People

Steve Paprocki, President

Steve has spent his professional career involved in philanthropy—as foundation director, fundraiser, trainer, donor consultant, author, researcher, and lobbyist.

As Associate Director of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP), Paprocki wrote four books on corporate grantmaking and "midwifed" sixty women's funds, environmental funds, Black United Funds, health funds, and social action funds.

Before his work with NCRP, Paprocki was a lobbyist for the Catholic Church, a program officer for the Campaign for Human Development and the founding director of the Cooperating Fund Drive.

Steve has served as chair of the board of directors of the Carmen Pampa Fund (supporting a community college in rural Bolivia), as well as been a board member of Minnesota Charities Review Council. He has served as a founding member of Headwaters Fund and a member of the funding panel of Minneapolis Foundation/McKnight Foundation Neighborhood Self-Help Initiatives Program. He has also served as an advisory board member of the Women's Funding Alliance of Seattle, the Montana Civil Liberties Union, the Pacific Institute for Community Organizing, and the National Black United Fund.

Steve has a Masters degree in Public Affairs from the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute, a Bachelors degree from the University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota and a Labor Studies Certificate from Metro State University in St. Paul. Steve is an adjunct professor at Hamline University and Metro State University, teaching courses in fundraising and philanthropy.

Roberta Worrell, General Manager

Roberta combines more than 20 years of strategic marketing and corporate community affairs experience with hands-on nonprofit knowledge. As the Star Tribune's Director of Consumer Marketing and then Director of Community Affairs, Roberta developed a knack for creating, negotiating, and managing successful corporate and nonprofit partnerships and programs. Her first-hand experience in the nonprofit sector includes serving as Executive Director of a Minneapolis nonprofit for children and youth.

Roberta holds an MBA from the University of Saint Thomas and earned her undergraduate degree in Marketing from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management.

Heather Vinge Hanson, Director of Research and Operations

Heather has spent most of her professional life within the non-profit industry – first, volunteering with community organizations, then in direct services at local domestic violence shelters and later as a Coordinator at the East YMCA. Heather currently is the Director of Research and Operations with Access Philanthropy, focusing on prospect research and strategic approaches.

In 2008, she authored, “The Nooks and Crannies Fundraising Book” that highlights alternative ways for nonprofits to raise money from fraternal organizations, churches and other smaller, local organizations.

Heather received her Bachelor’s degree in Family Social Science, with a concentration in Non-profit Management, from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and is pursuing a Master’s degree in Public and Non-profit Administration from Metropolitan State University. 

Emily Brown, Research Associate

Emily Brown is finishing her final semester of graduate work at the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota, where she will receive a Masters in Public Policy with a concentration in Public and Nonprofit Leadership and Management. Emily ventured into graduate school after receiving her Bachelors degree in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Minnesota. Emily has worked with Access Philanthropy over the past year to conduct research on the philanthropic sector, provide background information for client use, and maintain online database resources. When she graduates in May, Emily’s hope is to bring the tools and knowledge she gained in Minnesota back to her home state of Kansas.