Meet the Apra Pennsylvania Board of Directors

Board President

 Lauren Woodring, Director of Prospect Research and Management, Philadelphia Museum of Art

How many years have you worked in fundraising/prospect research? 

9 years


Briefly summarize your background:

After undergrad, I went to grad school twice: one degree in History from La Salle University and one in Museum and Gallery Studies from the University of St Andrews. I thought that I would be working in a museum in collections but while working as a temp in the HR  department of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, I stumbled on prospect research. That was nine years ago, and I haven’t looked back.


How long have you served on the Apra PA board, and what inspired you to join?

I’ve been on the board since January 2018. I started as the Programming Director and was elected President in 2021. The chapter was growing, and I really wanted to be a part of that. I also wanted to meet fellow researchers!


What are you most proud of in your work?

I am really proud of the relationships that I have built with fellow staff members at the museum. It makes my job so much easier when there is respect and understanding with my work colleagues!


Do you have favorite research tool, site, or trick you can share?

I love using the H1B visa information to guess salaries! A big thanks to Michael Boyle at Princeton who presented on this for Apra PA.


What is your prospect development superpower?

I know when to give up! Early in my career someone told me that the best researchers know when to give up because they won’t be able to find more information and will just go down a rabbit hole. I think about this a lot and it has allowed me to be targeted and efficient.


What is your bucket list vacation destination and why?

South Africa! One of my grad school friends lives there and sends me pictures of giraffes and elephants that he sees in his every day life. I would love to visit! Oh, and I am always planning my next trip to Scotland.


What’s your hobby and why?

The pandemic has made me much more serious about knitting. I like that I can watch sports and create something at the same time.

Contact meLauren.Woodring@philamuseum.org

Apra Pennsylvania is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and is a state chapter of Apra, an international membership organization that "serves and educates fund-raising professionals interested in advancement research and promotes the profession of advancement research."

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software