"From Girl Scout to new ACFRE": Comments from the AFP International Conference

When Michael Nilsen, senior director for public affairs at the Association of Fundraising Professionals, asked me to speak at the plenary session on April 12 during the AFP International Conference on Fundraising, I had no idea what a huge week it would be for me. On Sunday, April 11, I passed my three hour oral review for the Advanced Certified Fundraising Executive (ACFRE), completing an almost two year process and making me the 90th ACFRE in the world! (More on the ACFRE process in a soon to come blog entry.)


The headline for my photo from "the big stage" in the AFP Conference update was "From Girl Scout to freshly minted ACFRE." Below are the comments I shared as I opened the Monday plenary:

Good morning, and welcome to the Monday morning general session of AFP’s 50th anniversary celebration here in Baltimore. I hope you’re enjoying the anniversary videos. I was honored to be asked to participate in them. During the interviews, I was asked, “Why am I a fundraiser?”


I can remember driving with my mother once and she asked me, in a very serious tone, “Alice, did we raise you to become a fundraiser?” Considering that I was a top girl scout cookie salesperson in my youth, it's very possible that they did raise me to become a fundraiser! But I think the more relevant question is, why do I keep doing this?


Well, I'm still a fundraiser because of AFP. First, while I did get my initial training at my first fundraising job, I've learned most of what I know about fundraising through AFP. I've taken advantage of as many formal educational opportunities, like this conference, as I could. But it has been the one-on-one, informal mentoring from AFP members that has been most valuable. Many seasoned pros in this association have always been to be ready to “pay it forward” by helping someone less experienced than themselves.


Second, volunteering for AFP is one of my most rewarding experiences because I get to see the impact of my work with my chapter and internationally. Now I'm one of those people who gets to mentor newer fundraisers. I have had the privilege to work with many who are now established professionals. And at the International level, I'm very excited about our new Next Generation Committee, which I hope will support increased participation of young people in the profession. I really look forward to talking with more people who want to pursue fundraising as a career.


And finally, through AFP, I have MANY friends, across the globe, who “get” what I do! At chapter meetings, we help each other troubleshoot issues at work; through email and phone, I can get career advice from my AFP colleagues throughout the country; through Facebook and Twitter, I can celebrate fundraising successes and milestones with my associates around the world! Moral and emotional support from my AFP pals is never far away.


Truthfully, I think my parents did raise me to be a fundraiser. But the reason I still love doing what I do is because of AFP. Thank you for letting me share with you, and enjoy the rest of the conference.


With the achievement of my ACFRE, I believe more than ever that AFP has strengthened my commitment to fundraising as a profession. This process challenged me to articulate what I have learned, seek out mentors to help me through the process, and accept lots of moral support and encouragement from fellow fundraisers throughout the world. Thanks to everyone who has been part of my AFP family, and I look forward to welcome new fundraisers into the fold!


Photo from AFP International Conference on Fundraising, April 12, 2010.
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