Start your fundraising career on a high note with AFP
Posted by [email protected] on Nov. 4, 2021 / Subscribe 0
We know there are an infinite number of ways someone might fall into - or find their way to - the fundraising profession. Everyone’s story is a little bit different.
Whether fundraising is the first stop on your professional journey or you’ve recently taken your career in a new direction, AFP-GPC serves as a professional home for any Emerging Leader.
Network with your peers
Networking is important for so many professional reasons, but there is also something cathartic about being able to relate to others.
Programming through our Chapter is designed to connect you with fellow members in professional and social settings to network, share ideas, and continue to shape the fundraising profession.
Signature events such as National Philanthropy Day are a great way to connect with our Chapter as a whole and stay connected with the larger fundraising community in our region. For Emerging Leaders specifically, we have also recently started an Article Club to discuss current events and other relevant topics in an informal setting.
Events aren’t the only way to meet fellow fundraisers. Join the AFP-GPC Emerging Leaders Facebook group and the AFP Global Young Professionals LinkedIn group to network with your peers.
Own your role
No one becomes an expert in anything overnight - fundraising included - but you can still walk the walk and talk the talk.
You certainly don’t need to memorize every word in the fundraising dictionary, but the truth is, whether you work in a large development shop or find yourself working solo, every day offers a new challenge or opportunity.
When tasked with a new project, AFP Global offers dozens of tools, templates, and sample documents to help you get ahead. Campaign timeline? Check. Phonathon script sample? Check. You probably already have a lot on your plate. There’s no need to recreate the wheel.
Fundraising is all about relationship building and in turn, trust. Your donors trust that your organization will use their gifts as intended. As staff, you trust one another to uphold your organization’s mission. Your work can be nuanced, and sometimes complicated and even a little bit personal. AFP has an established Code of Ethical Standards and Donor Bill of Rights. Use these guides to inform your decisions, maintain professionalism always, and lead fellow team members by example.
Pave your way
Consider your AFP membership an investment in yourself. Your participation in our Chapter’s activities, as well as Global’s offerings, is sure to help you in your day-to-day work. As you survey your member benefits, also consider your long-term goals as a fundraiser.
AFP-GPC offers a mentoring program to connect you with highly experienced fundraising professionals within our Chapter. We also offer scholarships to support your professional goals, including the M. Jane Williams Professional Development Award and the Chamberlain Scholarship, which covers the cost of registration for AFP ICON, the world’s largest conference for fundraising professionals.
Whether you are hoping to work towards your CFRE Certification in the long-term or are looking for a new organization to support with your skill set in the short-term, lean into your AFP membership as you work towards your professional goals.
Support other emerging leaders
Interested in supporting fellow emerging leaders? The AFP-GPC Membership Committee’s Emerging Leaders Subcommittee would like to hear from you. Contact Alaina Billing at [email protected] or Ashley Myers at [email protected] to learn more about how to get involved.
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