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

 

From Challenge to Growth: Lessons for Fundraising Success

Chapter Leadership Brief 10.3.25

by Dr. Pazit Levitan
Founder, The Path to Impact

The Fall season is upon us. The air shifts, the light softens, and we move toward the close of the calendar year. This is the most vibrant stretch of our work: Giving Tuesday, year-end campaigns and the intensified giving that sustains our mission.

This season is more than deadlines and goals. It is a magnifying lens that reminds us how fortunate we are to work in the space of change-making, where every day brings opportunities to encourage philanthropy, uplift communities and strengthen organizations. Our professional world is filled with donors, community members and colleagues deeply invested in the cause. Few professions give us such a clear view of how compassion and commitment turn vision into impact.

55 Years of Wisdom: How a Lifetime of Living Has Made Me a Better Fundraiser

Chapter Leadership Brief 10.3.25

by Terry Pearl
Founder & Chief Philanthropy Partner, 360 Philanthropy Partners

Today, I turn 55.

It’s a milestone I approach with a full heart, a clearer head, and—if I’m being honest—a deeper appreciation for the road behind me than ever before. I’ve earned every gray hair, every laugh line, and every quiet moment of insight. And I’ve come to understand that nothing has shaped my work in relationship-driven fundraising more than the wisdom gained over five and a half decades of living.

Listening Inward, Leaning Outward

Chapter Leadership Brief 9.19.25

by Brenda Marie Turner
Soprano and CFRE

Fundraising is often described as the “engine” that drives the nonprofit sector forward. But anyone who has done this work knows it’s not just about dollars. Rather, it is about people. And not just the people we serve or the donors we engage, but about ourselves.

Nonprofit Analytics: Turn Data Overwhelm into Mission Impact

Chapter Leadership Brief 9.19.25

by Sarah TeDesco
COO, DonorSearch

Why Analytics Matters — and Why Most Orgs Miss the Mark

Around 76% of nonprofits lack a solid analytics strategy, meaning most are flying blind when it comes to data-driven decisions.

That needs to change. Nonprofit analytics isn’t optional—it’s foundational. By transforming chaos into clarity, you get smarter donor engagement, stronger program outcomes, and more sustainable growth.

Transitions

Chapter Leadership Brief 9.5.25

by Pedro Govantes

Transitions. The word can sound so antiseptic. It can be code for anything ranging from being fired from one job and luck enough to find another, to escaping some version of a perceived (or real!) professional hellscape and landing really anywhere else. But a transition doesn’t have to be viewed either way. It can be not so much a running away from one situation but an actual running toward another. I find myself in the midst of such a transition.

Shot Out of a Cannon: Navigating the Fall Fundraising Season

Chapter Leadership Brief 9.5.25

by Craig Shelley
CEO, Schultz & Williams

Post–Labor Day often feels like the starting gun has gone off for fundraisers and nonprofit leaders. In the last Chapter Leadership Briefs, my fellow board members CJ Orr and Gary Weinberg shared strategies on gearing up for a busy fall and making year-end efforts more successful. With September here, the season we’ve been preparing for is officially upon us. So, now what?

Gearing up for a Busy Fall

Chapter Leadership Brief 8.22.25

by CJ Orr
Chief Executive Officer, Orr Group

This year has been hectic to say the least. The city’s energy never truly fades, but even New York eases its grip a bit in August. Colleagues take time off at the beach or a long weekend upstate. We may not close shop like Italy’s Ferragosto, but we should still claim August—intentionally—as the month to rest, reset, and ready ourselves for the sprint that begins on Tuesday, September 2, the day after Labor Day.

Fundraising Strategies to Make Your Year-End Efforts Even More Successful

Chapter Leadership Brief 8.22.25

by Gary Weinberg
President, DM Pros

AFP's Fundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP) reported in July that while total dollars raised increased 3.6% in the first quarter, this growth was driven largely by larger donors. Donations from smaller donors are declining. However, there are proven strategies you can put to use now to make your year-end direct mail and direct response campaigns more successful.

Building Community and Strengthening Connections: Expanding and Maximizing Partnerships through FRDNY 2025

Chapter Leadership Brief 8.8.25

by Adam Glick and Lucretia Gilbert
FRDNY 2025 Program Committee Co-Chairs

Fundraising Day New York offers an opportunity for nonprofit professionals at all stages of their careers to come together, learn from colleagues longstanding and new and explore the most important issues facing our sector. The program for FRDNY 2025 – workshops, roundtables, flash coaching sessions, panel discussions, and more – was as dynamic as the day’s 1000+ attendees. Organized by a dedicated team of volunteers who plan for eight months leading up to the big day, FRDNY aims to build and scale in ways both quantitative and qualitative each year. After all, if the best fundraising is a balanced mix of art and science, FRDNY should reflect that!

Decolonizing Fundraising at Home and Abroad

Chapter Leadership Brief 7.25.25

by Amethyst A. Rodriguez
Institutional Giving Officer, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

“Charity is writing a check for a cause you care about. Justice asks more of us. It means investing your money, time, knowledge, and relationships to challenge — and change — the very systems that make charity necessary.”

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