by Chanel B. Heckstall
Independent Consultant

When I look back on the moments that have shaped my career, a pattern emerges.

They all started when I raised my hand.

Not because I felt completely prepared. Not because I had every answer. And certainly not because I knew exactly where the opportunity would lead.

I simply said yes.

Over the past year, serving on the AFP-NYC Board and co-chairing the Emerging Leaders Collective has given me more of those moments than I expected. I walked into rooms where I admired nearly everyone at the table and wondered whether my voice belonged there. I have joined panel discussions, helped plan events, and worked alongside fundraisers whose experience and generosity continue to teach me. Each opportunity stretched me in a different way, and each reminded me that growth rarely arrives with a sense of readiness. More often, it begins when we step forward while still feeling unsure.

One of those moments came when I decided to pursue a leadership role with AFP-NYC. If I'm honest, there was a part of me that wondered whether I had enough experience to contribute at that level. Like many professionals, I compared myself to people whose careers I admired and questioned whether I belonged in the room. But I raised my hand anyway. What I discovered was that leadership is not about having the longest résumé or the loudest voice. It is about showing up, contributing your perspective, and being willing to learn. Serving on the Board has expanded my network, challenged my thinking, and given me opportunities to grow in ways I never anticipated when I first said yes.

That realization has stayed with me because, as fundraisers, we spend our careers asking others to believe in possibility. We invite donors to trust a vision, support a mission, and invest in impact that may take time to unfold. Yet I have not always offered myself that same generosity. I have waited for more experience, more confidence, or a clearer sign that I was ready. Some of the most meaningful opportunities in my career came when I stopped waiting for certainty and chose to participate.

I have learned this lesson repeatedly. Every time I volunteered for something new, joined a committee, contributed an idea, or asked a question in a room where I felt a little out of place, I have grown. None of those moments came with a guarantee that I would succeed. They simply offered me the chance to learn by showing up.

The truth is, I have rarely felt completely ready before stepping into something meaningful. I have learned that readiness often comes after the yes, not before it. Waiting until we feel fully prepared can keep us from the very experiences that build our confidence, deepen our skills, and open doors for others.

It has made me more aware of who is invited into those rooms and who may still be standing just outside them, wondering if they belong. Our organizations, communities, and profession are stronger when more people bring their perspectives to the table, especially emerging leaders and individuals whose experiences may differ from the voices already present.

I know how much an invitation can matter because I have benefited from many of them. Mentors, colleagues, and leaders have encouraged me to step into spaces that felt unfamiliar before I saw myself there. Their belief helped me see possibilities I may not have recognized on my own. Whether I was applying for a leadership opportunity, serving on a committee, or taking on a new challenge, that encouragement made a difference.

Today, I understand that part of leadership is extending that same encouragement to others.

That is why I believe one of the responsibilities of leadership is to extend that same encouragement to others. We create pathways for the next generation of fundraisers when we mentor, volunteer, share what we know, and invite people into conversations where they may not yet see themselves.

Sometimes all someone needs is an invitation.

I am grateful for every opportunity that pushed me beyond my comfort zone. Each one taught me something about leadership, service, and myself. More importantly, each connected me with people who challenged me to grow and reminded me that leadership is not about having all the answers. It is about being willing to learn in public, contribute what you can, and keep showing up.

My hope for anyone reading this is simple: don't wait until you feel ready.

Speak up in the meeting.

Share your perspective.

Take the chance.

Because growth rarely begins when we have all the answers. In my experience, it begins in the smaller, quieter moment when we decide to raise our hand.

So, the next time an opportunity presents itself, I encourage you to do one simple thing:

Raise your hand.

You never know where it might lead.

Chanel B. Heckstall is a Harlem native and fundraising professional with more than a decade of experience in donor relations, development operations, annual giving, and special events. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of Fundraising Professionals New York City Chapter, where she co-chairs the Emerging Leaders Collective and is committed to supporting the next generation of fundraising professionals. Chanel is a proud alumna of Hampton University and Public Allies New York. She is passionate about building meaningful relationships and creating opportunities for others to grow.

Outside of her professional work, Chanel is entering her 11th year as a Girl Scout Troop Leader, leading one of the largest troops in Manhattan. She enjoys reading, building Legos, and trying new cuisines with family and friends.