Gearing up for a Busy Fall Gearing up for a Busy Fall Chapter Leadership Brief 8.22.25 by CJ Orr Chief Executive Officer, Orr Group This year has been hectic to say the least. The city’s energy never truly fades, but even New York eases its grip a bit in August. Colleagues take time off at the beach or a long weekend upstate. We may not close shop like Italy’s Ferragosto, but we should still claim August—intentionally—as the month to rest, reset, and ready ourselves for the sprint that begins on Tuesday, September 2, the day after Labor Day.
Fundraising Strategies to Make Your Year-End Efforts Even More Successful Fundraising Strategies to Make Your Year-End Efforts Even More Successful Chapter Leadership Brief 8.22.25 by Gary Weinberg President, DM Pros AFP's Fundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP) reported in July that while total dollars raised increased 3.6% in the first quarter, this growth was driven largely by larger donors. Donations from smaller donors are declining. However, there are proven strategies you can put to use now to make your year-end direct mail and direct response campaigns more successful.
Building Community and Strengthening Connections: Expanding and Maximizing Partnerships through FRDNY 2025 Building Community and Strengthening Connections: Expanding and Maximizing Partnerships through FRDNY 2025 Chapter Leadership Brief 8.8.25 by Adam Glick and Lucretia Gilbert FRDNY 2025 Program Committee Co-Chairs Fundraising Day New York offers an opportunity for nonprofit professionals at all stages of their careers to come together, learn from colleagues longstanding and new and explore the most important issues facing our sector. The program for FRDNY 2025 – workshops, roundtables, flash coaching sessions, panel discussions, and more – was as dynamic as the day’s 1000+ attendees. Organized by a dedicated team of volunteers who plan for eight months leading up to the big day, FRDNY aims to build and scale in ways both quantitative and qualitative each year. After all, if the best fundraising is a balanced mix of art and science, FRDNY should reflect that!
Decolonizing Fundraising at Home and Abroad Decolonizing Fundraising at Home and Abroad Chapter Leadership Brief 7.25.25 by Amethyst A. Rodriguez Institutional Giving Officer, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts “Charity is writing a check for a cause you care about. Justice asks more of us. It means investing your money, time, knowledge, and relationships to challenge — and change — the very systems that make charity necessary.”
What Happened When We Made a Story in Real Time at FRDNY What Happened When We Made a Story in Real Time at FRDNY Chapter Leadership Brief 7.25.25 by Jason Ellinger, Founder Beard & Bowler We walked into the ballroom at AFP Fundraising Day in NYC with nothing but a plan, a camera crew, & a deadline no one could pause. Four hours later, 1,120 nonprofit leaders would be watching a story they hadn’t seen yet because we hadn’t filmed it.
How Can We Use AI for Better Fundraising? How Can We Use AI for Better Fundraising? Chapter Leadership Brief 7.11.25 by David Langton President, Langton Creative Group We see AI being employed everywhere. Yet, not all AI and tech upgrades are better for your donor base. Here’s expert advice from marketers, strategists, and practitioners in fundraising communications on how to effectively build your audience without alienating your key donors. So often, we lose track of our own expertise and use AI and technology to create barriers instead of building bridges. Howard Levy, president of Red Rooster Group, says, “AI can enhance your expertise if you know how to use it. You're not just writing emails or managing social media. You’re telling stories that connect people to a cause. You're raising dollars that change lives. That requires insight, empathy, and creativity. And AI — when used right — can help you do more of that, better and faster.”
Rethinking Fundraising Strategy: How Data-Driven Outreach Can Help You Diversify and Scale Rethinking Fundraising Strategy: How Data-Driven Outreach Can Help You Diversify and Scale Chapter Leadership Brief 7.11.25 by Jennifer Mignarri Customer Success Manager, RelPro In today’s fundraising environment, stability feels increasingly elusive. Nonprofits are grappling with shrinking government support, rising operational costs, and a growing dependence on a small circle of individual donors. As economic headwinds persist, savvy development professionals are facing a critical question: How can we future-proof our fundraising strategy?
AFP Member Focus: Gregory Boroff - The Surprising Journey That Led to Finding a Place in Fundraising 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.
Rebuilding the Base: Confronting the Cracks in the Future of Fundraising Rebuilding the Base: Confronting the Cracks in the Future of Fundraising Chapter Leadership Brief 6.27.25 by Anton Lipkanou President and Partner, Delve Deeper A Tipping Point for Digital Fundraising The nonprofit sector is quietly approaching a cliff. While fundraising headlines often focus on major gifts, high-profile campaigns, or new digital tools, a more foundational crisis is unfolding just below the surface: the gradual collapse of the donor pyramid. Individual giving, which has historically been the bedrock of nonprofit revenue, is weakening at its foundation.
An Overlooked Tool: Leveraging Bonuses in Your Executive Search An Overlooked Tool: Leveraging Bonuses in Your Executive Search Chapter Leadership Brief 6.27.25 by Tracy Marshall Executive Director of Search Practice, Senior Vice President, Principal, Development Guild Attracting and hiring great leadership candidates is a constant challenge for the nonprofit industry. Retaining top talent can be even harder and both require creative, strategic solutions.