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PROFESSIONAL
RESOURCES
Welcome to the Professional Resources section of our site!
Check back here often to find information to help you enhance your technical skills, manage your career, expand your perspective and inspire your efforts as a fundraiser. With input provided by some of the leading members of the Chicago philanthropic community, this section provides an ongoing archive of professional wisdom (the same kind of valuable material you can get at our luncheon programs and annual Midwest Conference).
Consider Contributing to the Professional Resources Site!
Have an article to submit for our Professional Resource online library? Found an interesting philanthropy quote? We want to hear from you! The Professional Resources section is a great way to share your wisdom with your colleagues and advance the cause of philanthropy in Chicago. Click here for article criteria and submission process.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Simply click one of the links below to be directed to that section of the site…
Career Management
Nonprofits Today
Fundraising in the News
Fundraising Tips
Government Relations
Educational Program Materials
AFP Resources
Words of Wisdom
How To Ask For A Raise, And Get It!
View these helpful tips and make them work for you.
Are You Ready For An Unexpected Job Interview?
Most job seekers wait to polish up their interview skills until they are looking for a new position. Important interview opportunities, however, can present themselves at any time. Read this article to position yourself for the unexpected…
AFP's 2006 Compensation & Benefits Study Now Available
(May 22, 2006) The full report of AFP's 2006 Compensation & Benefits Study is now available online at www.afpnet.org and provides valuable data about the characteristics of individual fundraisers and paints a picture of the current state of the profession. Enter the Member Gateway and click on Compensation and Benefits Report.
Use Your Resume To Help Negotiate a Higher Salary
Most job seekers believe that salary negotiation starts once they have an offer in hand, but nothing could be farther from the truth. Read this article to position yourself at the top end of the salary range.
AFP Member Benefit: Career Planner
A self-assessment, resource database and education course tracker all in one! Members should definitely investigate this benefit, especially if you are planning for your CFRE. Click here for further details, and let AFP work for you by charting a course to performance excellence!
Is Your Résumé Recruiter Friendly?
The quality of your résumé influences how recruiters treat you in the job market. Is your résumé is recruiter friendly? Click here to find out.
What to do ‘til the Headhunter Calls? by Daniel J. Burns
Will you be ready for a change if you get a call from someone about your dream job? Here are some strategies to think about as you prepare for that phone call. Click here for more.
Getting Ready for the Interview by Kate Monteleone, CFRE
Should you throw your professional future to the fates? Click here for more.
CFRE Certification: An Important Investment in Your Fundraising Career
by Tanya Pietrkowski, CFRE.
CFRE is the only internationally recognized baseline professional credential for the philanthropic fundraising executive. Click here for more.
Peer Mentoring Program Provides Participants ‘Fringe Benefits'
Mentors of AFP Chicago's Peer Mentoring program met in January to observe “Thank Your Mentor Day” where they heard from Ina Pinkney, owner of Ina's Restaurant, who was recently featured on CNN's, “The Turnaround”. Ina and her mentor talked to current AFP mentors about the “Turnaround” experience. For details on participating as a mentor or a protégé in AFP's Chicago's Peer Mentoring program click here.
Social Media, Back to the Basics
Much has been made over the last year about the value of using social networking sites to promote your non-profit and raise money for your charity. Although the return on investment is still debatable, it is important to get your feet wet and discover how to use the sites to your advantage. Today let’s run you through a basic sign-up for three of the most popular social networking tools: facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Once you are signed in, it is recommended that you play around within the sites and see what others are doing. In the end, that is the best way to see how these sites can work for you. Click here to read more.
Are you Ready for a New Web Site?
Over the last few decades, the internet has become one of the primary ways that people connect with each other, learn information and become involved with issues they support. In this last presidential campaign, we also learned that online fundraising can be a major force in generating resources. Many nonprofits are now looking to their Web sites to become the online “face” of the organization and are turning to a complete web redesign. This can be a worthwhile endeavor and can enhance your organization’s branding, constituent experience and of course, fundraising. However, there are some things to consider before you begin. Click here to read more.
Online Appeals Part 2: How ready is your Organization?
In part one of the online appeals series, we explored the importance of conveying our mission electronically and the challenges an organization faces in crafting a great online appeal. However, the best online giving appeal isn’t worth the paper it isn’t printed on unless your organization is ready to commit time and resources to the effort. In part two of the series, we will look at how ready your organization is to get an online appeal off the ground. Click here to read more.
Online Appeals Part 1: A Place to Start
As fundraisers, we have learned that people don’t give to organizations; they give to people and causes. Can we convey the importance of our mission electronically? If we get the message right, how do we know that we are reaching the right people? How will our constituents respond to e-solicitations? Click here to read more.
To Blog, or to Blog Later…
The internet continues to give a unique voice to organizations throughout the world and can enhance the way that they communicate with their constituents, beneficiaries and donors. One way to help those connected with your organization stay linked is through the use of a blog. Click here to learn more
How Social Networking Sites can Work for You
Social networking sites allow you to set up a profile about yourself or your organization so that you can connect with others who share your interests. In recent years, websites such as Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn have popped up, offering their users a way to connect with other members. They are generally easy to use and can provide your constituents/donors with another point of access to your organization and its needs. Click here to learn more
Online Giving by the Numbers
When nonprofits consider whether or not to accept online contributions, many questions arise: How much can we raise? What kind of constituents should we be encouraging to give online? Is my organization too small to see results? In 2007, online contribution processor Network for Good published a study of online giving. A summary of their findings and some helpful answers to the above questions can be found here.
ABC's of Online Fundraising
Have you ever thought about entering the world of online giving, but aren't sure if you are "tech-savvy" enough to make it work for your fundraising efforts? Raising money through the web can be an affordable and easy way to provide your donors an additional avenue for giving to your cause. Click here to learn about the do's and don''ts of an online campaign and some basic rules for fundraising in an increasingly virtual world.
Go Green in your Office
You hear the phrase "going green" all the time. This movement encourages respect for our environment, and is becoming increasingly popular with donors across the board. What are you and your organization doing to make a difference? Click here to discover ways your organization can become more environmentally conscious.
Kids Are Picking Up On Eco-Friendly Lifestyle
(Chicago Tribune- August 11, 2008)– Environmental organizations are noticing the spike in youth involvement. Nearly 800 kids volunteered to clean up beach lines in the state this past year as part of a Connecticut Fund for the Environment program. Click here to read more.
Giving grew in '07, but worries darken '08
(Crain's Chicago Business, June 23, 2008) —Giving grew in Chicago and the United States as a whole last year despite worries about soaring gas prices, failing mortgages and a slumping housing market. Click here to view the entire Crain's article.
House Passes Rollover IRA
The House of Representatives passed a bill on Wednesday, May 21, that included an extension of the IRA Rollover provision. Click here to read more.
AFP Chicago featured on ABC 7 Chicago December 18, 2007
This special segment on philanthropy titled “Ginormous Generosity” highlights the area's record-setting donations and features the AFP Chicago chapter and several of its members. To view this exciting story, please click here.
Fundraising Resources for Understanding the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
It is probably a little difficult these days to find a non profit development professional who isn’t spending at least part of their day searching the world wide web for information on funding opportunities through the ARRA, The 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Click here to read up on some helpful resources.
February 12, 2009 Call to Action
A letter to Senate President Cullerton concerning the immediate address of the substantial delay of payment on grants and contracts awarded to Illinois nonprofits. Click here to read the full letter.
February 9, 2009 Call to Action
A letter to the Senator Harry Reid opposing a provision in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Click here to read the full letter.
FUNDRAISING TIPS
Five Tactics to Rev Up Fundraising in a Down Economy
(NTEN: The Nonprofit Technology Network- September 24, 2008)– Many nonprofit professionals today are nervous. The economy, while showing hopeful signs, is still not in a good place. That means donors have less money in their portfolios and their pockets. There are five simple things any organization can do to not only increase year-end results, but also maintain and even strengthen important long-term relationships with donors. Click here to read more.
The Essentials of a Fundraising News Release by Paul J. Krupin
(About.com)– The goal is to entice and persuade the editor to do a feature story. But you have to make it easy for the editor to do their job with a minimum investment in time and energy. You do this by giving them what they need to do their job. Click here to read more.
Fundraising 101: How to Create, Brand and Run Profitable and Successful Events – Part Two by Donna Bliss. Click here for more.
Creating Effective Email Campaigns
The challenge is to create good, compelling broadcast email that makes your message clear and drives the recipient to action. And that's tough! Click here for more.
“Measuring Online Success – It's Not Just About Online Gifts” by Vinay Bhagat.
Online donations often are the simplest measure of Internet success, but this metric should not be the only way to define a successful Internet strategy. The true value of the Internet is in creating and sustaining relations. Click here for more.
Generating Capital, Building Capacity by Rebecca Breuer.
What does it take to secure a Kresge Foundation Challenge Grant? Click here for more.
Creating Gift Acceptance Policies by Beth Engel
“Copying another organization's gift acceptance policy is analogous to wearing somebody else's clothes …it will rarely fit!!” Click here for more.
Ten Deadly Fundraising Mistakes and How to Avoid Them by Sandy Rees
Sandy is a Fundraising Coach who works with small nonprofits to help them raise money, strengthen their Boards, and plan for the future. She's written a short report about the biggest mistakes she sees in fundraising in small nonprofits and how to learn from these mistakes. Click here for more.
Becoming a Certified Fundraising Executive
Interested in earning your CFRE? Watch this Webinar to learn how to plan and apply, what to expect and the potential impact on your career
April 17, 2009 Educational Program
"Making Connections in a Virtual World"
AFP New Member Benefits Highlight
Did you know that valuable fundraising information is just a click away? It is important to remember that helpful tools are available through the AFP International Web site. Two such tools highlighted in this article are the “Ready Reference Series” and the “Information Exchange”. Click here to read more.
AFP Membership provides access to the finest in Professional Education
AFP has programs, courses and resources to meet your educational needs today and as you plan your future career development. Click here for more information.
Use your AFP sources to learn the latest legislative issues on fundraising
Visit http://www.afpnet.org/public_policy to find out what AFP is doing and what you can do. Following are a few examples of important items that you should know:
Looking for products and services for non-profits? Check out the AFP Chicago Resource Network Directory Available Online! Browse providers by practice category and subspecialty, or scroll through the detailed profiles for more information. The Resource Network Directory is available 24/7 on the AFP Chicago website, or click here.
AFP Member Benefit: The Fundraising Resource Center
Are you taking advantage of the 3,200+ reference works and periodicals on fundraising and development that are at your fingertips? If not, let your fingers do the walking and the Fundraising Resource Center do the work! This is a great membership resource that allows you to easily receive customized research (at no charge!) – click here for further details, and let AFP help you!
Quintessential Quotes
Who does not admire a pithy expression, a turn of phrase that gets at the essence of the philanthropic spirit? Click here to view quotations on philanthropy.
