Association of Fundraising Professionals

A big part of life—as we know from our profession—is continually giving and continually learning. Continue to associate with great folks and be part of a cause larger than yourself. Don't make leading or giving a "season of life." Make it a lifelong habit and commitment.

Tweets from the 2015 Association of Fundraising Professionals International Fundraising Conference (#AFPICON).

Of course you should craft your appeals to resonate with the majority of your readers. But you should always allow for the possibility that something great could come from the most unexpected donors.

If you want to maximize your career in philanthropy, you should strive to blend theory and practice. You should also enjoy meeting prospects, donors, volunteers and individuals who have made a difference in their community for many years.

If you are going to miss this year's AFP International Conference, what will you do to fill that void? If you are going to be in Baltimore, I'd appreciate your help in keeping me up to speed on what is being shared. I'll miss the knowledge; the time to step back and think strategically and creatively; and especially miss the opportunity to connect with so many friends and colleagues who remind me how proud I am to be associated with them, to be a member of AFP and to be a member of this noble profession.

(Press release, March 3, 2015) — Innovairre Communications introduced Donor2 (pronounced Donor Squared). The product integrates data-driven insights and personalization, online/offline media engagement, robotic technology, and analytics into a proven process to convert new donors into loyal donors.

David M. Huffine, CFRE, vice president for advancement for St. Joseph’s Villa in Richmond, Va., has helped raise an estimated $750 million in charitable funds over his career and been named the 2015 Outstanding Fundraising Professional by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). Huffine will receive this award on March 28, 2015 at AFP’s International Fundraising Conference in Baltimore.

It is up to the thousands of honest and ethical fundraising professionals to look out for potential fraud and abuse in our profession.

Be a worthy cause, and be a group that people want to be associated with — from your mission to how you fulfill it to how you fundraise. And be sure that your donors, at every level, know that they are appreciated.  

To give it your best you must be on top of your game and give 100 percent. Our jobs are not easy, and we need to understand that a balance is required for success. If you do not know what the problem is, you will not have a solution for it. Think about what you need to do each day and how you can increase the quality of productivity over time. In reality, it is only a grind if you let it be a grind. Adjust your attitude, and you will look at each day in a positive way!