You'll find all the latest news about AFP Greater Madison and articles written by our local nonprofit community right here. If you're interested in creating or sharing news content, such as an article or a video, please contact us.
2018 Member Kudos
Our members have been up to great and amazing things this year and we love to celebrate success. See what AFP Greater Madison Members have been up to.
Do you have a story to share for Member Kudos? We want to hear about it. Please share your story with us!
- Promotions
- Job changes
- Unique grant or funding accomplishments
- Honors or awards for you or your organization
- Capital campaign completion
New to Direct Mail Appeals? Learn from the Experts.
A solid development plan used to center around direct mail; and while there are many new channels available today that should be included in a comprehensive plan, direct mail can and should still play a big part. Learn how to plan and execute an effective direct plan campaign from our experts!
One Good Idea...
By Jenni Jeffress Collins
When I attend a conference, I hope I come back with one practical idea to implement. That certainly was the outcome for time spent at the International Public Library Foundation conference that I attended in June in Denver. AFP Greater Madison supported me with a scholarship to attend this conference, which is in its second year of existence.
Reflections on Fundraising Day Wisconsin
Heidi Habeger, Director of Major and Planned Gifts at Groundswell Conservancy, and Jen Davie, AFP Greater Madison Chapter President reflect on Fundraising Day Wisconsin 2018. Heidi was one of four recipients selected for a full scholarship to attend the event.
Each year, AFP Greater Madison provides thousands of dollars in scholarships to support professional development opportunities for our members. Scholarship funds are made possible, in part, by contributions from our members and friends to the BE the CAUSE campaign. Learn more about this important fund and how you can make a gift in support of fundraisers everywhere.
National Philanthropy Day Pre-sale
Our National Philanthropy Day Celebration is one of the hottest tickets in town every November. Have you seen our list of community champions we're going to honor this year? The best way to ensure you have a seat in the room is through our members-only pre-sale in September.
Community Champions to be Honored
The Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Madison names 2018 National Philanthropy Day Award Winners
AFP Greater Madison is excited to announce the winners of the 2018 National Philanthropy Day Awards. These community champions give their time, resources, and talent to causes they love, making our community a more vibrant place to live.
See our list of honorees and learn more about sponsorship opportunities to guarantee yourself a seat at this sell-out event. Individual tickets will go on sale later this fall.
Fundraising Day Wisconsin
It's Bigger and Better than Ever in Year Five!
Join us and celebrate Fundraising Day Wisconsin 2018 in its fifth year bringing together the nation’s best and brightest thinkers, educators, presenters, storytellers, learners, and world changers. Featuring national and international fundraising superstars: Vu Le, Jim Anderson & Alice Ferris, Amy Eisenstein, Megan McGee, and Anne Melvin, we welcome you to reconnect with friends and expand your network of nonprofit colleagues and industry vendors and consultants.
Summer Seminar: Featuring Lisa Dietlin
Presented by AFP Upper Mississippi Valley Chapter
July 26, 2018
Saint Mary's University, Winona, MN
You're invited to join our colleagues in Winona, MN for a fantastic day-long seminar.
Lisa M. Dietlin is an internationally recognized expert on philanthropy, charitable giving and transformational change. As a leading figure in the American nonprofit sector, she's a highly coveted keynote speaker, media personality, philanthropic consultant, coach and facilitator.
Giving USA 2018: Americans Gave $410.02 Billion to Charity in 2017
$400 Billion Mark Crossed for the First Time
Powered by a booming stock market and a strong economy, charitable giving by American individuals, bequests, foundations and corporations to U.S. charities surged to an estimated $410.02 billion in 2017, according to Giving USA 2018: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2017.
Giving exceeded $400 billion in a single year for the first time, increasing 5.2 percent (3.0 percent adjusted for inflation) over the revised total of $389.64 contributed in 2016.
It's All New for You!
It’s sharp, dynamic and everything you need to stay on the cutting-edge of fundraising throughout greater Madison. We’re thrilled to roll out the brand-new AFPMadison.org for our community. Take a look at all it has to offer.
National Philanthropy Day Call for Nominations
We’re looking for community champions who deserve recognition for their acts of generosity. Learn more about nominating a person, group or business for a 2018 National Philanthropy Day Award. Nominations are due June 25.
Scholarships Still Available to Advance Your Fundraising Career
If you’re looking for the next step in your fundraising career, have you considered becoming a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE)? Whether you are just beginning your CFRE journey or it is time to renew, our CFRE Refresher Course is the place to start. And AFP Greater Madison still has scholarships available for this course.
Lessons Learned from The Big Share that You Can Use on Giving Tuesday
By Cheri Dubiel - Community Shares of Wisconsin
CSW has hosted The Big Share™ online giving day annually since 2015. Below is a list of Top Ten Lessons Learned--in no particular order. 1. Set up a plan and follow it.
Fundraising Day Wisconsin Preview: Creating Stories that Inspire Your Stakeholders
Professor John D. Trybus, Georgetown University's Center for Social Impact Communication
Stories are the currency of life and an important way in which we connect as human beings. As social impact leaders we must think about how we can leverage the art and science of storytelling as a key strategy for the organizations we love to emotionally connect with donors and other target stakeholders to inspire them to act. Creating stories that resonate and break through the clutter in this age of information-overload is not easy!
Proposed Estate Tax Changes May Impact Planned Giving
By Ben Brunette, Selinger & Brunette
The estate tax often plays a significant role in major donors' decision to establish planned gifts. The Federal tax code currently allows individuals to transfer $5.49 million of assets to their heirs, during lifetime or at death, without estate or gift tax consequence. An approximately 40% tax applies to all gift transfers made to any person (other than a spouse or charity) in excess of this $5.49 million. Rather than pay this tax, donors sometimes make large gifts to their preferred charities. The repeal of the estate tax, however, has been a hotly-debated political issue...
Piloting Your Organization's Story
By Michele Traband, American Players Theatre
I went to flight school last fall. . . I logged over 20 hours learning valuable lessons about engaging donors and using their stories to help promote my organization during the Nonprofit Storytelling Conference. Thanks to a scholarship provided by the AFP Greater Madison chapter, I had the opportunity to “sharpen my saw” in Chicago, participating in discussions and hearing from national and international donor relations professionals.
Old Dog Learns New Tricks: Eight Compelling Take-Aways
By A.B. Orlik - Lussier Community Education Center
Ever attend a workshop or conference where your notes sit in a pile for weeks afterward and you wonder why you took the time to go?
Me, too, but not lately.
Reduce Staff Turnover and Improve Your Bottom Line
By Gary Klein - Edgewood College
Recently, I had the privilege of attending an annual Advancement Roundtable in the greater Atlanta area. This conference of 25 chief development officers from across the country is a great forum for discussion and reflection on both the rewards and the concerns within our profession.
The Key to Value
By Dennis Johnson - Sort Sol Group, LLC
We’re in the office for some of the last days of the year and at this time, we’re working on plans for the New Year. Like our clients, we’re talking strategy, too.
Creating a Donor-Centric Culture
By Kate Atkins - Wipfli, LLP
The people you serve in your communities depend on you to be there. Having a strong donor-relation strategy improves the sustainability of your organization. How do you get everyone in your agency involved? How do you create an organizational culture that is obsessed with its donors? Get started with two steps.
Form 990 Issues
By Kirsten Houghton - SVA Certified Public Accountants
The revised Form 990 continues to confuse and perplex both nonprofit organizations and tax preparers. To address this issue, the IRS Advisory Committee on Tax Exempt and Governmental Entities (the ACT) recently issued a General Report...
Lessons I Have Learned
By Marcia Whittington - Agrace HospiceCare
2015 Outstanding Fundraising Professional Award Winner
When I reflect on the last 20 years of development and fundraising work in our community, a few things stand out to me as lessons I have learned and continue to live by.
Building a Statewide Culture of Philanthropy
By Stacey Wedding, Founder & Chief Strategist Professionals in Philanthropy
Resources—people, money, and knowledge—are essential ingredients of increasing and improving philanthropy. Our organizations, communities and states have all of these resources, yet, still, some states fare better than others in building a culture of philanthropy. Why is that, what can we learn from those states, and how do we begin moving the dial where we live?
Thanks, and Stay in Touch
By Tom Linfield - Madison Community Foundation
One of the nicest grantee thank-you’s received by the Madison Community Foundation was an envelope full of hand-drawn, hand-written letters from a group of middle school kids in a tutoring program we’d funded. They were colorful, delightful, and completely genuine.
