Chapter Leadership Brief 10.09.2020

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.

In the nonprofit sector we don’t know what’s next.  I know we need strategies that are nimbler and donors more bonded to our missions and brand than the transaction of events.  I know none of us are smart enough to know much more than that.  However, I also know fundraisers will be central to finding the answer.  We’re a creative bunch of story tellers who build relationships and are goal oriented.  Can you think of a better combination of skills for the times we’re in?  Do your work with your donors and secure the resources to fuel the work of your organizations but also be sure your voice is heard as organizational strategies and objectives are determined in these uncertain times.

Whatever comes next our community of fundraisers will be essential.  Let us know how the Chapter can help provide you the skills, the networking and commiseration you need to excel.

Thanks for your hard work the last seven months.  What’s next?

Chapter Leadership Brief 9.25.2020

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. As you plan your Giving Tuesday strategy, year-end appeals, winter virtual galas, virtual walks, and other fourth quarter campaigns, continue to embrace the change and fluidity of the moment we find ourselves in. We must continue to create new ways out of the old ones.

Earlier this month we explored how to cultivate and steward donors in the virtual space. Many of our colleagues are finding success, as they become more comfortable with this new method of communication.

Remember to also set aside time with your team to participate in our Watch Party Wednesdays, where we view a pre-recorded session from a different FRDNY track. You can then, not only explore what you’ve learned during a facilitated discussion with other participants, but also ideate with your own team.

While we all continue to develop our sea legs in this new climate and prepare for winter, remember that your AFP chapter is here for you.

Chapter Leadership Brief 9.11.2020

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.

As professional fundraisers, we know these events can inspire people to respond in profound ways through their philanthropic giving.  Americans gave what was then a record amount following 9-11 and the story of charitable giving in response to COVID-19 is still being written.

How people respond to situations like these through their generosity can be very meaningful.  We have the opportunity—and dare I say the responsibility as fundraisers—to help people respond by connecting them with tangible ways they can support.  We may also gain the additional gift of hearing their stories and why they want to make a difference.  This is one of the reasons I love the fundraising profession.     

Our work can also wear on us.  Many of us lost people nineteen years ago or know first responders who answered the call.  Many of us lost people as a result of COVID-19 or know those who work on the front-lines.  All of us are still experiencing COVID-19, and it is important we take care of ourselves. 

One way I am going to do this is by continuing my practice of treating September 11^th as a day apart. I will certainly engage with donors, but today will not be a day I initiate a solicitation. My focus will be to connect with those for whom I know today holds a special significance.  I will also take the personal time to remember all those we lost nineteen years ago, all those who responded and all those who live on.

Thank you for your leadership and commitment to professional fundraising—and for all you do to help people make a difference.

With gratitude,

Jill

There have likely been moments in your life where you’ve leaned on someone you trust for advice or assistance. Whether the person you turned to is a professor, friend, family member, or colleague, the importance of mentors is undeniable. These people can help to shape your present situation and future opportunities for the better. From making career decisions to fostering partnerships, a mentor can help you successfully navigate your fundraising journey.

I know the importance of mentorship first hand. I have had valuable mentors in the past and currently serve as a mentor for the Association Of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) at both the global and local levels. Then, when I was elected to the AFP-NYC board of directors in January 2020, I was tasked with chairing their Mentorship Program. I could not have been more excited.

The Background

Before I go further, I must acknowledge the work that occurred before 2020. I owe a debt of gratitude to AFP-NYC's outgoing board member, Cathy Sharp. She chaired their mentorship program for many years and I am fortunate to have inherited a robust and dedicated program and committee of volunteers.

During the hand-off, Cathy and I discussed the elements of the program that were strong and the areas that needed further growth. After surveying past program participants, interviewing countless other AFP chapters, and speaking to committee volunteers, the elements were reiterated.

After the survey data was synthesized and analyzed, the committee developed a plan to enhance the chapter’s mentoring program and provide more meaningful engagements for both mentors and mentees moving forward.  We affirmed that the mentorship program would benefit from a more customized mentor/mentee pairing process, the intentional incorporation of the IDEA values into the process, and a more structured and resourced program.

Not only did we strive to match mentees with skilled mentors, but we also wanted to set participants up for success and allow them to bring their whole selves to the program. Thus, the AFP-NYC Mentorship program was temporarily shut down and the committee got to work.

The Launch

I am thrilled to collaborate with my fellow committee members on the Mentorship Program's relaunch. I am confident this recalibration will offer AFP-NYC chapter members an opportunity to develop as professionals and will result in a robust cohort of consummate professionals better prepared to tackle our city’s greatest challenges.

I am so thankful to them for their hard work behind the scenes. Since January, we have met diligently every four weeks to chip away at the work. They have shown up, provided thoughtful feedback, and worked tirelessly in the hopes of delivering a quality program to AFP-NYC members. Here are some of the key changes that you can look for from the chapter’s mentoring program:

• Cohort Model: Rather than one-off matching, the program will now function on an annual basis. Interested participants (both prospective mentees and mentors) will be required to fill out an application identifying their professional goals. From there, the committee will utilize a standardized scoring mechanism to select an annual cohort of ten mentee/mentor pairings each calendar year. Furthermore, to ensure that all AFP-NYC members are able to receive mentorship, our committee will also be hosting quarterly speed mentoring events throughout the year. Stay tuned for more information!

• Enhanced & Customized Matching: The success of this program hinges on our ability to recruit dynamic mentor and mentee candidates. We have designed our application to address five critical questions: 1. Are prospective mentee’s professional goals clearly enumerated, well thought out, realistic and achievable in a one-year term? 2. Are the particular challenges the prospective mentee is seeking to overcome and/or the professional development they are hoping to receive clearly enumerated, well thought out, realistic and achievable in a one-year term? 3. Does the prospective mentee bring unique characteristics, strengths or skills to the cohort? 4. Has the prospective mentee demonstrated a commitment to the profession, professional development, and AFP engagement? 5. Does the prospective mentee bring aspects of demographic diversity to the 2021 cohort? Based on these answers, we select our ten mentees and match them with seasoned fundraisers who are uniquely qualified to meet their needs.
   
• Infusion of IDEA: AFP-NYC affirms that systemic and institutionalized racism permeates every corner of our industry. To help combat this, we have added space to our application to allow prospective mentees to enumerate various demographic criteria they are seeking in a mentor. We believe that the experience is strengthened when a mentor shares an identity with or has faced similar challenges as their mentee. Furthermore, our program is committed to providing professional development opportunities to members of the fundraising industry who have been historically underrepresented and may benefit from our program in compounded ways.
   
• Program Benefits: In addition to knowledge and professional experience, participants will be offered the following benefits while completing the program: 1. A personalized matching with a seasoned fundraiser. 2. A twelve-month formal program to work on self-selected professional development goals. 3. An opportunity to author an article for Fundraising Matters, AFP-NYS's biweekly newsletter. 4. An exclusive meet & greet with AFP-NYC board members. 5. An opportunity to create a micro-learning video to be released on social media. 6. Lifetime access to a private LinkedIn group of all past program participants. 7. Spotlights on social media and recognition at AFP-NYC signature events.
   
• Structure & Resources: Throughout the year, the cohort will gather to check-in on each other's progress, cross-collaborate to solve common problems, discuss current events, and provide each other with feedback. Additionally, individual sessions with mentors will be resourced with suggested monthly objectives. Finally, each pairing will be matched with a Mentorship Program Steward (a member of the Mentorship Committee), who will check-in, be available for questions, and guide participants through the year.
   

How To Get Involved

I am sure you may have questions about the program’s format, level of commitment, and other factors before applying in October. I welcome you to watch the recording of our latest information session (PW is SeptMentor_2022).

Please feel free to reach out if you have any further questions. On behalf of the entire AFP-NYC Mentorship Committee, I thank you for your support and hope to see you there!

By: Juliana M. Weissbein, CFRE
AFP-NYC Board Member
AFP-NYC Mentorship Program, Chair
AFP Global, Women's Impact Initiative, Member
​Associate Director, Development Operations
Planned Parenthood Federation of America

Chapter Leadership Brief 8.28.2020

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.

As many of you know, Blackbaud, one of the major software suppliers to nonprofits, had a data breach back in May that affected what appears to be hundreds of nonprofits.  Community Brands, another major supplier in the nonprofit space, suffered a ransomware attack back in March.  A number of other suppliers in our space – and nonprofits themselves – have been attacked.  The fact that you are a nonprofit with a mission of social good means nothing to hackers.  Everyone is a target.

So, what do you do?  You start to ask questions.  If your fundraising system is on your local network, ask your IT team what your potential exposure is.  Can anyone from the outside gain access to your internal network?  What types of security have been implemented to protect you and your data? You also need to educate your colleagues on the types of emails that they shouldn’t open and, if they do, what not to click on.  Just today, I received a really credible looking email from someone I know – his real signature block, his real return email address.  But, it really wasn’t from the person I know.  No, it was sent by someone who had hacked into his email account and took it over.  Fortunately, before I clicked on a button that could have infected my computer (or worse), I noticed that I would have been directed to a really sketchy web address.

If your data is hosted by a third party, you need to fully understand who bears the risk and liability of a data breach.  Vendors are great at trying to avoid any responsibility.  Before you sign on the dotted line, make sure that you hold their feet to the fire as much as possible.  As Jon Dartley, a data privacy and security attorney at Perlman and Perlman says, “It is vital to have the appropriate legal terms in the contract to protect your interests.”  Find out what your liability limit is.  Have it in writing who bears the responsibility and cost of a data breach.  And, have the vendor agree on a specific timeframe within which they need to advise you of a data breach.

While your data is invaluable, so is your reputation.  You have worked hard to earn your donors’ trust.  If you don’t take the proper precautions to safeguard your data, you could see that all go up in smoke.

Chapter Leadership Brief 8.13.2020

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.

Pay fundraisers fairly.  Provide them the resources they ask for.  Listen to their advice.  Treat them as equals in importance alongside their program and operations focused peers.  Invest in their professional development.  Appreciate their remarkable efforts.

Nonprofits that do those six things attract and retain great fundraising talent.

I recognize I’m largely preaching to the proverbial choir here as our readership is mostly fundraisers.  But maybe you can share this with your executive director or CEO and help make the case on your behalf?  While you’re talking to them, a great place to start investing in you is to register you for access to Fundraising Day in New York.  This is the largest library of fundraising knowledge I’ve ever seen assembled and our need to uniquely deliver it virtually this year means you and your teams can access it anytime, anywhere, as often as you’d like wherever you’d like.

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.

This is not the time to throw up our hands in despair – we need to take action. We must continue to reach out to our donors, volunteers, colleagues, and board members. While these are indeed challenging times, I have been regaled with stories of how the pandemic has revealed opportunity and opened doors that were once closed. I have seen colleagues boldly step into new job opportunities while others have stepped up to bravely acquire new skills and take on greater responsibility. We all miss our in-person meetings, lunches, and conferences. However, we have also found joy in not having to navigate the subway or a crowded restaurant in lieu of getting dressed from the waist up and attending meetings in the comfort of our very own home; complete with unexpected visits from pets, kids, spouses, roommates and parents. In other words, we have found a way to find the normal in the not so normal.

We must also continue to invest in ourselves professionally. I urge you all to remain plugged in to the offerings that the chapter has created just for you. Our most recent Professional Advancement session on navigating virtual fundraising was timely and well attended.  And there is much more in store. And if you haven’t already, take a look at what our Fundraising Day sessions have to offer. Many of our colleagues are registering their teams and hosting watch parties together then scheduling discussions after those sessions. This is an excellent way to ideate with your team and use what you’ve learned to benefit yourself and your organization.

So, let’s virtually gather as we did in-person at the Marriott Marquis last year, listen and learn from some of the best in the business, and then discuss what we’ve learned together in the virtual hallway. I’ll see you there!

Chapter Leadership Brief 7.17.2020

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.

The world has turned on its head as people are struggling and facing an uncertain future.  Crises like the ones we are experiencing right now change the world forever.  History tells us this. 

We have already seen far too many incidents of racism, scapegoating and stigmatizing.    We have also seen some positive outcomes of people stepping forward and stepping up in remarkable ways. During times of crisis, conflict and challenge, change is inevitable.  Ask yourself what change you would like to see in the world.

As professional fundraisers—and those who provide services to fundraisers—we have a unique opportunity to advance the change we want to see in the world as we connect those who want to make a difference with the missions we champion.  It is hard for me to imagine a time when the world has needed us more.

And yet…who is “us?”  Who are the fundraisers working in our development shops? Who is sitting at the leadership table in our departments and firms? Who is sitting at the leadership table in our professional associations?   Are we representative of the deep diversity of the people in our communities? 

We are asking ourselves these very questions on the board and on our committees at the New York City chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. 

The fact is that segments of our population are under-represented in our workplaces and at our leadership tables.  This means we are missing key voices in our profession.  We are missing key people who are able to lead and make the impact that we as fundraisers have the opportunity to make.  We will be stronger when the deep diversity of our communities is represented.

AFP-NYC is committed to leading the fundraising sector in achieving the goals of IDEA.  IDEA provides the guiding principles and framework to help guide our actions on the AFP-NYC board and on our committees.  It is helping us hold each other accountable. 

Let’s go back to the unique moment in time in which we are living—a time of great change.  Ask yourself what change you would like to see in the world and what your role should be, can be. 

If not, now, when?

Remember that we all have the opportunity to make a difference.  Making a difference is not just about big ideas and gestures.  It is also about the everyday interactions we have with the person in front of us (or with whom we engage on zoom). It is often about what we call “the small stuff,” which we know is not so small at all. 

If you are not already engaged in AFP-NYC, I want to encourage you to get involved and add your voice to the conversation. 

Thank you for your leadership and commitment to professional fundraising.

With gratitude

Jill

Chapter Leadership Brief 7.03.2020

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.

You may be asking what the relevance of giving is in 2019, given that the world in 2020 is a totally different place than what it was just a few months ago.  After all, the unemployment rate was a paltry 3.5% at the end of 2019 versus just over 11% in June.  And the stock market was cruising along in 2019, having risen over 28% during the year.  And now?  The S&P 500 has lost over 8% of its value in the last six months.  Yes, by most financial and economic measures, we are in a very different place.

But the key for me is that we can look at all of these economic and financial measures from 2019 and see that, in general, Americans got richer.  And the top 1% got a lot richer.  But that didn’t really translate into commensurate gains in 2019 giving.  As Giving USA points out, total charitable contributions in 2019 vs. 2018 only increased 2.4% after adjustment for inflation, significantly less than the average increase that Giving USA has measured since their study’s inception in 1979.

So, if we didn’t see large gains in philanthropy in a real boom year, what are we likely to see in 2020, the year of the coronavirus pandemic?

The answer, I’m afraid, is really scary.  While there has been a relative outpouring of support from donor advised funds, those disbursements represent gifts that were already counted in past years’ giving totals.  To date, we’ve seen giving shift dramatically to health and food security and away from the environment, education and the arts.  And, excluding disbursements from DAFs, many organizations have been informally reporting that giving is down significantly this year versus the first half of last year.  It’s a really strong possibility that this weakness will continue throughout the year, and ultimately result in a significantly negative impact on critical year-end giving.

This doesn’t mean that, as fundraisers in this fight, you should throw in the towel.  On the contrary, now is the time to work harder and smarter.  And, that’s where we, the NYC chapter, can help.  Our industry-leading educational content that we present at Fundraising Day in New York, has been packaged up for your online consumption.  Over 40 sessions across 11 fundraising disciplines, including Fundraising Essentials, Corporate and Foundation Giving, Research and Major Gifts, are there to help you succeed in this challenging environment.  Please visit www.frdny.org for more information and to gain access.  Be sure to use the special chapter code “AFPM” to receive your member pricing.

Have a great 4^th of July and be sure to stay safe!

By: David McGoy, CFRE
Founder and President, ASSIST Development Consulting

As if fundraising wasn’t already challenging enough!

Let’s review:

First, a once-in-a-century pandemic swept across the globe.

Then, shelter in place requirements turned the city’s robust spring benefit season to a halt before it ever got started.

After that, racial tensions about overzealous policing reached a boiling point, resulting in massive protests throughout the world.

Now, uncertainty about the economy and the potential for a second wave of COVID-19 in the near future are adding even more guesswork to the already harrowing process of revenue forecasting and fundraising planning.

As we embark into the great unknown of the Age of Socially-Distant Fundraising During a Massive Economic Downturn and Widespread Civil Unrest, fundraisers need each other more than ever. Facing a lot more questions than answers, we need to lean on each other for ideas, strategies, resources, networking, peer learning and support. Most of all, emerging fundraising professionals need mentors who  can help them to navigate the challenges ahead.

Mentoring is a proven way to build skills, promote job retention and professional advancement - all things that are very necessary in the fundraising profession. This is why  the AFP-NYC Mentorship Committee has been working to build its capacity to respond to the demand for mentoring opportunities. Under the leadership of Juliana M. Weissbein, CFRE, an NYC-AFP Board Member and Mentoring Committee Chair, the Mentorship Program is undergoing a formal relaunch process.

Beginning in 2020, the committee conducted a survey of past and current program members and engaged in a listening tour with over twenty other AFP chapters offering mentorship opportunities around the country. After the data was synthesized and analyzed, the committee developed a plan that will enhance the chapter’s mentoring program and provide more meaningful engagements for both mentors and mentees moving forward.  Here are some of the changes that you can look for from the chapter’s mentoring program:

• A structured, cohort model that will recruit and select a fixed number of mentors and mentees each year.
• A formal screening and scoring process to facilitate better mentor-mentee matching.
• A commitment to the chapter’s IDEA principles, to ensure representation  across identities.

“I am thrilled to collaborate with my fellow committee members on the Mentorship Program relaunch. I am confident this recalibration will offer AFP-NYC chapter members an opportunity to develop as professionals and will result in a robust cohort of consummate professionals better prepared to tackle our city’s greatest challenges.” says AFP-NYC Mentorship Program chair, Juliana M. Weissbein, CFRE

Be on the lookout for updates on the relaunch of the chapter’s mentoring program in the fall. In the meantime, if you have questions, would like to sponsor this program, or are interested in getting involved in the committee’s efforts -- as a mentor, mentee or committee member – please contact mentoringnycafp@gmail.com.