Chicago Fellows Program

A learning circle for new fundraisers

The AFP Chicago Fellows Program is an outreach initiative of AFP Chicago created for individuals working with or for nonprofit organizations in metropolitan Chicago, with an emphatic interest in diversity, equity, inclusion and access, people of color and/or Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender (LGBT).

This one-year program provides extensive benefits to our selected Fellows, including: 

Program Benefits

• Small learning circle of up to six fundraisers from Chicago-area nonprofit and grassroots organizations serving diverse communities
• Coaching from an AFP thought-leader who moderates the learning circle which meets monthly for 12 months
• Underwriting by AFP Chicago for professional membership and career education programs:
• AFP International and AFP Chicago Chapter memberships for one year,
• Complimentary registration to select AFP Chicago educational programs on a variety of philanthropic topics
• Development Day Chicago, a full-day learning event held in the Chicago-area
• Senior development professional assigned as a mentor upon graduation from the program

Program Eligibility

AFP Chicago maintains a competitive application process for the Fellows Program, and selects candidates using the following criteria:

• Identify themselves as an ethnic minority, GLBQ, disabled and/or work for an organization that represents that community.
• Be responsible for fundraising in a metropolitan Chicago area 501 (c)(3) organization.
• Have the full support of their supervisor and their organization’s leadership to participate in this educational program.
• Be committed to attending the programs and events comprising the Fellows’ curriculum.
• Either not currently be a member of AFP or currently be a member for not more than two years.
• Continue paid membership in AFP for at least one year after the conclusion of the Fellows Program.

2020 Class pictured with Fellows Co-Chairs Joseph Like, CFRE and Anedra Kerr