"Task Force Spotlight: Collaborating with Academic Institutions"
Linda C. Hartley
Over the past several years, there has been tremendous growth in educational programs offered by colleges and universities that focus on nonprofit fundraising and management. In response, AFP–GNY has sought to re-evaluate its educational offerings and explore how the Chapter might collaborate with academic institutions to leverage respective strengths and help position AFP–GNY as the intellectual and professional resource for fundraising and philanthropy programming in New York.
To achieve this goal, in Fall 2008, AFP–GNY President John Hicks asked me to form and chair a Task Force to investigate how the Chapter and New York City academic institutions might form mutually beneficial collaborations with a focus on AFP–GNY members and services as the most important priorities.
Task Force participants included current and former AFP–GNY Board Members: Tricia Balsamini, Deborah Hays, Laura Fredricks, Michael Washburn, and Mark Kalish; and committee members Mark Hefner and Bonnie Gildin. The Task Force worked aggressively throughout late 2008 and reported its recommendations during the AFP–GNY Board’s planning retreat in January 2009.
With this article, AFP–GNY is pleased to report to Chapter members on the Task Force’s work and recommendations.
The Task Force met with the following directors of nonprofit programs:
- Lewis Brindle, Director; George H. Heyman, Jr. Center for Fundraising and Philanthropy, New York University
- Jack Krauskopf, Distinguished Lecturer and Director; Center for Nonprofit Strategy and Management, Baruch College
- Lucas Rubin, Director; MS Fundraising and Special Programs, Columbia University
- Mark Lipton, Program Director; New School University’s Non-Profit Management Program (who is currently on sabbatical) and the interim director, Mary Watson.
With each meeting and conversation, the Task Force sought to identify collaboration opportunities that:
- Are effective and sustainable given our strategic objectives, budget and volunteer resources;
- Will benefit and expand our membership, enhance our marketing position, and serve our profession;
- Enhance our chapter’s “professional and learning network for effective and ethical fundraising.”
The Task Force presented ideas for joint programming and networking events, a collaborative market survey, and career development programs. Based on these ideas the Board’s Membership and Professional Advancement Committees have agreed to pursue the following:
Joint Networking and Information Events
Academic institutions hold regular information sessions to recruit students. This spring, the AFP–GNY Membership Committee will partner with one or two institutions on special events that will include AFP speakers on topics such as “What Does it Take to be a Fundraiser?”
AFP–GNY Annual Networking Reception
The Membership Committee and AFP–GNY will host an annual event for our members as well as students and graduates of several academic institutions, with a faculty member or other distinguished speaker. The topic will be intellectually stimulating and either nonprofit-related or broader.
Collaborative Market Survey
The AFP–GNY Membership Committee will explore working with academic institutions to develop a market survey of our combined constituents’ current educational and professional interests, goals, and needs.
Career Development
The Professional Advancement Committee will explore:
- Apprenticeships with certificate/degree graduates and AFP–GNY member nonprofits or consulting firms;
- Graduate Capstone projects;
- Senior-level mentoring and job placement support for top performing students; and
- Paid internships.
AFP–GNY Academic Roundtable
The Chapter will explore collaborating with all four interviewed academic institutions on an AFP–GNY hosted academic roundtable that would combine an overview of program offerings with a forum (led by faculty and AFP–GNY senior professionals) on a topic of interest to fundraising professionals.
Special Seminars
AFP–GNY will explore co-sponsoring with academic institutions a seminar on emerging issues in the nonprofit sector, followed by a networking reception.
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Over the next two years, AFP–GNY’s collaborations with New York City universities and colleges should create both an enhanced market position and measurable results, such as:
- Greater Chapter member acquisition and retention;
- Larger audiences for Chapter events; and
- Greater number of volunteers and senior professionals engaged within the Chapter.
The Task Force will meet periodically to review progress. We look forward to keeping members apprised of resulting events and programs. If you have ideas about our collaborating with academic institutions, please feel free to contact me at lhartley@hartleyconsulting.com.
Linda C. Hartley is President of Hartley Consulting, Inc., Chair, AFP–GNY Task Force on Academic Collaborations, and a member who serves on the Board of Directors, AFP of Greater New York. | 
