The Ann Castle Award is NEDRA’s recognition of notable achievement in the field of development research, which may include special projects, articles in development-related publications, or other efforts that have served to promote or assist others in the field of development research.  It may also recognize exceptional effort or achievement that has served the development mission of the nominee’s organization.

This award honors Ann Castle. A native of Michigan, she earned a bachelor's degree from Smith College and a master's degree from Harvard Divinity School.  In 1988, she became Director of Development Research at Wellesley College.  The following year, she became Director of Development Research at Harvard University, where she remained until 1997.  In 1997, Ann became Director of Development Research at Hamilton College in Clinton, NY.  For the last two years of her life, Ann worked as an independent consultant in Development Research, working for Slate.com at Microsoft, the United Nations Foundation, and the White House Conference on Philanthropy.  Ann passed away on February 22, 2000 after a brief illness. Ann was the president of the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement from 1992 to 1993 and was the editor of the Philanthropic Digest.  In the late 1990s, when Slate magazine was someone to compile a ranking of philanthropists that, in Ted Turner’s words, would "honor the generous and shame the stingy," the editors turned to Ann.  She quickly developed a listing that in December 1996 was published as the Slate 60.

This year marks the 11^th year that NEDRA has honored distinguished service to research and fundraising in Ann’s name.  Previous recipients of the Ann Castle Award include David Eberly, Shelley Brown, Judy Rotenberg, Sandra Larkin, Helen Brown, Elizabeth Crabtree, Valerie Anastasio, Paul Dakin, Charlie Carr and Marianne Pelletier.

In honor of NEDRA’s 25^th Anniversary, the Board of NEDRA thought it appropriate that this year’s award recognize the founding of our organization.  The non-Board members of the award committee, Patti Whitford of Hamilton College and Marianne Pelletier of Cornell University, concurred with this nomination.  The NEDRA Board thanks Patti and Marianne for their service on the award committee.

Many hearty congratulations to NEDRA's 2012 Ann Castle Award Recipient, the founding president of NEDRA:

Joseph J. Donnelly, Jr.

Joe Donnelly currently serves as Vice President & Campaign Director in the Office of University Advancement at Northeastern University.  In that role, he oversees development information services, donor relations, events, and research. In addition, he helps plan and implement the strategic direction of the advancement division in advance of a major fundraising initiative.

Since beginning his development career in research at Brandeis, Joe has held positions in donor relations at Harvard, Brandeis, and Northeastern universities, and was director of advancement services at Phillips Academy, Andover.  He has also done front-line fundraising in health care and education.

Joe was the founding president of both the New England Development Research Association and the Association of Donor Relations Professionals (ADRP) and has done many presentations at NEDRA, APRA, ADRP, CASE, and AFP conferences.  In 2009, he was presented the Founders Award from ADRP for “significant contributions to the profession.”  Joe holds a B.A. in art history from Bates College.