APRA 

Welcome to the CARA web site.  This is the homepage for the California Advancement Researchers Association (CARA) and a central source of information for our organization, courtesy of Paul Kirchgraber at the University of Southern California and his brother (owner of Dolphin Website Design), who make this site possible. 

What is CARA?  CARA is a state chapter of the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (APRA), an international, professional association, whose mission is to address the changing needs and wide scope of skills required of advancement researchers and advancement service professionals who work for their non-profit institutions. 

CARA supports that mission at the state level by offering continuing education classes and a forum where development research professionals can share experiences, knowledge, ideas, techniques and resources. Through this forum, CARA fosters an atmosphere of cooperation and support among its members and participants. Membership in CARA is open to development researchers as well as those interested in the field.  CARA members are encouraged, but not required, to join APRA.