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Hotel + Travel
We are excited to host Prospect Development 2026 at the Hilton Chicago!
Hilton Chicago
720 S. Michigan | Chicago, IL 60605
Airports
· O'Hare International Airport (ORD): Approximately 20 miles from the Hilton Chicago. Travel time is typically 45–75 minutes, depending on traffic.
· Midway International Airport (MDW): Approximately 10 miles from the Hilton Chicago. Travel time is typically 20–40 minutes, depending on traffic.
Transportation Options
There are several convenient ways to travel from either airport to the Hilton Chicago:
· Taxi: Taxis are available outside each airport terminal.
· Rideshare: Uber and Lyft pickups are available at designated rideshare locations at both airports.
· Public Transit: The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) provides affordable service from both airports:
· From O'Hare, take the Blue Line toward Forest Park, then transfer to the Red Line toward 95th/Dan Ryan and exit at Harrison. The hotel is about a 10-minute walk from the station.
· From Midway, take the Orange Line toward the Loop and exit at Harold Washington Library–State/Van Buren. The hotel is approximately a 10-minute walk away.
We recommend allowing extra travel time during peak morning and evening hours, as traffic in downtown Chicago can be unpredictable.
Attire
Attire for Prospect Development 2026 is business casual. Don't forget that, despite the warm temperatures outside, room temperatures at the hotel may vary. We encourage you to dress in layers or
carry a light sweater.
Agenda
Visit the program page for a full agenda, including speaker and session information. This information will also be available in the Whova conference app. If you want a physical paper copy, we encourage you to download it from the Whova agenda page.
Registration Hours
Conference registration will take place in the 8th Street Registration Foyer at the times outlined below. If you are attending Apra Fundamentals, Data Science Now, the Executive Leadership Cohort or the Emerging Leaders Cohort on Tuesday, Aug. 11, we encourage you to beat the rush and pick up your badge during the Monday registration hours.
· Monday, Aug. 10: 3-5 p.m. CT
· Tuesday, Aug. 11: 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. CT
· Wednesday, Aug. 12: 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. CT
· Thursday, Aug. 13: 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. CT
Need to use the Nursing Nook? We will have a locked, private meeting room available for nursing mothers. Ask for the key at Registration during the hours above.
Passport Prizes
Don’t forget to play Passport to Prizes, an in-app game starting on Tuesday, Aug. 11.
To qualify for a Passport to Prizes prize:
1. Each participating company will have a small tabletop sign at their booth. Open the Whova app and
navigate to Exhibitors or Passport. Have the exhibitor scan your unique QR code.
2. Once you have your Whova QR code scanned by all participating exhibitors, your information will be
pulled from the Whova conference app for the prize drawing, and winners will be selected at random.
3. You must be present to win! The drawing will take place on Thursday, Aug. 13, from 8:30 - 8:45 a.m. in
the Apra Theatre in the Exhibit Hall.
4. Attendees without a smartphone: collect a business card from each participating exhibitor. Bring
them to the Registration Desk to be entered into the drawing.
Passport to Prizes is sponsored by AlmaConnect, Apra Foundation, Blackbaud, DonorSearch
by evertrue, Kaleidoscope, Kindsight and Windfall.
Meal Functions
The following meal functions are included with your Full Conference registration:
Tuesday, Aug. 11:
4:30-6:30 p.m. Welcome Reception
Wednesday, Aug. 12:
8-8:45 a.m. Breakfast
11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Lunch
Thursday, Aug. 13:
8-9 a.m. Breakfast
Attendees are on their own for lunch on Thursday.
Friday, Aug. 14:
8-8:30 a.m. Breakfast
Attendees are on their own for lunch on Friday.
Dietary Requests
Our buffet menus are designed to accommodate a wide range of dietary needs. Food stations will be labeled to indicate items that are gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, vegan or contain nuts.
If you indicated a dietary request in your registration, please speak with a banquet team member at your meal function. Your specially prepared meal will be available from the banquet team and will be served upon request.
If you have a dietary restriction that was not provided in advance, please speak with a banquet team member. While every effort will be made to accommodate your needs, special meals cannot be guaranteed without advance notice.
Situational Awareness at the Hilton Chicago
Your safety — and the safety of everyone around you — starts with staying aware of your surroundings throughout the conference. A few reminders as you head into this event:
· Know your exits. This is a big, multi-level property with meeting space on several floors. When you
enter any session room, ballroom or common area, take a moment to locate the nearest two exits — don't assume the way you came in is the fastest way out in an emergency.
· Wear your badge visibly at all times. Badges help our team and hotel security quickly identify attendees versus unauthorized individuals in a hotel that also hosts general public guests and other events simultaneously. If you see someone without a badge in a conference-designated area, notify a staff member.
· Stay alert in high-traffic areas. Registration, general sessions and receptions draw large crowds —
keep personal belongings close and avoid leaving bags, laptops or phones unattended, even briefly.
· Know the layout. With meeting rooms spanning multiple floors, give yourself extra time to navigate
between sessions and note stairwells and elevator banks near your session rooms in case elevators are unavailable in an emergency.
· Note the location of staff. Look for Apra Staff wearing name badges with “Staff” ribbons or the Hilton Chicago front desk staff (front desk is staffed 24/7). They're your fastest point of contact if something feels off.
· Trust your instincts. If a situation, person, or environment feels wrong, don't talk yourself out of it.
Move to a populated area — such as the lobby or registration desk — and alert staff or hotel security immediately.
· Report, don't ignore. Suspicious behavior, unattended items or safety hazards should be reported right away, even if you're not sure it's serious. It's always better to flag it.
Exploring Chicago Outside the Hotel
The Hilton Chicago sits right across from Grant Park and is a short walk from Millennium Park, the Art Institute and the Lakefront Trail — it's a great location for exploring on breaks or after sessions. A few reminders to keep in mind once you step outside:
· Go with a buddy when possible, especially at night. If you're heading out solo, let a colleague or
roommate know your general plan and expected return time.
· Stick to well-lit, well-traveled areas. Michigan Avenue, Grant Park's main paths and the Lakefront Trail
are busy and well-trafficked during the day; be more selective about routes after dark and avoid cutting through the park at night.
· Use licensed transportation. Rely on official rideshare apps, marked taxis or the hotel's recommended car service rather than unmarked vehicles. Confirm the driver and license plate match your
app before getting in.
· Keep valuables secure and out of sight. Wear bags cross-body, keep phones and wallets in front pockets and avoid displaying expensive cameras or jewelry unnecessarily, particularly in crowded tourist areas.
· Watch for common tourist-area scams, like unsolicited "helpers" at attractions or aggressive street solicitations — a polite but firm decline and continuing to walk is usually enough.
· Check the weather before you go. Chicago weather can shift quickly, especially near the lake — wind
and temperature swings are common even in the same day.
· Know how to get back. Save the hotel's address and phone number in your phone and have a rideshare app ready to go so you're never stuck without a way back.
· Watch for traffic patterns unique to the Loop. Downtown Chicago has heavy vehicle and bike traffic; use marked crosswalks and pay attention to protected bike lanes when crossing streets.
· Keep an eye on public transit safety basics if you use the CTA (‘L' trains or buses) — stay near other riders, keep belongings close and be aware of your surroundings at stations, especially later in the evening