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Welcome to the AFP Chicago September Newsletter
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LAST CALL to Register for Tomorrow's Virtual Workshop
Major and Planned Giving Considerations During COVID-19 Response
Friday, September 11| 1:00 - 2:00 PM
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Engaging with your organization’s major donors has never been more important. Between shifting charitable giving legislation, rapid economic changes, and the ever-increasing need for non-profit organizations to champion their missions, now is the time to communicate with major gift donors on the many ways they can support your charitable organization. However, understanding gift-planning vehicles – estates, trusts, donor-advised funds, bequests, stock, annuities, retirement assets and other vehicles for giving – can be daunting if it is not your primary development responsibility or your organization is accepting these types of gifts for the very first time.
This session will focus on the different solicitation strategies and giving vehicles that can help a major gift donor create an enduring legacy, meet personal and family financial and estate-planning goals – and ultimately make a difference to your organization today and for years to come. Our panel of experts will reflect on current philanthropic trends and major gift successes during COVID-19, including the ways in which these gifts were cultivated and secured. Whether you run a one-person shop or you are a major gift officer crafting a custom-built or a blended gift, you will come away from this program with stewardship, solicitation, and gift planning techniques and best practices that meet the needs of your organization and major gift donors. This program is approved for 1 CFRE point.
REGISTRATION FEE:
Members: $10
Members can register ONE non-member for $15 at the time of registration
Non-Members: $20
Register NOW!
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Third Thursday Networking
Thursday, September 17 | 5:00 - 6:00 PM
Join us for the September Third Thursday Virtual Networking event! On September 17 at 5:00 PM, we’ll engage in some lively conversation about fundraising challenges and triumphs. Keeping the focus on fundraising, we’ll shift to “Fundraising Jeopardy,” a fun, but educational Q&A game that includes Major Gifts, Ethics, Donor and Prospective Research and other topics. If you’re planning to take the CFRE exam, here’s your chance for a quick review. RSVP today and put on your thinking caps.
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Asian/Pacific Islander (API)
Affinity Group
Friday, September 18 | 3:00 – 4:30 PM
(complimentary to members and non-members)
The AFP Chicago Asian/Pacific Islander (API) Affinity Group provides opportunities for API development professionals to build community, explore our role as API fundraisers, and share successes, challenges, and resources. The API Affinity Group welcomes any Chicago-based development professional with an API identity of any nationality, including but not limited to: Central Asian, East Asian, Native Hawaiian, Southeast Asian, South Asian and Middle East Asian. Join in on the conversation at our September monthly group meeting. All are invited to this lively discussion and virtual happy hour. RSVP
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SAVE the DATES!
Please mark your calendars with these upcoming dates and check the AFP website for updates:
Wednesday, October 7, 2020 - 8:00 - 9:00 AM
AFP Chicago White Fundraisers Advocating for Racial Equity (WFARE) Affinity Group
Thursday, October 15, 2020 - 5:00 - 6:00 PM
Third Thursday Virtual Networking
Friday, October 16, 2020 - 1:00 - 2:00 PM
Virtual Workshop
Friday, October 16, 2020 - 3:00 - 4:00 PM
AFP Chicago Asian/Pacific Islander (API) Affinity Group
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Share Your Knowledge & Experience
Application Deadline: September 25th
The Peer Mentoring Program is one of AFP Chicago’s most respected and popular offerings. Ask your AFP colleagues: chances are, the majority have been a protégé, a mentor, or both. Each spring and fall, we launch a new class of mentors and proteges, and we hope you will participate. Whether you’re an experienced leader looking to help foster the growth of a rising star; a mid-career professional who wants to develop coaching and training skills; or someone new to the field who is eager to expand your network and receive individualized support, the Peer Mentoring program is for you. Click here for more information and to complete your application.
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Ready to become a CFRE in 2021?
CFRE Application Deadline: October 1st
The final CFRE application deadline of 2020 is coming up! Don’t miss this chance to take control of your career and get a step closer to enjoying all of the benefits that come with being a CFRE. Did you know 90% of current CFREs report the certification has had an impact on providing enhanced job opportunities? Start your application at no cost. View the application requirements. Enjoy your discount, as our members enjoy 20% off CFRE initial certification and recertification. Have questions or need help getting started? Contact CFRE International at [email protected].
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AFP Chicago Fellows Spotlight
Ryan Jameson, MetroSquash
Ryan serves as the head of the Development Department of MetroSquash, a holistic youth development/college success nonprofit serving over 400 youth in Woodlawn and Evanston with an annual budget of $2.7M. His current responsibilities include leading the successful execution of multiple components of the development and communications plan and strategy to ensure growing financial support for MetroSquash. Before becoming the Development Manager, Ryan was the Manager of Fundraising Events, Mentors, and Volunteers for two years in MetroSquash’s development department.
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Can you tell us a little bit about your work at the MetroSquash? I lead the development department at MetroSquash, so I am responsible for overseeing all the revenue streams and ensuring that we reach our $2.2M revenue goal. A lot of my time goes towards event preparation since that component accounts for over half of our revenue budget. I work closely with the Board of Directors and Auxiliary Board to strengthen our solicitation process. Lastly, I oversee our organization's communications and marketing, including our website, annual report, tabling materials, and much more.
What have been some of the challenges and opportunities you’ve faced since the onset of COVID-19? Adjusting to working from home has definitely been the biggest challenge. Although I am able to complete all my work responsibilities remotely, I just love working in the MetroSquash center. I love hearing our students in the hallway, and I could always take a break from my computer and just walk through programming, so I miss that right now. Regarding opportunities, I appreciate that the lock-down has given my team more time to focus on some new initiatives that we couldn’t explore in the past. In addition, I’m really excited that our gala will be virtual because we can reach more people while keeping expenses low. read more
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AFP Chicago Peer Mentoring Spotlight by: William Nalley, Director of Development, DePaul University
Thinking back to my first jobs in fundraising, I’m amazed at the number of times that I found myself reinventing wheels. In those small, community-based organizations, I had no notion that fundraising was a professional discipline with best practices and an engaged community of practitioners in the field. Whether due to staff turnover, abandoned systems, or the occasions when I was effectively a one-person team, starting a new role felt like starting from scratch.
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I was left to figure it out on my own, perhaps with the assistance of a search engine. I would have been overjoyed to have an experienced mentor with whom I could exchange ideas.
Only upon joining larger organizations did I understand the breadth of knowledge and expertise that existed within our field. Luckily, I joined a fundraising team that placed great emphasis on professional development and collegiality with our team and community. I benefitted from generous leaders who shared their knowledge with me, making me a better fundraiser and teammate. Passing forward lessons learned to new entrants in our field is one way to honor the investment that my mentors made in my personal development. learn more
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| AFP Chicago Welcomes Our New Members |
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We're happy to have you!
Denise Ashurst, Archdiocese of Chicago
Stephanie Carper
Marisa Castillo, National Immigrant Justice Center
Marleana Cross, Northwestern Memorial Foundation
Christina Danno, DePaul University Career Center
Olivia Daprile, Marillac St. Vincent Family Services
Jason Lane, Primo Center
Emily Master
Alissa Schiada, Marillac St. Vincent Family Services
Richard Van Hees
Alana Wett, The Cove School
New members as of August 2020
If your name is not included, please contact Becky Gilbert at [email protected]. |
Member Resources
Ethics Resources | AFP Global | Update Contact Information
Community Links
Grant Success 2020
Grants Professional Association's Chicago Chapter is offering its annual conference online this year. As always, they offer a discount to AFP members, since we're doing this good work of changing the world together.
Community-Centric Fundraising (CCF)
Nonprofit Management Essentials is Live!
Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN)
North Park University
Axelson Center Professional Development Programs
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