Duke Haddad Word-of-Mouth Advertising Really Does Work Fundraising

By Duke Haddad, Ed.D.

I have been a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) since 1982 and am honored to be a former board member and president of the Indiana Chapter of AFP. I was also a previous mentor chair of the Greater Dayton Ohio AFP Chapter.

One Philanthropy Day when I was a member of both organizations, I attended both the Dayton and Indianapolis AFP events. The Association of Fundraising Professionals is an excellent 54-year-old organization with more than 30,000 members internationally. Each year members generate $100 billion.

There are approximately 5,000 fundraisers with the certified fundraising executive (CFRE) designation, with the majority of them being AFP members. The AFP promotes the profession like no other organization! Each year there are many opportunities for both young and old professionals to engage and continue to grow in the profession. When I attend an AFP meeting, I leave inspired and proud of my membership shield. There is constant movement from young professionals entering the field to old soldiers who retire. These senior professionals leave a legacy for others to follow.

I recently received a call from a dear friend and colleague. He asked that I meet an individual looking for a position in the not-for-profit arena. As I never say no and he knows it, I happily met the individual. At the end of the meeting I told him I would contact four other people for him to meet. In one day, I heard from three of the four people all willing to meet with the prospective candidate. How many fields of endeavor have such respect and joy in helping others?

I knew the four contacts would meet with the prospective candidate. Sharing information and promoting the profession are in our blood. As a senior professional, friends of mine are just beginning to retire. All I can say is well done, good and faithful servants. When my breakfast ended with the individual seeking advice, he asked me how he could help me. I told him please pay an act of kindness forward with a stranger without expectation of return.

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Duke Haddad, Ed.D. Author's page

Duke Haddad, Ed.D., CFRE, is currently associate director of development, director of capital campaigns and director of corporate development for The Salvation Army Indiana Division in Indianapolis. He also serves as president of Duke Haddad and Associates LLC and is a freelance instructor for Nonprofit Web Advisor.

He has been a contributing author to NonProfit PRO since 2008.

He received his doctorate degree from West Virginia University with an emphasis on education administration plus a dissertation on donor characteristics. He received a master’s degree from Marshall University with an emphasis on public administration plus a thesis on annual fund analysis. He secured a bachelor’s degree (cum laude) with an emphasis on marketing/management. He has done post graduate work at the University of Louisville.

Duke has received the Fundraising Executive of the Year Award, from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Indiana Chapter. He also was given the Outstanding West Virginian Award, Kentucky Colonel Award and Sagamore of the Wabash Award from the governors of West Virginia, Kentucky and Indiana, respectively, for his many career contributions in the field of philanthropy. He has maintained a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation for three decades.