Pathways to Leadership - Get Involved

The Association of Fundraising Professionals Chicago Chapter is the second-largest chapter in the United States and the third-largest domestic chapter in the world. We have over 550 members representing a broad spectrum of professional experience, diverse organizations, and personal and cultural backgrounds. As an individual, if you’re looking to expand your network, enhance your not-for-profit skills, or meet fellow fundraisers, this is the organization for you. If you’re a company looking to reach a diverse and highly educated audience, then you should be doing business with the AFP Chicago Chapter. There are numerous opportunities to get involved, so please take a few minutes to explore your possibilities.

Advancement through involvement - Join an AFP Chicago Committee Today! 

Whether you are new to the fundraising profession or a seasoned professional, consider joining an AFP Chicago committee. Committee participation is the ideal route for deeper involvement with the chapter and a path to potential leadership. Develop yourself personally and professionally, make new contacts and give back to the Chicago philanthropy community!

Committees are always accepting new members - and we welcome individuals who are not current AFP members! To get involved right away and ensure maximum participation as a committee member, please complete and submit your Committee Service Application.

Committee List & Volunteer Opportunities

Audit


Christopher Chantson, Chair
National Louis University

 Board Committee

Committee on Directorship

Tula Gogolak, Chair
Easterseals

 Board Committee

Continuous Learning Council

Dottie Bris-Bois, Vice President
Chicago's Shakespeare Theater

Andrea Porter, Co-Chair
Shriver Center on Poverty Law

Carlos Trejo, Co-Chair
Surge

This committee plans educational breakfasts/luncheons, special programs such as the Fundamentals of Fundraising, and National Philanthropy Day. 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 staff, coordinating presentation materials, and stewarding speakers.
  • Attend workshops coordinated by other committee members

Meets the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 8:00 am

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA)

Ishan Johnson, Vice President
Art Institute of Chicago

Judith Coleman
IDEA & African American Affinity Group Co-Chair
Covenant House Illinois

Amelia Garza
IDEA & Latinx Affinity Group Co-Chair
Rush University Medical Center

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

Meets the 2nd Wednesday at 5pm (bi-monthly)

African American Affinity Group

Judith Coleman
IDEA & African American Affinity Group Co-Chair
Covenant House Illinois

Andrea Porter
African American Affinity Group Co-Chair

Kathy Slaughter
African American Affinity Group Co-Chair
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. 

Asian Pacific Islander Affinity Group

Jaye Hobart
API Affinity Group Co-Chair
Civic Federation

Jeanelle Chang
API Affinity Group Co-Chair
Obama Foundation

Christopher Chantson
API Affinity Group Co-Chair
National Louis University

 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. 

LGBTQ+ Affinity Group

Jerome' Holston
LGBTQ+ Affinity Group Co-Chair
J.R. Holston Consulting

Tyler Hough
LGBTQ+ Affinity Group Co-Chair
The Jefferson Group

 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. 

WFARE Affinity Group

Patricia Broughton
WFARE Affinity Group Co-Chair
Evolve Giving Group

Blair Janis
WFARE Affinity Group Co-Chair
DePaul University

Aaron Rodgers
WFARE Affinity Group Co-Chair
Hyde Park Arts Center

Marina Vulinovic
WFARE Affinity Group Co-Chair
Hyde Park Arts 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.

Fellows

Joe Like, Co-Chair
Orchard Village

Kimberly Vann, Co-Chair
Greater Chicago Food Depository

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.

Membership Engagement

Sarah Danahy, Vice President
OSF HealthCare Foundation

Kitty Snow, Chair
American Brain Tumor Association

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 Pop-Up and networking events.

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

Meets the first Wednesday of the month at 4:00 pm

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

Peer Mentoring

Christopher Chantson, Co-Chair
National Louis University

Jennifer Dettloff, CFRE, Co-Chair
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.

Meets the first Wednesday of the month at 8:30 am

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

Philanthropy Committee

Kelsey Nelson, Vice President Resource
Campbell & Company

Elizabeth Halajian, Chair
Navy Pier

 This committee is responsible for ensuring that strategies and tactics are in place to secure

sponsorship dollars and achieve AFP Chicago’s annual sponsorship and grant development goals. This includes developing overall strategy, maintaining the annual Sponsorship Brochure, monitoring tally reports, stewardship and solicitation activities, and grant
development as appropriate. Committee members are required to accept a limited number of sponsorship solicitation assignments on behalf of the chapter.

  • Serve as point of contact for a minimum of two AFP Chicago sponsors, including solicitation, stewardship, etc.
  • Craft solicitation or other materials as assigned.

Meets the first Friday of the month at 8:00 am

Philanthropy Awards Program

Kristienne Hanna, Vice Chair
Advance Illinois

Dawn Frances Reese, Co-Chair
Arabella Advisors

Carole Wood, Co-Chair
Northwestern Settlement

 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.

   

Submit your Committee Service Application

 

We welcome your interest and questions! For more information on committee service, please contact Sarah Danahy at 708-229-5256 or [email protected].