News/Blog

by Melanie Buhrmaster
VP, Philanthropy, Food Bank for New York City

For the Food Bank For New York City, Giving Tuesday is much more than a single day of fundraising. It serves as a signature matching challenge day within our 40 Million Meals Campaign, a comprehensive holiday initiative to address the urgent food insecurity impacting 1.3 million New Yorkers. This annual campaign brings together the full force of our Marketing and Communications (MarComms), Fundraising Operations (Direct Response), and Major Gifts teams to create a seamless and far-reaching campaign that inspires new and existing supporters to give, amplifying their impact.

by Sarah TeDesco
Chief Operating Officer and Co-Owner of DonorSearch

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the nonprofit landscape, offering new tools to engage donors, streamline operations, and boost fundraising outcomes. Understanding two key AI types—generative and predictive—is essential for organizations eager to stay ahead. These technologies, while interconnected, serve unique purposes and open doors to innovative strategies.

By David Langton
President, Langton Creative Group

My grandfather ran a flower shop in Woonsocket, RI, that was founded in 1948. My mother recalls that he was often asked to post signs from local politicians in the store, but he always refused. He reasoned it was better to sell flowers to both sides. When we worked on the promotional campaign for the Rescue Dinner, the $16 million fundraiser for the International Rescue Committee we needed to avoid the extremes of the immigration debate. Melissa Meredith, Director of strategic events, set the tone by saying, “We were looking for a fresh way to convey our values and communicate a message of hope to counter the divisive rhetoric in the marketplace.” We needed to convey that the refugee and displaced people crisis is not just about “them” it is about “us.” Our theme was, “We’re all in this together.”

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

In honor of 360 Philanthropy Partners’ fifth anniversary this month, I’m excited to share our Top Five Strategies to help fundraisers overcome the unique challenges of the post-election season. Election cycles often disrupt philanthropy, as donors may feel fatigued, financially stretched, or distracted from their usual support for nonprofits. But with the right approach, you can re-engage donors, refresh your appeals, and stand out in this competitive landscape.

Here are five strategies to supercharge your fundraising efforts after election season:

By Susan Madon, CFRE
CEO and Founder, Minerva Nonprofit Management Consulting

We've all been there. The board meeting where one trustee insists on reading every line item of the 27-page financial statement aloud while another trustee quietly plays Wordle on their phone. Or perhaps you've experienced the famous "strategic planning session" where the conversation somehow devolves into a 45-minute debate about the color scheme of next year's gala invitations. One of my personal favorites was the board chair who consistently referred to our "annual giving campaign" as our "annual giving champagne" – though in retrospect, maybe he was onto something about making fundraising more festive.

By Jennifer Mignarri
Customer Success Manager, RelPro

Nonprofit organizations are driven to serve a particular community or cause. In order to execute their mission effectively and grow their organization’s impact, nonprofit professionals must prioritize relationship building that supports their organization’s development and fundraising efforts. A nonprofit’s success hinges on its ability to reach its existing donor base, identify new leads for donations and corporate sponsorship and pursue members for boards and committees.

By Melissa Gomez
Vice President of Philanthropy at the NY Hall of Science

Starting a new job is never easy.  After six years at my last organization, the thought of leaving gave me mixed emotions. The excitement of new challenges and higher pay and title were enticing, but the anxious feelings of having to make new work friends, learning new systems and operating procedures (including using a Mac as my work laptop after a lifetime of PC?!), and the general questions of “Will I like it there...” made my job search remain a thought for almost a year before I committed to a job search.

By Mary Witrow
Content Marketing Manager, Kindsight

Many of us feel overwhelmed and out of the loop when it comes to the use of AI in our organizations. Targets are often unreasonable, and we feel overworked. AI has advanced so much in recent years that it seems to be an inevitable part of the evolution of fundraising.

So whether you are an employee trying to figure out how to be more productive (do more with less) or an Executive Director trying to ensure the security of your donor and organizational information, there are many hurdles to overcome along the way in your journey to using AI. In this blog, we will discuss the challenges facing us with AI in the nonprofit sector and the possible opportunities when using AI properly.

By: Mike Esposito, CFRE
AFP-NYC’s Sponsorship Chair, Emerging Leaders Co-Chair, Nominating Committee Member, and Cohort 2 Mentor

Our Committee’s Role and Purpose

The Emerging Leaders Committee (ELC) of AFP-NYC exists to amplify the voices and potential of those newer to the sector, regardless of age, by providing mentorship, creating opportunities for learning, and fostering a strong sense of community. As Co-Chair, alongside of Brently Winstead, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the continued impact of ELC on the fundraising profession this year.

by David Munshine
President & CEO, The Munshine Group

We at The Munshine Group are already looking forward to Fundraising Day in New York 2025, while still taking inspiration from the interesting ideas and exchanges from FRDNY 2024, where we were Thought Leadership Sponsors of the June 14th event.

Chances are you know the saying to never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed individuals can change the world.  Well, the more than 1,000 fundraising pros who turned out for FRDNY '24 were a pretty sizable group, and left us with no doubt that our shared field of philanthropy is changing the world!  People are at the heart of what we all do, and finding the best people to carry out our vital work is never easy – and for many organizations it is a growing challenge.  But, by listening, learning and sharing, there are answers to be found.