Hope for Fundraisers: Resilience in Times of Crisis Hope for Fundraisers: Resilience in Times of Crisis Chapter Leadership Brief 4.18.25 by Margaret M. Holman President, Holman Consulting Hope is the lifeblood of philanthropy. In the nonprofit world, where missions often seek to change the course of lives and communities, hope fuels the passion of fundraisers who must continually inspire generosity. Since 1976, I have been raising money across all sectors of the nonprofit world, from education and healthcare to the arts, animal welfare, and humanitarian causes. My work has spanned continents, including organizations in Europe, and I have witnessed firsthand how hope sustains fundraisers through economic downturns and crises.
Let’s Rethink Nonprofit Engagement: Why Community Strategy Matters More Than Ever Let’s Rethink Nonprofit Engagement: Why Community Strategy Matters More Than Ever Chapter Leadership Brief 4.18.25 by Ashley Brannan Marketing Manager, Community Boost In times of disruption and unpredictability, nonprofit professionals are often asked to do more with less. The landscape is shifting: federal funding is in flux, public trust in institutions continues to decline, and audiences are fatigued by constant asks. In this climate, traditional digital marketing strategies are falling short. But amid this uncertainty, there’s one enduring truth: people support nonprofits because they believe in something bigger than themselves.
Giving Across Faith Traditions Giving Across Faith Traditions Chapter Leadership Brief 4.4.25 by Susan Madon, CFRE CEO, Minerva Non-Profit Management Consulting During this Christian season of Lent, I am reminded of my parochial school days. Each Lenten season we were given a cardboard “rice bowl” and asked to fill the bowl with our coins and change. The object was to eat a modest meal once a week and offer the cost difference to feed the poor overseas. Other faith tenets conduct similar practices, and I thought it would be interesting to explore the similarities across traditions in kindness, philanthropy, and generosity.
Turn Your Board Members into Effective Fundraisers with this Simple I.D.E.A. Turn Your Board Members into Effective Fundraisers with this Simple I.D.E.A. Chapter Leadership Brief 4.4.25 by Sunil Oommen President, Oommen Consulting, LLC We are now one quarter of the way into 2025, and before we know it, we will be neck-deep in intense end-of year preparation and execution mode. The most organized shops already have our direct marketing calendars set for the year, and our major gifts teams are doing the priming work necessary with our portfolios in time for making our year-end goals. But what about our board members and their fundraising efforts?
The Power of Collaboration: Key Takeaways from Our Panel on Building a Nonprofit Consortium The Power of Collaboration: Key Takeaways from Our Panel on Building a Nonprofit Consortium Chapter Leadership Brief 3.21.25 by Melanie Buhrmaster & Gregory Boroff Co-Chairs, AFP-NYC Event In today’s world, where the challenges facing our communities are increasingly complex and interconnected, collaboration in the nonprofit sector is no longer optional—it’s essential. As fundraisers, we know that the scale of issues like food insecurity, homelessness, and poverty requires more than just the efforts of individual organizations. It demands strategic partnerships that leverage strengths, share resources, and create innovative solutions that drive measurable impact.
Reactivating Lapsed Donors: How Autonomous Fundraising is Bringing Donors Back Faster and Increasing Giving Reactivating Lapsed Donors: How Autonomous Fundraising is Bringing Donors Back Faster and Increasing Giving Chapter Leadership Brief 3.21.25 by Emily Groccia Vice President, Customer Success / Director, Version2 Fundraisers know that lapsed donors represent one of the biggest untapped opportunities in fundraising. These are people who have given before, believe in the mission, and may be willing to give again—but only if engaged in the right way. The challenge? Most nonprofits struggle to bring them back.
Fundraising Success Starts with a Plan: Cultivating a Strong Strategy Fundraising Success Starts with a Plan: Cultivating a Strong Strategy Chapter Leadership Brief 3.7.25 by Anne Rehkopf Townsend Principal, ART + Strategy Our work right now has never been more critical. Nonprofits provide hope, reminding people that brighter days are ahead. But hope alone isn’t enough. To sustain our missions, we need strategy and plans. As Eleanor Roosevelt said: "It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan." This sentiment resonates deeply in the world of fundraising. While inspiration and passion drive our work, successful fundraising doesn’t happen by accident. It requires a thoughtful, strategic approach—one that is guided by a well-structured plan that is both dynamic and flexible.
How to Find Fundraising Mentors — and Best Learn From Them How to Find Fundraising Mentors — and Best Learn From Them Chapter Leadership Brief 3.7.25 by Rasheeda Childress Senior Editor for Fundraising, Chronicle of Philanthropy When you talk to both experienced and new fundraisers about their career trajectories, almost all mention the important role mentoring played. “I credit everything I’ve learned to people I’ve met with and formed relationships with,” says fundraiser Sean McCarthy. "It’s not something I did on my own. It is definitely something that I achieved by meeting with others, by seeking their advice, by benefiting from their mentorship.”
Advocacy, The Charitable Act, and Your Seat at the Table Advocacy, The Charitable Act, and Your Seat at the Table Chapter Leadership Brief 2.21.25 by Gary Weinberg, President DM Pros and AFP NYC Government Relations Committee Chair They say in politics, “if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.” AFP Global and the AFP NYC Government Relations Committee are advocating in Congress on behalf of non-profits to make our interests heard. While there are a range of issues expected to be on the current 119th Congressional 2025-2026 agenda including data privacy and artificial intelligence, establishing the universal charitable gift tax deduction in the tax code is at the top of our agenda. Many key legislators in the current Congress are well positioned to champion these issues. As such, now is one of the most exciting times I’ve ever seen to get involved to make a huge impact on our fundraising industry.
AI for Marketing Fundraising Campaigns: How Nonprofits Can Use AI to Raise More with Less AI for Marketing Fundraising Campaigns: How Nonprofits Can Use AI to Raise More with Less Chapter Leadership Brief 2.21.25 by Ashley Brannan, Marketing Manager Community Boost With limited staff, tight budgets, and increasing demands, nonprofits need smarter ways to fundraise. AI-powered tools can help by automating repetitive tasks, improving donor engagement, and optimizing fundraising strategies, without adding to the workload.