How To Raise: Donor Advised Funds, Prospect Development Metrics, and Ethical Due Diligence: A MARC 2026 Conference Sampler

In this special episode of How To Raise, we feature a curated preview of insights on prospect development from the top-flight faculty of the forthcoming Mid-Atlantic Regional Chapters (MARC) Conference. Melissa Bank Stepno, President & CEO of The Helen Brown Group, explores how the rapid rise of Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) is reshaping the philanthropic landscape—and what prospect researchers and fundraisers need to know to identify opportunities and refine their strategies. Catherine Flaatten, Associate Vice President for Prospect Development at BWF, shares practical approaches for measuring and communicating the value of prospect development, helping teams demonstrate their impact and connect their work directly to fundraising outcomes. And Adrienne Robertson, Senior Prospect Research Consultant at Virginia Commonwealth University, presents a powerful case study on their CASE award-winning initiative detailing how prospect development teams can act as agents of ethical organizational change, strengthening due diligence practices while protecting staff from harmful donor interactions. You won’t want to miss this selection of key topics with some of the leading voices in fundraising today! Learning Objectives: 1) Understand the implications of the rapid growth of Donor Advised Funds and how prospect researchers can identify and leverage DAF giving opportunities to inform fundraising strategy. 2) Develop meaningful metrics to demonstrate the value of prospect development, linking research, identification, and portfolio management activities to measurable fundraising outcomes. 3) Explore emerging ethical frameworks in advancement, including how prospect development teams can help institutions address donor-related risks while protecting staff safety and organizational integrity.