PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
July 2010

Dear Colleagues/Friends:

As I always do, please allow me to first and foremost thank you for your membership.  During this time of numerous and significant changes in the philanthropic sector, with intense competition and pressure for your dollar, we appreciate your commitment to and confidence in AFP Chicago.

And, as I have also done at every opportunity, please allow me to wish you a very Happy Anniversary! For five decades, AFP has been working to advance ethical and effective fundraising and support charities around the world that provide critical services to their communities.

This association was created to accomplish a number of things…provide an opportunity to network…provide an opportunity to educate/learn…and moreover, develop the credible, the ethical and the professional advancement of this good work.

I think we'd all agree that for any fundraising to succeed, the fundraising professional must be credible, ethical and professional.  Without that, the donor trust that is essential to giving never has a chance to develop.  First and foremost, credibility is any fundraiser's stock in trade.

Over the years, AFP's commitment to this has taken many forms – among them the statement of ethics and standards for members, the Donor Bill of Rights and CFRE certification. 

I encourage and support the pursuit of CFRE certification. If you are considering the certification, or just interested in learning more, AFP Chicago has a (free) recorded informational webinar titled "Becoming a Certified Fundraising Executive". If you find that are interested in this pursuit, please plan on attending the invaluable CFRE Review Course on July 14 and 15.

Thank you again for being a part of a 50-year history of advancing philanthropy through the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Please contact me anytime at alex.pope@advocatehealth.com.

Alexander F. Pope, CFRE