Maria Semple is the firm's principal. An experienced
researcher, trainer and frequent speaker on the topic of prospect research, she consults with both nonprofit organizations
and financial services firms interested in finding their best prospects for long-term relationships.
She
is a member of the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (APRA) where she has presented workshops
on research resources used in the development process. Maria has also served as a speaker for The Support Center
for Nonprofit Management, Fund Raising Day in New York, the Mid-Atlantic Researchers Conference,
New Jersey Conference on Philanthropy, New Jersey's Nonprofit Symposium and the Association of
Fundraising Professionals (NJ). The firm also serves as a consultant for New Jersey's Partnership
in Philanthropy program and is a founding member of the Nonprofit Consultants Collaborative in New Jersey.
Other professional memberships include: Financial
Planning Association; Financial Women's Association; NonProfit Central NY/NJ; and Women In Development of Mercer County,
where she serves on the Board.
Maria began
her consulting career with Robert F. Semple Associates in 1990 directing capital campaigns for nonprofit organizations.
The firm, now Semple Bixel Associates, continues to enjoy a business relationship with The Prospect Finder. Other consulting
firms that have used Maria's services include: The Alford Group, Laurence A. Pagnoni Associates, Global Health Strategies,
The Canon Group LLC and Resource Development Counsel.
Prior to her work in this field, she was a securities dealer in the investment
banking industry. These combined strengths enable her to help both nonprofit and financial services organizations to
develop the depth and breadth of their reach to attain an even greater impact on their goals.
Maria successfully completed an
intensive Grant Proposal Writing Workshop conducted by The Grantsmanship Center in New York, NY. She is a graduate of
Douglass College.
