News/Blog

by Erica Joy West
Charitable Investment Counselor, Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative
Coach and Independent Consultant

As April ushers in National Volunteer Month, it’s a time of celebration for the invaluable contributions that our volunteers make to our organizations. And the volunteers that are universally regarded as our most valuable and important are the Board of Trustees--- guiding the strategic direction of our organization, serving as ambassadors of our mission, and catalysts of philanthropic support.

by David J. Mack IV 
Vice President of Communications, Sophist

In the ever-changing universe of fundraising, innovation is the key to success. 

As Vice President of Communications at Sophist and a dedicated advocate for active philanthropy, I've had a major role in the establishment and development of Text-to-Pledge® (TTP), the groundbreaking platform that redefined how nonprofits engage with donors and drive contributions. In the major gala environment, TTP changed the live appeal paradigm from analog to digital. The process has directly generated more than $250MM for causes and their beneficiaries since. Much of the giving has come from first time donors to client organizations, and Text-to-Pledge’s true bottom line impact for orgs is in the billions.

By Robin Merle, CFRE
President, Robin Merle Associates, LLC
Founder, TheProfessionalGuide.com

Retaining and motivating staff is a BIG topic in our profession.   The churn of fundraising staff in and out of organizations continues.  Staff who have exited their organizations talk of toxic cultures, unrealistic expectations, limited resources, and bad managers who still operate like gift officers rather than leaders.  “I wasn’t even able to speak to a donor.  I wrote briefings,” goes a typical complaint.

If you’ve risen up the ranks from asker to tasker, you can improve your chances of retaining team members by leaning into your role as a relationship-builder.

by M. Angel Flores
Senior Vice President, CCS Fundraising

In a previous article, I shared data from Giving USA that confirmed nearly half of legacy gift donors first learned about the personal benefits of making such a gift from their charity. Beyond the inherent responsibility wealth stewards or donor advisors have to partner with donors and ensure they understand and therefore can take advantage of the significant benefits of making a legacy gift, there are the added benefits to our profession of providing donors the dignity of dying with their affairs in order and restoring reciprocity to this sacred relationship.

by Bre Alexander
Content Marketing Manager, iWave

To boost donor engagement and maximize fundraising efforts, nonprofits need to think creatively and implement new strategies.  In this post, we’ll explore five fundraising ideas that can help nonprofits cultivate stronger relationships with their donors, expand their reach, and create a sense of community surrounding their cause.

From hosting unique events to donor surveys, these ideas will provide practical approaches to enhancing donor engagement. 

Let’s dive in!

by Thomas E. Moore III
Executive Director, American Friends of the Louvre

It’s been nearly four months since I began my tenure as the Executive Director of American Friends of the Louvre and, as my first executive director role, it has been an incredible period of learning and growing into a new kind of leadership.  

Successful leaders often demonstrate attributes like compassion, a deep connection with their teams, and the ability to balance group needs with their individual aspirations. For emerging leaders looking to grow their skills, particularly leaders of color, I strongly advise embracing qualities and skills that may not always be recognized as conventional strengths. For example, being perceived as ‘different’ may have taught you how to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. In leadership, you can harness that feeling to adapt quickly, overcome difficult experiences, and see innovative solutions. 

by Lamont Wray, Jr.
Director, Individual Giving
Food Bank for New York City

Food insecurity is not a fleeting problem reserved for the holiday season or a recent issue stemming from the pandemic. It's a longstanding challenge that has plagued communities for decades, and its impact intensifies. Factors such as the reduction of SNAP benefits, escalating rent costs, rising food prices, and the migrant crisis have exacerbated the situation, pushing many families and individuals into dire straits.

By Jonah Nigh
Senior Vice President for Development and Alumni Engagement
The New School

I love New York City because it is a city of doers. People are fast, smart, ambitious, and unsettled by the status quo. Whenever I visit family in the Midwest or West Coast, it takes about 48 hours before I get twitchy and start to feel like a corvette in a school-zone. Frankly, it’s not a city to me unless I need to regularly jump over bags of garbage, dodge an Elmo, or completely dissociate during “showtime” on the A Train.

By Craig H. Shelley, CFRE
President, Association of Fundraising Professionals, New York City Chapter
Partner + Chief Growth Officer, Orr Group

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as our Chapter’s President over the next two-years.  It’s a humbling opportunity to help ensure New York City fundraisers have the community and resources we deserve.

As I’ve prepared for this unique challenge, I’ve thought a lot about our profession.  I am, as I always have been, inspired by the impact fundraisers make in the world and appreciative to those who have dedicated their lives to what is often a thankless and always difficult profession.  AFP has a unique opportunity to support your work and provide a community of peers you can learn from and commiserate with.  I look forward to working with our board and officers and all of you to realize that promise.

By Jill M. Scibilia, MBA, CFRE
VP, Development, Phelps Hospital, Northwell Health 
AFP-NYC Chapter President 2022 and 2023

We are now at the end the year when there is an abundance of generosity, gifting, and gratitude.

I am taking the opportunity today to express my gratitude to the Association of Fundraising Professionals – NYC Chapter. It has been a great honor to serve as your chapter president. My term has now come to a close. Here is some of what I learned along the way.