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WHAT'S NEW?

September 2010

 

IN THIS ISSUE...
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
APPROACHING DEADLINES
            Deadline Approaching for 2011 AFP Chicago Philanthropy Awards Nominations
CAN’T-MISS EVENTS
            AFP Chicago Remote Webinar: “The Next Generation of American Giving”
            September Educational Program: “Transforming Your Board:  How to Make it Happen”
            Register Online for the Midwest Conference on Philanthropy
            Careers in Transition Assists Members with Career Issues
NEWS/UPDATES
             Request for Scholarship Funding
             Join the Every Member Counts Campaign
            National Philanthropy Day Special Offer to Nonmembers
             AFP Offers Member Dues Installment Plan
            2010 AFP Chicago Sponsorship Opportunities Available
            List your Jobs in the AFP Chicago Online Job Source
PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES
            Mentors:  Who Needs One?
BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH PHILANTHROPY
            Members on the Move
            Community Current Events and Announcements
 

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Click here to read this month's letter from the AFP Chicago president, Alex Pope, CFRE.
  

APPROACHING DEADLINES

2011 AFP Chicago Philanthropy Awards Now Accepting Nominations 
Do you have a colleague, mentor, community member or corporate or foundation leader that you feel is doing an outstanding job in their field?  Show your admiration and respect for their dedication and hard work.  We all know how time flies these days so don’t wait until (or accidentally miss) the October 1, 2010 deadline.  The 2011 Awards Luncheon committee members look forward to seeing you on May 20, 2011 at the Chicago Hilton and Towers for the 35th Annual Philanthropy Awards Luncheon.  Download your nomination form here.

Photos from the recently concluded 2010 Awards Luncheon can be viewed here.
  

CAN'T-MISS EVENTS

AFP Chicago Remote Webinar: “The Next Generation of American Giving” – NEW DATE!
Thursday, September 16, 2010. Please join AFP Chicago, Easter Seals and Convio to discuss the landmark research “The Next Generation of American Giving.” This webinar provides a unique opportunity to share ideas and learn about the various giving habits, expectations and engagement plans of four different generations of American donors, and how a multichannel approach can impact giving. 

Click here for more information and registration.

September Educational Program: “Transforming Your Board:  How to Make it Happen”
Friday, September 24, 2010.  An active, engaged board, focused on the needs of the organization is critical to a nonprofit’s success.  What happens when the organization changes?  How do you align your board with your organization’s needs?  Transitioning people off the board, educating and motivating trustees to take on new roles, and recruiting new trustees to change the culture are just some of the ways staff members have worked to create productive, committed boards.  Click here for more information and to register.

Special thanks to our 2010 educational luncheon sponsor: Campbell & Company.

Register Online for the Midwest Conference on Philanthropy
Sign up today for the 15th Annual Midwest Conference on Philanthropy, Maximizing Fundraising Success: Understanding the New Normal. This one-day conference is the region’s largest event for the development professional, offering ample opportunities for you to learn from your peers and share ideas.  Plus, keynote speaker Penelope Burk, renowned fundraising consultant and author of Donor-Centric Fundraising, will show you how to keep your fundraising skills sharp in a dull economy.

The Conference will take place on Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at the Marriott Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile. Online registration is now open, so visit the registration page to reserve your spot! 

As in past years, AFP Chicago Chapter is offering you the opportunity to get your name and/or product line in front of conference attendees through our Literature Display Table. For more information on this and other sponsorship opportunities still available, visit the conference website to learn more.

Careers in Transition Assists Members with Career Issues
Thursday, September 23, 2010.  Are you an AFP member anticipating or in the midst of a career change?  AFP Chicago knows how important it is to have support when you have to make a change in your professional career.  Careers in Transition, chaired by Betty Bergstrom, CFRE and Marian DeBerry of Campbell & Company, has been developed to assist you during these difficult times.  These group sessions have been created to help you develop new skills and expand your network.  To register, please click here to complete and submit the attached form.  AFP Chicago volunteers will contact you and help you with the assistance you may need.  The next meeting of the Careers in Transition group is Thursday, September 23, 2010, 3:00 p.m. at Campbell & Company, One East Wacker Drive, Chicago. 

NEWS/UPDATES

Request for Scholarship Funding 
Each year AFP Chicago members have the opportunity to assist development professionals who do not have the resources to attend the Midwest Conference on Philanthropy.  AFP Chicago’s objective has always been to offer educational resources and the collective professional expertise of our membership – in accessible and user-friendly formats.  The Fellows Program is an outreach initiative of the AFP Chicago Chapter created to build awareness of these resources, particularly for those individuals who have been in the profession for three years or less and might otherwise not have the opportunity to take advantage of its services.  The AFP Chicago Fellows value what the conference can give them – increased knowledge, renewed confidence in their own abilities, renewed commitment to the work of philanthropy and a chance to network with a host of other professionals who believe as they do – that the work we do is of value.   

We play an integral role in building and strengthening the very fabric of our communities and therefore ask that you consider sponsoring one of our AFP Chicago Fellows so that they are able to attend the Midwest Conference on Philanthropy.  A gift of $300 will fund one professional for this year’s conference on November 17, 2010.  Click here for sponsorship opportunities and to meet the 2010 AFP Chicago Fellows. 

Join the Every Member Counts Campaign
In order for philanthropy to happen, there must be a strong, unifying organization guiding the efforts of nonprofit organizations. The AFP Foundation for Philanthropy’s Every Member Counts program supports the profession by delivering educational and training programs, facilitating the exchange of best practices and advocating for favorable public awareness of philanthropy.  Please consider making a gift to the Every Member Counts program – for more information click here.

National Philanthropy Day Special Offer to Nonmembers
The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) is providing $50 off all new memberships through November 30, 2010.  This rate applies to Active Level Memberships only, Introductory and Associate Levels not included.  Advise your nonmember colleagues to sign-up today and enjoy the exclusive benefits that AFP offers its members such as:

  • Networking with other fundraising professionals and exchanging information and ideas through the new online Information Exchange and through special member events and committees
  • As a benefit and service to help fundraisers through the current challenging economic environment, AFP is pleased to offer all of its Ready Reference volumes FREE as a download to all members. (a $180 value), 
  • Advancing your professional development through Dynamic webinars and educational events sponsored by your local chapter and at AFP’s International Conference being held in Chicago, Illinois, March 20-23, 2011.
  • Accessing the member gateway section of the AFP website, which contains the Member Directory, the complete 2010 Compensation and Benefits Study –  FREE to members (a $75 value),  and AFP Members-Only Discussion groups.
  • Using the AFP Fundraising Resource Center – a library of over 3,200 reference works that is staffed by a knowledgeable research team.  The new online Resource Center allowing AFP members to access fundraising related information 24/7. (Using the Resource Center two times more than pays for your membership!)
  •  Being a part of the largest professional fundraising organization in the world. (Invaluable!)
  • CFRE credits and much more…

For information on all AFP membership levels and how to join, click here.  Please remember to include the coupon with your payment. 

If you have any questions about membership please contact Joseph Roadarmel, Manager, Membership Services at 800/666-FUND x489.

AFP Offers Member Dues Installment Plan
Take advantage of this membership dues payment opportunity- the installment plan breaks dues into six payments.  Please click here for more information, or contact Joseph Roadarmel, AFP Manager of Membership Services, at mbership@afpnet.org or (800) 666-3863.

2010 AFP Chicago Sponsorship Opportunities Available
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to show your commitment to our AFP chapter!  The 2010 Sponsorship Brochure details the many ways you can help support the work of AFP Chicago.  Whether you participate personally, through your organization or your contacts, get involved and show your AFP Chicago support!

List your Jobs in the AFP Chicago Online Job Source
Have an open position within your organization?  Consider listing it in the AFP Chicago Online Job Source.  The Job Source connects Chicago area not-for-profit organizations with skilled development professionals.  This cost-effective listing reaches the right people in the philanthropic community.  Your posting includes a full description of your organization, the position and expectations; salary range; benefits; and contact information, and the online format allows you to reach your targeted audience quickly.  For more information, click here.


PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES

Mentors: Who Needs One?
Do you know someone who might benefit from a mentor? Consider passing this recent article from Career Builder and CNN.com on to them.

In “Mentors: Do You Need One?” the author suggests that a good mentoring relationship delivers all sorts of benefits to newer professionals including: unbiased (and sometimes brutally honest) advice, shortened learning curves and industry networking.

To take it one step further, encourage those new fundraisers in your shop to check out AFP’s Peer Mentoring Program which pairs mentors and protégés for mutually-beneficial year-long matches. They’ll thank you for it.

BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH PHILANTHROPY

"Wherever philanthropy flourishes, community grows." Every issue of eDevelopments is designed in part to illustrate and advance the concept of Building Community through Philanthropy.  AFP Chicago is in itself a community built through philanthropy.  What better place, then, to keep you up to date about the members of our community?

As always, we will also include in this section news from the greater community and news items that exemplify Building Community through Philanthropy.

Members on the Move
Find out who has recently joined AFP Chicago or changed jobs here.

Community Current Events and Announcements:
  • Penelope Burk/Cygnus Applied Research Workshop October 7– Special Discount for AFP Chicago Members
    On November 17 Penelope Burk will be presenting the keynote presentation Fearless Fundraising in a Turbulent Economy at AFP Chicago’s 2010 Midwest Conference on Philanthropy.  Burk will also be in Chicago on October 7 to present a separate full day workshop on Donor Centered Fundraising and AFP Chicago members are eligible for a special discounted registration fee.  For more information or to register, click here and remember to use the special AFP Chicago discount code AFPCHI. 
  • Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Chicago (YNPN Chicago)
    YNPN Chicago serves local nonprofit professionals (generally in their 20s and 30s) who make up a substantial segment of the Chicago area’s nonprofit workforce.  Interested in learning more about YNPN?  Click here for information and a list of their upcoming activities.
  • Interested in State Funding Opportunities?
    Illinois Resource Net is offering a day-long conference, Thursday, September 16, 2010, for organizations interested in learning more about federal and Illinois state government funding opportunities.  For more information, visit:  http://illinoisresource.net/.

Become an AFP Chicago Partner!
Join our growing list of generous Partners – loyal sponsors willing to make an annual upfront financial pledge to support valuable chapter programming. Click here to meet our Partners and learn more about the AFP Chicago Partners program.

Advertise with us!
Remember, you can advertise here -- and have your organization's message seen by the hundreds of area fundraisers who read AFP news. Click here for ad rates, etc.

Report career moves!
eDevelopments tracks and announces staff changes at area nonprofits. To submit late-breaking career news, click here.

Submit an article!
Have an article to submit for our Professional Resource online library? It's 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.
  

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