Messages from Chapter Leadership

Non-profits all over the country are taking a hard look at their budgets, cutting all costs that are not directly mission-related.  And in many organizations, funds for professional advancement of development staff could be under the knife.  But I would argue that this is a time when access to professional development is more important than ever.  Periods of economic distress call for us to work as smartly as possible.  While this crisis may be like no other in recent memory, there are best practices that should not be absent from our plans. You may have lost important corporate partners – how can you fill in the gaping hole left as a result?  And in the past few years, the use of new media has had an incredible impact on the fundraising landscape.  Does your development effort incorporate these strategies?  .

It’s also important to get out of the office and hear how other fundraisers are faring – what they have heard from funders and from Board members, what strategies they are taking to reach their financial goals, how they might approach a challenge that you are facing.  At a training session last month, I sat next to a colleague who, when he learned where I work, suggested someone for me to call at a local retail establishment that is looking for an arts-related organization for a promotional tie-in. Maybe this will be a fruitful match, and maybe not.  But the opportunity to interact socially with others in the field is a by-product of professional advancement that can be invaluable.

Here are a few thoughts on how to get the most out of your professional development dollars during difficult economic times such as we are currently experiencing:

Keep your eyes open. There are a number of wonderful organizations providing training for development staff, on issues ranging from annual funds to strategic planning.  In the coming months, AFP- GNY will be hosting events dealing with individual giving, new media, evaluation, communications and trends in foundation giving.  We will be co-hosting with the Foundation Center a series of webinars on various development topics, free to chapter members.

Send one member of your development staff, and have them report back.  When you can’t send your entire team, charge individuals with taking notes, collecting handouts, and sharing their new knowledge with the rest of the staff.

Let us know what you need. Did the workshop speaker’s presentation meet your expectations?   Is there a topic that you’d like to see addressed?  Evaluations and chapter member feedback really do inform our programming, so we need to hear from you.

And remember, now is the time when the services that our organizations provide are needed most, from health and social services to education and culture.  At last month’s AFP- GNY Mid-Day Seminar, Lincoln Center President Reynold Levy encouraged us to remember that development is noble work and to set high goals, even in the current economic climate.  AFP’s professional advancement program wants to help you do just that.  I hope that we’ll see you soon!