News/Blog

By Steve Jacobson, AFP-NYC President and CEO, JCA, Inc.

For most people, 2020 can’t end soon enough.  I know that I’m one of those people.  I’d really like to see this year in the rearview mirror.  I think that we’ve all become accustomed to chalking up anything bad or just plain weird to 2020.  All of our problems will just magically disappear when the clock strikes midnight on January 1, 2021, right?  Unfortunately, that’s unlikely to happen.

By Craig H. Shelley, CFRE, Chapter Treasurer & Managing Director, Orr Group

As it does every year, the barrage of #GivingTuesday emails and social posts initially filled me with cynicism and eye-rolls but by the end of the day had me feeling inspired and optimistic about the future of our world and philanthropy’s role in it.  At my core I’m an optimistic person who believes we can do better.  The core is just buried below the jaded exterior of a native New Yorker.

By Michele Hall-Duncan, AFP-NYC Secretary, CEO and President of enCourage Kids Foundation 

I am pleased to report that I am of the age to receive the AARP Bulletin each month. The November 2020 issue contains the usual articles urging us to reset our finances, avoid scams, and understand Medicare.  It also includes an article about kindness and generosity. “It is only through the giving of oneself to others that we truly live.” This quote by Ethel Percy Andrus, truly resonated with me. It reminded me of how wonderful each of our donors are.

By Jill Scibilia, CFRE, AFP-NYC President-Elect
Vice President, Development
Phelps Hospital, Northwell Health

Being Kind is underrated.

By “kind,” I do not mean “nice.”  The words are sometimes used interchangeably, but they have different meanings.

Kind is defined as “of a good or benevolent nature or disposition” or “having, showing or proceeding from benevolence.” 

Nice is defined as “pleasing, agreeable, delightful.”

Perhaps I can better illustrate what I mean with a story or two.

By Steve Jacobson
AFP-NYC President and CEO, JCA, Inc.

As you’re undoubtedly aware, Election Day is now just 11 days away.  For some 47 million of us who have already voted, we can sit back and know that we’ve fulfilled our constitutional duty to cast our ballots for our preferred local, state and federal candidates.  For those of you who haven’t yet voted in person (early), by mail or secure ballot box, please get out there and do so now.  And, of course, if you’re going to vote at your polling place on Election Day itself, stay safe and cast your ballot.

By Craig H. Shelley, CFRE
Chapter Treasurer & Managing Director, Orr Group

True confession, I’ve been re-watching a lot of The West Wing the last few months.  Something about feeling as if our society is doom-spiraling towards simultaneous catastrophes of our own making has me longing for the aspirational prose of Aaron Sorkin and his fictional band of over intellectualized do-gooders.  One of the things that always struck me about President Bartlett’s fictional leadership style was his prodding, “What’s next?” at the conclusion of solving whatever calamity they had just rescued the nation from.   Somehow it always seemed equal parts intended to instill urgency (there’s more to do), modesty (don’t rest on your laurels) and provide a narrative transition.  I feel like we need all those things right now and find myself asking, “what’s next?’ often.

By Michele Hall, AFP-NYC Secretary
President & CEO enCourage Kids Foundation 

Sounds ominous, doesn’t it? Yet, the winter season bridges the end of one year and the beginning of another. It’s a time for reflection and a time for renewal. And arguably the time for your largest fundraising push.

By: Juliana M. Weissbein, CFRE
AFP-NYC Mentorship Program, Chair
Associate Director, Development Operations
Planned Parenthood Federation of America

After a year of behind the scenes work, applications for the AFP-NYC Mentorship Cohort are launching this October.

By Jill Scibilia, CFRE, AFP-NYC President-Elect, Vice President, Development, Phelps Hospital, Northwell Health

Nineteen is a particularly sad number this year. 

Nineteen years ago today on a Tuesday morning in early September, nearly 3,000 people lost their lives and more than 6,000 were injured.  In just a few short hours, our world changed forever. 

We are also now nine months into a global pandemic caused by a novel coronavirus called “COVID-Nineteen” that has already claimed the lives of more than 900,000 people across the globe and nearly 200,000 in the United States.  We don’t yet know the full magnitude of this pandemic or what all will change in our world as a result. We do know this will test us in ways we have not been tested before.

By Steve Jacobson, AFP-NYC President and CEO, JCA, Inc.

You’re walking down the street, when a man in a trench coat approaches.  In a semi-socially distant way, he whispers to you, “Pssst… Hey, buddy, wanna buy some data?  New data breach. Got some fresh names. Credit card data, too.”  No, of course, it doesn’t happen that way, but your data can get out there. Your donor data is the lifeblood of your organization.  You can’t afford not to secure it.