjoys spending time outdoors, recreational activities and traveling.
Treasurer/Membership Director
Brinkley Smith
Prospect Manager
Contact
Brinkley started her passion for research as a History major at Loyola University Chicago where she graduated in 2011. She then moved back to her home town of St. Louis and immersed herself in several non-profits including Opera Theatre Saint Louis, the Missouri History Museum, Humane Society of St. Louis, and Yogabuzz. After two years as an administrative assistant at the Washington University School of Medicine, Brinkley discovered her future career of “behind-the-scenes” fundraising, data management, and prospect research and knew it was the perfect place for an extroverted introvert. In 2015, she started at the Missouri Botanical Garden working to build the Garden’s first moves management system in an effort to fund environmental missions around the globe. She is now working in prospect management for the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
On her off time Brinkley is a certified yoga teacher, avid runner, and glamp hiker. She finished her first half marathon on October 1st at the MO’ Cowbell Marathon Weekend and continues her challenge to hike all of Missouri’s major state parks with her 10 years young Schipperke, Rudy and husband, Justin. When she’s not out in the woods she’s in the garden of her new home in Crestwood, pulling weeds and trying to get hostas to grow in this ridiculous Missouri weather.
Communications Director
Caitlin Sturgeon
Assistant Director of Prospect Development & Strategy, Washburn University Foundation
Contact
Caitlin was hired as the research analyst at Washburn University Foundation in July 2013. Previously she worked for several
years at the Foundation as a student phonathon caller and student research assistant. She graduated from Washburn in May
2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in English literature and history with a minor in women's and gender studies.
From her first day as a professional researcher Washburn made sure she was a member of Apra-International and the local
chapter. Apra allowed Caitlin to quickly learn about the field and gives her the necessary tools to do her job effectively. Through the support of Apra and the chapter's mentorship program, Caitlin has been able to grow in the field and advance the Washburn Foundation shop from purely reactive to a robust prospect development shop that's mostly reactive. During her tenure she has also built a prospect management system that is up to industry standards and allows for accurate reporting.
Program Director/Conference Chair
Vacant
Contact
This position is currently vacant. If you are interested, please contact Marissa Todd.
Professional Development Director
Michelle Brownlee
Director of Philanthropic Prospect Development, Children's Mercy Kansas City
Contact
Michelle discovered her passion for prospect research (and a practical use for her history degree!) while working on a capital campaign at Harvesters-The Community Food Network. Upon completion of the campaign, she established a prospect development program at Harvesters and became one of the first full-time prospect researchers in the Feeding America network.
Michelle’s almost 20-year career in prospect development has spanned human services, higher education, and now children’s healthcare. She currently serves as Director of Philanthropic Prospect Development at Children’s Mercy.
Michelle is a member of the Apra Missouri-Kansas board of directors, in the role of professional development chair. She also serves on the board of the Kansas City Food Circle and has volunteered with Harvesters, Show Me KC Schools, and the Hospitalized Veterans Writing Project.
Michelle earned a BA in History from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. In her spare time, she is a voracious reader, trivia nerd, and aspiring gardener. She also likes to explore the foodie scene both locally and wherever she travels.
Marissa Todd
Prospect Research Analyst, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Contact
Marissa has been working in non-profit and higher education fundraising for over a decade. Although she has dabbled in prospect development since 2008, she really found her passion for the profession at her first Apra conference in 2014. Since then, Marissa has focused on developing and growing small shops, first in higher education and now at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. She is very involved with Apra, serving as president of the Missouri-Kansas Chapter, a member of the Apra Chapters Committee and the 2018 Nominations committee. She has also presented at several conferences and loves to share her passion for prospect development with anyone who will listen.
Marissa earned her BA and JD from the University of Missouri and her MBA from Stephens College. In her free time, Marissa likes to experiment with cooking and wine, devour books and cheer on her favorite sports teams. She also likes to plan adventures with her husband, Michael, and snuggle up on the couch with their cats, Artie and Faurot.
Vice President/Secretary
Julie Craig
Senior Director of Prospect Analytics & Research, Kansas State University Foundation
Contact
Julie’s career in development launched when she obtained a position supporting development staff at the Kansas State
University Foundation in 2004. The opportunity allowed her to support her alma mater as a recent graduate and to discover an
interest in Prospect Management & Research.
Two years later, she joined the department and became a member of Apra-International. In 2008 Julie and her husband,
Rodney, moved to Charlotte, NC to be near family. She launched the first satellite office for the foundation, and in her spare time,
was able to experience many firsts including mountain hiking, white water rafting, indoor skydiving and zip lining. She worked
remotely for four years before moving back to become Director of Advancement Services at the KSU Foundation. Just six months
after starting her new position, their daughter, Allison, arrived. A couple years later, they welcomed twins, Evelyn & Olivia, to the
family.
Julie and Rodney are high school sweethearts who practiced their parenting skills on beloved dogs, Bandit and Shadow. The family enjoys spending time outdoors, recreational activities and traveling.
Treasurer/Membership Director
Brinkley Smith
Prospect Manager
Contact
Brinkley started her passion for research as a History major at Loyola University Chicago where she graduated in 2011. She then moved back to her home town of St. Louis and immersed herself in several non-profits including Opera Theatre Saint Louis, the Missouri History Museum, Humane Society of St. Louis, and Yogabuzz. After two years as an administrative assistant at the Washington University School of Medicine, Brinkley discovered her future career of “behind-the-scenes” fundraising, data management, and prospect research and knew it was the perfect place for an extroverted introvert. In 2015, she started at the Missouri Botanical Garden working to build the Garden’s first moves management system in an effort to fund environmental missions around the globe. She is now working in prospect management for the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
On her off time Brinkley is a certified yoga teacher, avid runner, and glamp hiker. She finished her first half marathon on October 1st at the MO’ Cowbell Marathon Weekend and continues her challenge to hike all of Missouri’s major state parks with her 10 years young Schipperke, Rudy and husband, Justin. When she’s not out in the woods she’s in the garden of her new home in Crestwood, pulling weeds and trying to get hostas to grow in this ridiculous Missouri weather.
Communications Director
Caitlin Sturgeon
Assistant Director of Prospect Development & Strategy, Washburn University Foundation
Contact
Caitlin was hired as the research analyst at Washburn University Foundation in July 2013. Previously she worked for several
years at the Foundation as a student phonathon caller and student research assistant. She graduated from Washburn in May
2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in English literature and history with a minor in women's and gender studies.
From her first day as a professional researcher Washburn made sure she was a member of Apra-International and the local
chapter. Apra allowed Caitlin to quickly learn about the field and gives her the necessary tools to do her job effectively. Through the support of Apra and the chapter's mentorship program, Caitlin has been able to grow in the field and advance the Washburn Foundation shop from purely reactive to a robust prospect development shop that's mostly reactive. During her tenure she has also built a prospect management system that is up to industry standards and allows for accurate reporting.
Program Director/Conference Chair
Vacant
Contact
This position is currently vacant. If you are interested, please contact Marissa Todd.
Professional Development Director
Michelle Brownlee
Director of Philanthropic Prospect Development, Children's Mercy Kansas City
Contact
Michelle discovered her passion for prospect research (and a practical use for her history degree!) while working on a capital campaign at Harvesters-The Community Food Network. Upon completion of the campaign, she established a prospect development program at Harvesters and became one of the first full-time prospect researchers in the Feeding America network.
Michelle’s almost 20-year career in prospect development has spanned human services, higher education, and now children’s healthcare. She currently serves as Director of Philanthropic Prospect Development at Children’s Mercy.
Michelle is a member of the Apra Missouri-Kansas board of directors, in the role of professional development chair. She also serves on the board of the Kansas City Food Circle and has volunteered with Harvesters, Show Me KC Schools, and the Hospitalized Veterans Writing Project.
Michelle earned a BA in History from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. In her spare time, she is a voracious reader, trivia nerd, and aspiring gardener. She also likes to explore the foodie scene both locally and wherever she travels.