AFP Member Focus: Gregory Boroff - The Surprising Journey That Led to Finding a Place in Fundraising

Chapter Leadership Brief 6.27.25

by Gregory Boroff
Chief External Relations Officer | External Relations, City Harvest

This article is adapted from Gregory Boroff 's acceptance speech for the Ralph E. Chamberlain Award presented at AFP NYC Annual Meeting in February.

Today is truly a full life circle moment for me.  I first came to NYC in 1986 to attend college at FIT, and I lived in the co-ed dorm just across the street. To be back on the FIT campus 39 years later, receiving this prestigious award is beyond mind-blowing and surreal.

I felt so many emotions when Margaret Holman called to tell me that I would be receiving this award from the chapter. I felt humbled knowing that my peers, so many of you who are here today and whose work I respect so much, selected me to receive this honor. I felt proud, not just of myself but of each and every person who has been part of my 30-year career. This recognition is not just a testament to my work, but a celebration of the collective efforts of everyone who has been part of my journey.  And mostly I felt grateful.

Grateful that I have had the opportunity to work in a profession that I genuinely love. Grateful that my work has helped so many people, most notably people who are experiencing food insecurity and people living with, or at risk for, HIV and AIDS. Grateful that I have worked for such incredible organizations alongside so many talented and passionate people. Many who have become my dear friends. And grateful to AFP for all that it has given back to me: purpose, professional growth, opportunities for advancement, and a network of the fiercest and most capable people who make New York City and the world a better place. 

I, like many of you, fell into fundraising by accident.
I moved to the city in 1986. It was a magical time to be young here, but it was also a scary time with so many people dying from AIDS. I started volunteering with Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) almost immediately after moving here.  After several exciting years working in the hospitality and events industries, I decided that I wanted my work to have more purpose, and I knew I wanted to work at GMHC. So, I scheduled time to meet with the head of HR for the organization and asked what I could do there.  Her immediate and enthusiastic response was “you would be great in development.”

I had no idea what that meant and it never occurred to me that raising money for an organization could be a paying job let alone an entire profession. But I said yes and became a Major Gifts Assistant at GMHC in the fall of 1995. 

My next opportunity for advancement three years later was to work at City Harvest. I grew up food insecure and I know firsthand what it’s like not to know where your next meal is coming from. So, raising money for a food rescue organization was, and is, extremely meaningful to me.  

The role of AFP in my success.
I had always been very active in AFP.  I joined every committee that would have me and volunteered at every opportunity that presented itself. I eventually became Co-Chair of National Philanthropy Day.  It was the exposure from the podium the day of that event in 2001 that made possible my meeting Lucy Cabrera then the CEO of Food For Survival.

Gregory Boroff and Susan Ulin a fundraising event.  

As Craig Shelley, President of the Board at AFP NY, said in his remarks, we lost Susan Ulin this past year. She was a special friend and colleague, and I am blessed to have so many wonderful memories with her. 

After many conversations following that event, Lucy offered me the role of Vice President of External Relations at Food For Survival. Working together alongside the newly formed team I created, we rebranded the organization to what we all know today as Food Bank For New York City. 

Pursuing my dream job
I spent 7 fulfilling years at Food Bank and then something happened that I had long hoped for but did not necessarily expect. You see when I first started working at GMHC, practically day one, I told anyone who would listen that I was going to be the Vice President of Development at amfAR one day. And then one afternoon I received a call from a headhunter asking if I would be interested in interviewing for that position. I did not want to leave Food Bank, but Lucy insisted I go for the role since it was my dream. She put my best interests first before the organization, and I am forever grateful to her for that.

amfAR was a crazy, glamorous, fun and exciting four-year chapter of my life. amfAR’s CEO Kevin Frost and I traveled the globe together, and I learned so much from him. He is a strong leader, and he gave me the confidence to go after my next big professional goal which was to become an Executive Director.  

My next big professional milestone
I was fortunate enough to be hired as the Executive Director at Friends of Hudson River Park. I learned so much about myself during my three years there. Most importantly, I learned that I do not like being the head of an organization. The head of a large team, yes, but the head of an organization, no. 

After my contract ended at Hudson River Park, my friend, Sunil Oomen, told me that City Harvest was looking for a Chief External Relations Officer. I remember reaching out to City Harvest’s CEO, Jilly Stephens, and saying to her, “You’re either going to think this is a great idea or a bad idea.” Fortunately for me, Jilly thought it was a great idea, and I have been back at City Harvest for nine-plus incredibly rewarding years. 

I have been blessed to work at amazing organizations doing meaningful work in areas most important to me, HIV/AIDS and food insecurity. I have had the privilege and honor to work for the best of the best leaders and CEOs: Pat Pollok, Lucy Cabrera, Kevin Frost and Jilly Stephens. And I have been fortunate enough to meet so many colleagues and friends throughout my career. 

I have spent a total of 16 years on the Board of AFP-NYC. In addition to Co-Chairing National Philanthropy Day for three years, I have served as Chair of the chapter’s Professional Advancement Committee; a member of the chapter’s first DEI committee; a mentor in the chapter’s mentorship program, now starting my third term; Co-Chair of the chapter’s Annual Meeting for three years; a speaker, a track chair, a program chair, and ultimately THE Chair of Fundraising Day in New York, the only person to serve in this role for three years: twice spearheading virtual conferences during the Pandemic in 2020 and 2021 and then leading the organization back to an in-person conference in 2022. I have given a lot to this chapter, but I have gotten so much more in return. 

Before I conclude, I want to thank the person I am most grateful for. I did not meet him through my work as a fundraiser, but he has supported my career over all 30 years. He has given me advice, the room to grow, to travel the world and attend so many events that he couldn’t attend with me. He’s listened to me vent about every topic under the sun and celebrated each and every win with me. He even picked out my outfit for today’s meeting. Thomas, I love you very much.  I would never want anyone else to be my husband and I could not have asked for a better partner to go through life with.  

In closing, it struck me when I was writing this speech that fundraisers rarely receive awards for their work.  We honor donors, celebrities, politicians, fellow colleagues, and volunteers.  But we are rarely recognized publicly for the impact our work makes possible in the world. So, I accept the Ralph E. Chamberlain award on behalf of my fellow fundraisers, because we are all Rock Stars who deserve to be celebrated for all that we have done and for all the good that our future success will continue to do.

Today is truly a full life circle moment for me.  I first came to NYC in 1986 to attend college at FIT, and I lived in the co-ed dorm just across the street. To be back on the FIT campus 39 years later, receiving this prestigious award is beyond mind-blowing and surreal.

I felt so many emotions when Margaret Holman called to tell me that I would be receiving this award from the chapter. I felt humbled knowing that my peers, so many of you who are here today and whose work I respect so much, selected me to receive this honor. I felt proud, not just of myself but of each and every person who has been part of my 30-year career. This recognition is not just a testament to my work, but a celebration of the collective efforts of everyone who has been part of my journey.  And mostly I felt grateful.

Grateful that I have had the opportunity to work in a profession that I genuinely love. Grateful that my work has helped so many people, most notably people who are experiencing food insecurity and people living with, or at risk for, HIV and AIDS. Grateful that I have worked for such incredible organizations alongside so many talented and passionate people. Many who have become my dear friends. And grateful to AFP for all that it has given back to me: purpose, professional growth, opportunities for advancement, and a network of the fiercest and most capable people who make New York City and the world a better place.

Gregory Boroff oversees the fundraising, marketing, communications, volunteer services and special events initiatives at City Harvest. Gregory returned to City Harvest 17 years after having worked here earlier in his career. Over his 25+ year career working with nonprofits, Gregory has raised more than $900 million for organizations that include Friends of Hudson River Park, amfAR, Food Bank For New York City, and Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC). BizBash Magazine named Gregory one of the most innovative people in the event industry. Gregory serves on the Board of EventFluence, as a member of the Steering Committee for Allies in Action, and as a mentor for AFP-NYC. He has previously served on the Board of the Greater New York Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, as Chair of AFP’s Fundraising Day in New York, as a member of the BizBash Magazine Advisory Council, on the Board and as Program Dean of the CAE Career Enrichment Committee for the New York Society of Association Executives, and as a mentor for the Point Foundation. Gregory is a proud supporter of New Hope for Cambodian Children. In 2025, AFP recognized Gregory with the esteemed Ralph E. Chamberlain Lifetime Achievement Award for his leadership, dedication, and impact.