Catherine Flaatten, CFRE, MPH, associate vice president of prospect development at BWF Zuri, has been named president-elect of Apra, the leading organization in the prospect development field. Flaatten will serve as president-elect for the 2026-2027 program year before beginning her term as president.
“I’m honored to serve Apra in this leadership role,” says Flaatten. “As data, analytics, and technology continue to reshape philanthropy, Apra is well positioned to lead the industry in using insights to drive fundraising. I’m looking forward to working with our members, volunteers, staff, and partners to expand our impact and advance data-powered fundraising across the profession.”
Flaatten’s appointment continues BWF Zuri’s longstanding leadership in the field and reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to helping nonprofits use research, analytics, and technology to strengthen fundraising strategy. Flaatten is the fifth BWF Zuri team member to serve as Apra president, joining Pamela Poland, Elizabeth Dollhopf-Brown, and Bond Lammey who also served in the leadership role.
Executive Partner Bond Lammey, who served as president in 2019-2020, states that “Catherine is deeply committed to the prospect development profession. In particular, she has contributed significant thought leadership in the area of due diligence. She will be a steady and innovative leader.”
At BWF Zuri, Flaatten advises nonprofit clients on building and strengthening programs in prospect research, management, and analytics. She has also done pioneering work in due diligence and utilizing AI for efficiency. 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. She earned both her BA in International Affairs and her MPH in Maternal and Child Health from The George Washington University.
Flaatten serves on Apra International’s Board of Directors, Education and Professional Development Committee, and Fundamentals Committee. She has held numerous volunteer leadership roles with Apra International, Apra DC-MD (formerly Apra Metro DC), and aasp. She 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 to strengthen the profession through knowledge-sharing and leadership.
Apra was founded in Minnesota, and BWF Zuri’s own Bobbie Strand was a founding member. Strand wrote the first-ever book on prospect research, “Prospect Research: A How-to Guide.” Strand, a partner with BWF from 1984-2008, is a nationally recognized leader in major gift and prospect development, capital campaign planning and implementation, major gift management, cultivation, and solicitation strategy development.
In addition, BWF Zuri Senior Fellow, Philanthropy Innovation, Josh Birkholz received the Visionary Award in 2015. This distinction is the highest award bestowed by Apra and recognizes an individual’s exceptional contributions to the field of prospect development.
