Audit

Christopher Chantson
Chair, Audit
National Louis University

Committee on Directorship

Carlos A. Trejo, CFRE
Chair, Committee on Directorship
Latino Policy Forum

Continuous Learning Council

George Rattin
Vice President, Continuous Learning Council
Rosalind Franklin University

Priya Balachandran
Co-Chair, Continuous Learning Council
Northern Illinois Food Bank

Nicole Meunier, CFRE
Co-Chair, Continuous Learning Council
National Merit Scholarship Corp.

CLC COMMITTEE FOLDER

This committee works together to plan educational workshops, and special programs such as the Fundamentals of Fundraising. This includes strategy, theme and topic development, speaker recruitment, and leadership at the events.

• Volunteer for one workshop each year. Duties include: brainstorming topics, securing and preparing speakers, coordinating marketing materials with Chapter association management teammates, coordinating presentation materials, and stewarding speakers.
• Attend workshops coordinated by other committee members

If you would like to learn more about the Continuous Learning Council, please reach out to the committee leaders.

Typically meets the second Friday of the month at noon.

Check the AFP Calendar of Events to confirm.

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA)

Carlos A. Trejo, CFRE
Interim Vice President, IDEA
Latino Policy Forum

LaKesha Lockett
Chair, IDEA
EPIC Academy

AFP Chicago's IDEA committee supports and advocates for inclusion, diversity, equity, and access across all of chapter activities.

• Serve on or co-chair one of our five affinity groups
• Be committed to supporting the chapter in achieving it's IDEA benchmarks and goals 
• Recommend speakers, moderators, and topics for AFP Chicago programs as necessary
• Support AFP Chicago's desire to be an anti-racist organization
• Be willing to liaise with other AFP Chicago committees as necessary
• Foster learning about anti-racism, and implementing best practices in your life and work

Typically meets the 4th Monday at 5:30 pm 

Check the AFP Calendar of Events to confirm.

African American Affinity Group

Andrea Porter
Co-Chair, African American Affinity Group
Illinois Institute of Technology

Kathy Slaughter
Co-Chair, African American Affinity Group
YMCA Evanston/North Shore

The AFP Chicago African American Affinity Group seeks to create a cohort of like-minded fundraisers to discuss strategies, turn obstacles into successes, and build a strong sense of community. 

Typically meets the second Friday of the month at 8:30 am (bi-monthly). 

Check the AFP Calendar of Events to confirm.

Asian Pacific Islander Affinity Group

Andrea Chwee
Co-Chair, API Affinity Group Co-Chair
Navy Pier

Shane Caterino
Co-Chair, API Affinity Group Co-Chair
Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL)

The AFP Chicago Asian/Pacific Islander (API) Affinity Group provides opportunities for API development professionals to build community, explore our role as API fundraisers, and share successes, challenges, and resources. The API Affinity Group welcomes any Chicago-based development professional with an API identity of any nationality, including but not limited to: Central Asian, East Asian, Native Hawaiian, Southeast Asian, South Asian and Middle East Asian. 

Typically meets the fourth Thursday of the month at 4:00 pm (bi-monthly).

Check the AFP Calendar of Events to confirm.

LatinX Affinity Group

Natalie Ramos, bCRE
Co-Chair, Latinx Affinity Group
Greater Chicago Food Depository

Mauricio Huertas
Co-Chair, Latinx Affinity Group
Latino Union of Chicago

The AFP Chicago LatinX Affinity Group serves to strengthen the nonprofit community by creating a space where Latinx fundraisers can develop relationships, provide support, and share resources.

Meets at different times throughout the year. 

Check the AFP Calendar of Events to confirm.

LGBTQ+ Affinity Group

Carlos García León
LGBTQ+ Affinity Group Chair
Lookingglass Theatre

The AFP Chicago LGBTQ+ Affinity Group provides opportunities for LGBTQ+ members of AFP Chicago to come together periodically for professional and social networking. By recognizing an affinity among this population, AFP Chicago becomes more personal and relevant while providing opportunities to discuss career advancement, successes, and challenges. 

Typically meets quarterly at varied times.

Check the AFP Calendar of Events to confirm.

Neurodiverse Affinity Group

Janessa Dennis Butler
Co-Chair, Neurodiverse Affinity Group
Greater Chicago Food Depository

Amy Funk
Co-Chair, Neurodiverse Affinity Group
TWB Fundraising

The AFP Chicago Neurodiverse Affinity Group exists to create a safe space for neurodiverse fundraisers to thrive in community, affirm each others' unique strengths and capacities, and work to build a more accessible and welcoming field. The group supports visibility for neurodiverse fundraisers, with twin goals to provide space for neurodiverse fundraisers to feel themselves and at ease, as well as to shift the greater community's understanding of and accommodations provided for neurodivergent individuals.

Check the AFP Calendar of Events to confirm.

WFARE Affinity Group

Patricia Broughton, CFRE
Co-Chair, WFARE Affinity Group
Evolve Giving Group

Blair Janis
Co-Chair, WFARE Affinity Group
DePaul University

Emily Jensen, MS
Co-Chair, WFARE Affinity Group
EmJen Consulting

Anne Moore
Co-Chair, WFARE Affinity Group
Northern Illinois Food Bank

Jennifer Nahn
Co-Chair, WFARE Affinity Group
Grant Park Music Festival

Aaron Rodgers
Co-Chair, WFARE Affinity Group
Hyde Park Art Center

Marina Vulinovic
Co-Chair, WFARE Affinity Group
Hyde Park Art Center

Understanding that white people have a responsibility to address and dismantle racism, White Fundraisers Advocating for Racial Equity aims to develop a shared understanding of systemic racism’s manifestation in fundraising, nonprofits, and philanthropy; support individual growth for fundraisers to become anti-racist; and develop tools, techniques, and support for fundraisers to influence change in their workplaces and the broader sector towards a more racially equitable society.

Typically meets the second Wednesday of the month at 9:00 am. 

Check the AFP Calendar of Events to confirm.

Fellows

Amy Funk
Co-Chair, Fellows
TWB Fundraising

Jessica Rodriguez
Co-Chair, Fellows
Erie Neighborhood House

This committee is responsible for the successful implementation of the annual AFP Chicago Fellows program. This includes oversight for the annual application and selection process, AFP Chicago educational programs that include a Fellows component, special Fellows program content development, and coaching and supporting individual Fellows as requested.

Member Engagement

Derek Lambert
Vice President, Member Engagement
Rush University Medical Center

Joe Donohue
Co-Chair, Member Engagement
AASM Foundation

Stephanie Eckert
Co-Chair, Member Engagement
Make-A-Wish Illinois

This committee is responsible for developing strategies and activities that provide a meaningful connection with members and the philanthropic community. This includes the development of Third Thursday networking events and quarterly member orientations. It is a wonderful way to engage with colleagues from all areas of the organization.  

• Lead/host either Member Orientation and/or Third Thursday events (at least 2 or more/year).

If you would like to learn more about the Membership Engagement Committee or the Third Thursday Events, please reach out to the committee leaders.

Typically meets the first Thursday of the month at 4:00 pm.

Check the AFP Calendar of Events to confirm.

*Individuals serving on this committee must be active members of AFP Chicago.

Peer Mentoring

Christopher Chantson
Co-Chair, Peer Mentoring
National Louis University

Jennifer Dettloff, CFRE
Co-Chair, Peer Mentoring
University of Chicago, Medicine & Biological Sciences

This committee provides opportunities for less-experienced development professionals (protégés) to connect with more-seasoned development professionals (mentors) and mutually benefit from a 12-month partnership. The committee recruits mentors and protégés for two cohorts annually, reviews applications and assigns pairings, monitors protégé/mentor relationships and creates related programming opportunities for protégés and mentors.

• Serve as liaison for a minimum of one protégé-mentor pairing for each cohort.
• Connect with assigned pairs at least monthly to offer additional resources as needed.
• Participate in small- and large-group Peer Mentoring programs.

Typically meets the fourth Thursday of the month at 12:00 pm.

Check the AFP Calendar of Events to confirm.

*Individuals serving on this committee must be active members of AFP Chicago.

Philanthropy Awards Program

Sarah Danahy, CFRE
Co-Chair, Philanthropy Awards
Loyola Medicine
 
Kirsten Boyce
Co-Chair, Philanthropy Awards
Campbell & Company

Elizabeth Halajian
Co-Chair, Philanthropy Awards
Navy Pier

Courtney Labetti, MSM, CFRE, CAP®
Vice-Chair, Philanthropy Awards
CCS Fundraising

This committee works collaboratively to plan and present the AFP Chicago Philanthropy Awards Program. Primary functions include participating in the recruitment and review of nominations and contributing to at least one subcommittee, which include sponsorship recruitment, event marketing, honoree ambassadors, event and volunteers. The committee has three chairs, including one Board member. The VP of Resource and Philanthropy Committee Chair are included as members of the committee.

Typically meets the first Wednesday of the month at 4:00 pm.

Check the AFP Calendar of Events to confirm.