News/Blog

Views expressed by News/Blog authors are solely that of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Association of Fundraising Professionals New York City Chapter. Links Disclaimer

 

Can Great Fundraisers Become Great Managers?

Chapter Leadership Brief 3.22.24

By Robin Merle, CFRE
President, Robin Merle Associates, LLC
Founder, TheProfessionalGuide.com


Retaining and motivating staff is a BIG topic in our profession.   The churn of fundraising staff in and out of organizations continues.  Staff who have exited their organizations talk of toxic cultures, unrealistic expectations, limited resources, and bad managers who still operate like gift officers rather than leaders.  “I wasn’t even able to speak to a donor.  I wrote briefings,” goes a typical complaint.

If you’ve risen up the ranks from asker to tasker, you can improve your chances of retaining team members by leaning into your role as a relationship-builder.

Providing Dignity Through and Restoring Reciprocity in Fundraising: An Inclusive Approach to Legacy Giving

Chapter Leadership Brief 3.8.24

by M. Angel Flores
Senior Vice President, CCS Fundraising

In a previous article, I shared data from Giving USA that confirmed nearly half of legacy gift donors first learned about the personal benefits of making such a gift from their charity. Beyond the inherent responsibility wealth stewards or donor advisors have to partner with donors and ensure they understand and therefore can take advantage of the significant benefits of making a legacy gift, there are the added benefits to our profession of providing donors the dignity of dying with their affairs in order and restoring reciprocity to this sacred relationship.

5 Fundraising Ideas to Boost Donor Engagement

by Bre Alexander
Content Marketing Manager, iWave

To boost donor engagement and maximize fundraising efforts, nonprofits need to think creatively and implement new strategies.  In this post, we’ll explore five fundraising ideas that can help nonprofits cultivate stronger relationships with their donors, expand their reach, and create a sense of community surrounding their cause.

From hosting unique events to donor surveys, these ideas will provide practical approaches to enhancing donor engagement. 

Let’s dive in!

Owning Your Seat at the Table

Chapter Leadership Brief 2.23.24

by Thomas E. Moore III
Executive Director, American Friends of the Louvre

It’s been nearly four months since I began my tenure as the Executive Director of American Friends of the Louvre and, as my first executive director role, it has been an incredible period of learning and growing into a new kind of leadership.  

Successful leaders often demonstrate attributes like compassion, a deep connection with their teams, and the ability to balance group needs with their individual aspirations. For emerging leaders looking to grow their skills, particularly leaders of color, I strongly advise embracing qualities and skills that may not always be recognized as conventional strengths. For example, being perceived as ‘different’ may have taught you how to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. In leadership, you can harness that feeling to adapt quickly, overcome difficult experiences, and see innovative solutions. 

Tackling Food Insecurity: A Persistent Challenge with Deep Roots

Chapter Leadership Brief 2.9.24

by Lamont Wray, Jr.
Director, Individual Giving
Food Bank for New York City

Food insecurity is not a fleeting problem reserved for the holiday season or a recent issue stemming from the pandemic. It's a longstanding challenge that has plagued communities for decades, and its impact intensifies. Factors such as the reduction of SNAP benefits, escalating rent costs, rising food prices, and the migrant crisis have exacerbated the situation, pushing many families and individuals into dire straits.

And Here Come the Heritage Months

Chapter Leadership Brief 1.26.24

By Jonah Nigh
Senior Vice President for Development and Alumni Engagement
The New School

I love New York City because it is a city of doers. People are fast, smart, ambitious, and unsettled by the status quo. Whenever I visit family in the Midwest or West Coast, it takes about 48 hours before I get twitchy and start to feel like a corvette in a school-zone. Frankly, it’s not a city to me unless I need to regularly jump over bags of garbage, dodge an Elmo, or completely dissociate during “showtime” on the A Train.

Let’s Make 2024 the Best Year Yet for our AFP Chapter

Chapter Leadership Brief 1.12.24

By Craig H. Shelley, CFRE
President, Association of Fundraising Professionals, New York City Chapter
Partner + Chief Growth Officer, Orr Group

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as our Chapter’s President over the next two-years.  It’s a humbling opportunity to help ensure New York City fundraisers have the community and resources we deserve.

As I’ve prepared for this unique challenge, I’ve thought a lot about our profession.  I am, as I always have been, inspired by the impact fundraisers make in the world and appreciative to those who have dedicated their lives to what is often a thankless and always difficult profession.  AFP has a unique opportunity to support your work and provide a community of peers you can learn from and commiserate with.  I look forward to working with our board and officers and all of you to realize that promise.

Gratitude for what Matters

Chapter Leadership Brief 12.29.23

By Jill M. Scibilia, MBA, CFRE
VP, Development, Phelps Hospital, Northwell Health 

AFP-NYC Chapter President 2022 and 2023

We are now at the end the year when there is an abundance of generosity, gifting, and gratitude.

I am taking the opportunity today to express my gratitude to the Association of Fundraising Professionals – NYC Chapter. It has been a great honor to serve as your chapter president. My term has now come to a close. Here is some of what I learned along the way.

Leadership, Learning and Laughter: Year-End Reflections on AFP-NYC And the Professional Advancement Committee

Chapter Leadership Brief 12.15.23

By Mindee H.Barham

As we come to the end of the year, I have been reflecting on my time with the AFP-NYC chapter and my gratitude for my AFP community – my colleagues, peers, and friends. And I am particularly grateful for the dedicated group of fundraising professionals I’ve met over the past 6 years as a Board member and as a co-chair of the Professional Advancement Committee (PAC).  While I am stepping down as co-chair at the end of this month, I will remain on the committee, and I’d like to share what this group means to me and to our NYC community of fundraising professionals.
 

Storytelling Techniques That Drive Donor Engagement in Year-End Fundraising

Chapter Leadership Brief 12.1.23

By Mary Whitrow, Content Marketing Manager, iWave

As the year comes to a close and year-end giving campaigns are in full swing, nonprofits are particularly focused on engaging with their donors and ensuring support for their mission and cause. We have all heard about (and experienced) the effectiveness of storytelling and know that it is a powerful tool that can captivate and engage donors. But what makes a story compelling? Here are seven storytelling techniques that can drive donor engagement in year-end fundraising and create a connection that inspires action and in turn, brings about meaningful impact.

 

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