From work to play- joining the AFP Global Board continues to be one of the best professional decisions I have made...
I will admit it- a small part of me was dreading my trip to Arlington. To put it lightly, the world has been a bit chaotic lately and my priorities tend to shift by the hour. We are (still!) in a global pandemic, the overturning of Roe Vs. Wade has made the pressures of my day job multiply exponentially, and the news continues to report the canceling of ~10% of all flights. Knowing that I would only be spending one day with my fellow board members, I debated if it was even worth the travel time. I can tell you that it certainly was. Want to know what I got into? Keep on reading...
The Naming of the AFP Board Room
We kicked off our arrival with a special ceremony commemorating the AFP Board room as the 'Powell Board Room'. For those of you who don’t know, in 2020, Bob Carter, CFRE, a past chair of AFP Global, along with his wife Carol, made a major gift to the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy to recognize Rebecca Powell. Rebecca was on the AFP staff for 22 years and served as Director, Board Governance and Ethics. Bob and Carol’s gift provided naming rights to the Board Room. Bob and Carol joined us virtually and Rebecca in person. It was a special treat to meet the folks who helped shape AFP into what it is today!
Meeting My AFP Foundation Colleagues
After the naming ceremony, we toured the AFP office and I got to see the behind-the-scenes magic with my friends on the AFP Foundation board (USA, Mexico, and Canada were in the house!). I was so touched to be able to meet with the folks who have been pivotal in raising the funds needed to keep AFP operational and thriving.
From leadership development to scholarship, the AFP Foundations for Philanthropy enhance philanthropy and volunteerism through programs of education, research, and service that benefit those who lead, serve and support nonprofit institutions.
The AFP Foundation for Philanthropy envisions a future in which communities are thriving thanks to the critical work of nonprofit organizations and the fundraising professionals who make their work possible. To that end, the Foundation for Philanthropy, together with the Association of Fundraising Professionals, work tirelessly every day to help fundraisers succeed in their work while upholding the highest ethical standards. Click here to learn more and make a gift today!
Reviewing Progress Made on the Fundraisers Bill Of Rights
It is no secret that AFP is working on developing a Fundraiser Bill Of Rights and that this document will serve as a sister document to the Donor Bill of Rights. The Donor Bill of Rights was created by AFP, the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and the Giving Institute: Leading Consultants to Non-Profits and has been endorsed by numerous organizations. While this document is critical for our profession, AFP recognizes that its members (that's us- the fundraisers!) also need protection.
Thus, AFP has announced the creation of a sector-wide task force to develop a Fundraiser Bill of Rights. The task force, co-chaired by AFP members Rebecca Lamb, CFRE, and Liz LeClair, CFRE, was created after a recommendation by the AFP Ethics Committee during a review and update of the AFP Code of Ethics. The Fundraiser Bill of Rights will address the unique challenges fundraisers face in performing their jobs and responsibilities, especially those involving donor interaction and engagement, and will have an emphasis on inclusion, diversity, equity and access (IDEA). The task force held its first meeting in the summer, and a final document is expected to be announced in mid-2023. I am grateful to Rebecca and Liz for updating the Foundation and Association boards on their progress.
Defining What a Successful Association Looks Like
John Hockman and Meena Dayak from McKinley Advisors, the nation's leading consulting firm for associations, came to speak to the board about how AFP can better develop and deliver solutions that will enable us to maximize member value and our impact on society.
As a group, we discussed the importance of using a data-driven approach to better understand our offerings, obstacles and opportunities, as well as our members, customers, and prospects. We benefitted from McKinley's broad perspective and a fruitful discussion was had.
Ending The Day With Some Fun
And it wouldn't be an AFP board meeting without some fun! We ended our day by taking a class at Cookology. Pasta, salads, tiramisu and memories were made!
Until next time AFPeeps...
Juliana M. Weissbein, CFRE is a respected leader and decision influencer in regard to fundraising operations best practices. With over a decade of experience, Juliana thrives on professional growth, team success, measurable results, and inspiring fundraisers to utilize data-based strategies. Juliana currently serves as the Associate Director of Development Operations at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. She is an AFP Global Board Member, AFP Global's 2019 Outstanding Young Professional Fundraiser, and is a member of the AFP Global Women's Impact Initiative. Juliana is immediate past chair of the AFP New York City chapter’s Emerging Leaders Committee and currently serves on the chapter’s board chairing their mentorship program. She resides in Houston, TX, and never turns down a good kombucha.
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