News/Blog

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.

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

Fundraising is a difficult job.  It’s a lonely job.  It’s a misunderstood job (I’m pretty sure my Mom thinks I sell candy bars on the subway).  A lot has been written about why there’s so much turnover in our field and why there’s not enough talent to meet the need.  The problem is largely rooted in this simple fact - there are easier and more glamorous ways to make a living.  Which is why it is important for organizations to invest in their fundraisers.  Help them, help you, to paraphrase Jerry Maguire.

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

As we eagerly await the next “Phase” of reopening and hope to see an end to the uncertainty that we face as a nation and as an industry, it is important to be prepared. Prepared for what you might ask? Anything and everything.

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

In my May 2020 article, I spoke about IDEA, which is a global initiative and priority of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. IDEA stands for: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access. I have the honor of serving on our local committee.

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

Like some of you out there, I am a self-professed data nerd.  Whether it’s poring over the box score of a baseball game (Major League players reported for “spring” training this week!) or studying the details of unemployment reports, I’m on it.  So, when the Giving Institute recently released its “Giving USA: The Annual Report on Philanthropy,” that analyzes charitable giving for 2019, I couldn’t resist delving into the numbers.

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

Black lives matter. That’s it.  That’s the leadership brief for this week.