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.
Pandemic Perspective: Emily’s new, unfamiliar role during COVID-19
Hear from Emily Wills, Fund Development Coordinator of the Wisconsin Youth Company, about her move from Chicago to Madison to begin her relatively new career in the development field.
Emily began her job on March 16th at Wisconsin Youth Company, a non-profit organization that that offers various after-school, summer camp and other programs for school-aged children in the Dane and Waukesha counties for 30+ years.
Navigating a Future for the Arts
How do you approach a capital campaign during COVID-19? The team at the Milwaukee Public Museum, for one, is listening to their donors and focusing on their mission. “To do what’s right for our collection and our community, we need a new facility,” said Lisa Pieper, Director of Individual Giving at MPM. “And there is still a lot of work to do, but our community has told us at every turn that people are interested in the future of the MPM.”
Hear more from Lisa Pieper and watch the recording of our September program Setting the Stage: Navigating a Future for the Arts.
AFP Member Spotlight with Jennifer Jeffress!
Periodically, we shine a spotlight on one of our chapter members with a series of questions. We hope you enjoy learning more about the members of AFP Greater Madison.
AFP Member Spotlight with Mike Sweitzer-Beckman
Periodically, we shine a spotlight on one of our chapter members with a series of questions. We hope you enjoy learning more about the members of AFP Greater Madison.
Watch 'Reclaiming the Relational Work of Fundraising in a Digital Age'
“Relational work is for every donor, not just the donors who give the most,” Otto Reinisch shared during his webinar presented by Fundraising Day Wisconsin on August 18, 2020—and if you’re interested in shifting toward a more relational approach, you can start even now.
Watch a recording of Reclaiming the Relational Work of Fundraising in a Digital Age and check out the presentation slides.
2008 Recession Versus Now - Reflections from Past NPD Winners
Jenni Jeffress, Executive Director at Madison Public Library Foundation, and Marcy Heim, Founder of The Artful Asker, are both past National Philanthropy Day honorees in the professional fundraiser category. They were kind enough to share their expertise on fundraising in hard times, especially during this time of COVID-19.
What do you know about Facebook fundraisers?
While Facebook fundraising may not be the No. 1 option for many non-profits, it has certainly grown in popularity and, at the very least, is an effective way to brand your organization and raise awareness of your impact in the community.
We talked to Ash Collins, a Donor Relations Specialist at Dane County Humane Society, for some tips, tricks and benefits to engaging and encouraging donations from digital supporters, especially through Facebook fundraisers*.
2020 Member Kudos
Our members have been making an impact and doing amazing things this year. We love to celebrate their 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!
- Job changes or promotions
- Unique grant or funding accomplishments
- Honors or awards for you or your organization
- Capital campaign completion
Pandemic Legacy: 5 planned giving program tips during COVID-19… and beyond!
Courtney Polster, Ph.D, CFRE, Regional Development Manager at Agrace HospiceCare Foundation, and fellow AFP Greater Madison member, was kind enough to lend us some of her expertise on planned giving, especially during this time of COVID-19.
She said most of their planned giving adjustments have been minor since the pandemic: mainly more phone conversations and a small increase in the number of touches to donors. With that being said, many donors are taking a closer look at future plans during this time. No matter the situation, it is important to keep planned giving at the top of donors’ minds and provide consistent updates and regular planned giving opportunities. Here are some of her other tips as well!
Racial Justice Learning Resources in Madison
As a white woman striving to learn and practice anti-racism, I appreciate that there are times we must do the self-work, as well as times we must do the work in community. In doing so, I am grateful for the opportunity to connect with community members and organizations working to dismantle white supremacy. Among many fantastic local organizations, YWCA Madison offers a number of racial justice trainings, conversations, and suggested resources.
Celebrating New & Renewing AFP Members
Welcome to our new AFP Greater Madison Chapter members and thank you to our renewing members! We are excited to have these members as a part of our community of fundraisers coming together to learn, connect, and support the causes we believe in.
What does AFP Greater Madison look like in 2020 and beyond?
We are right there with all of our nonprofit colleagues as we navigate this new space. The shifting needs of our members and continuing to be a resource to our community remain our top priority. Our Chapter has consistently relied on monthly in-person meetings and small group discussions to meet the needs of our local development community. One of our key components to all of the professional development opportunities is the chance to network with each other, something that can be very difficult in a virtual world. As we look at the rest of 2020, the board and committee members will continue to seek opportunities for us to come together, network, gain professional development, and support one another through all of this. Check out a few updates on some of the major programs including Fundraising Day Wisconsin and National Philanthropy Day.
‘Beware the Ides of March’: American Players Theatre continuing to adapt during COVID-19
Events are a major part of our fundraising efforts, but they are the lifeblood of operations at fine arts-based non-profits like American Players Theatre (APT).
We talked to Sean Sobecki, Development Director for APT and a member of the Young Professionals Committee of AFP Greater Madison, about how APT has adapted and pivoted their event-focused fundraising approach during this pandemic after having to cancel all nine of their shows this summer.
Celebrating New & Renewing Members
Welcome to our new AFP Greater Madison Chapter members and thank you to our renewing members who have joined us since February! We are excited to have these members as a part of our community of fundraisers coming together to learn, connect, and support the causes we believe in.
Learn more about membership and benefits and for new members joining by June 30, get $50 off a professional or associate new membership
Nonprofits 101: Blackbaud Courses Free with AFP
Your AFP membership comes with a benefit that you might not be aware of: free access to introductory-level courses from Blackbaud University!
The partnership with Blackbaud provides all AFP members with a set of eight courses covering core concepts about nonprofits and fundraising. These courses are a great starting point if you’re looking to expand your knowledge beyond your role, or if you’re just getting started in the nonprofit world and want a big-picture overview.
The ‘Invaluable’ value of becoming a CFRE
Class is in session! In preparation for the CFRE refresher course this July with Immediate Past President of AFP Greater Madison, Jen Davie, CFRE, we wanted to give you a quick refresher ourselves! We start out with some basics and then sit down with Lori Werbeckes, CFRE, Fund Development Director at the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired, to give you her five benefits of becoming a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE).
AFP Member Spotlight with Patricia!
We talked to Patricia Eldred, CFRE, the Development Director of Middleton Outreach Ministry, and a long-time member of AFP Greater Madison, about her love of AFP Greater Madison and how she values her membership.
Thank You 2019 Committee Members
Thank you to all of our 2019 committee members! You helped AFP Greater Madison offer rewarding programs, host top-quality events, and strengthen the fundraising profession through diversity work and mentorship opportunities. Committees and task forces are the heart of the chapter. Meet 2019 committee members!
The Best Parts About AFP Membership
Do you take advantage of all your AFP membership benefits? With access to so many perks, you might be wondering which ones are the most valuable to you. That’s exactly what we asked our very own AFP Membership Committee members. Here’s what they had to say!
Mentorship Program Launches in February 2020
In this Q&A learn about the new AFP Greater Madison Mentorship Program launching this February! Fundraisers, participating as both mentors and mentees, will benefit from the program. The program aims to facilitate meaningful connections between seasoned professionals and current leaders in the Madison non-profit sector with young professionals— the next generation of leaders, and those who are new to fundraising as a career.
Meet the 2020 AFP Greater Madison Board of Directors
At AFP Greater Madison's Annual Membership meeting on December 17, chapter members approved our 2020 nominees for the Board of Directors. Meet the new board members and see the AFP Greater Madison 2019 Annual Report.
Top-5 Giving Tuesday Tips, Tricks and Takeaways from Heartland Farm Sanctuary
Fun, furry, photogenic… another successful Giving Tuesday for Heartland Farm Sanctuary! If you Facebook Live it, they will come!
Executive Director Jen Korz and her small team at Heartland Farm Sanctuary did just that and more in raising over $28,000 in their latest Giving Tuesday campaign. Aided by the generous support of their board (100% participation!), who committed a $10,000 match, they crushed their original goal of $20,000 for their biggest Giving Tuesday yet. In this article, Jen shares her top-5 tips, tricks and takeaways for Giving Tuesday.
Honoring Community Champions
On November 8th, AFP Greater Madison honored the winners of the 2019 National Philanthropy Day Awards. These individuals, businesses and organizations have shown commitment and passion to strengthening our community and making it a better place to live for everyone. See photos from the event and hear from award winners in their own words.
Are you informed on Informed Delivery?
Preparing for your year-end appeal? This is a perfect way to simultaneously enter your mail piece in the digital world and the physical world. And did we mention it's free?!
That Post Conference Feeling
AFP Greater Madison Chapter President-Elect, Sarah Linn, loves learning about new fundraising tactics, systems and ideas. She recently attended the AFP LEAD conference in Phoenix and shares with us some of her top takeaways and a whole boatload of enthusiasm!
'I love making dreams come true' Angela Davis reveals her top-5 tips for grassroots organizations
In case you missed the AFP Greater Madison September Luncheon: Grassroots Fundraising, we’ve got you covered with Angela Davis and her Top-5 takeaways from the event!
In Their Words: Valuable Takeaways from Fundraising Day WI Scholarship Winners
This year, three ambitious AFP members won scholarships to attend Fundraising Day Wisconsin at Potawatomi Hotel & Casino on August 22. Presented by the Greater Madison and Southeastern Wisconsin AFP Chapters, this annual educational program brought together over 400 fundraising colleagues from around the state to hone their fundraising skills, network and learn from national and international fundraising superstars.
After the conference, the scholarship winners shared with us some of their favorite moments, takeaways or experiences.
What you need to know about corporate philanthropy
Stephanie Hayden, TASC’s Strategic Philanthropic Advisor, shares her thoughts about corporate giving strategies after revamping TASC's corproate philanthropy program over the last year. No matter its size or mission, any nonprofit can implement a corporate giving program. Here's how...
Reflections on AFP ICON 2019
Despite being amongst strangers in a room I’d never set foot in 1200 miles from home, my experience at AFP ICON 2019 began with a moment so familiar it felt as if I were back in my office: I wrote a thank you note. This wouldn’t be sent to my typical audience of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin’s donors stepping up for reproductive health though. This act of gratitude was directed to a fellow AFP member who had made an investment in my growth as a Chamberlain Scholar. Writing that donor, themselves a fundraising professional, alongside other scholarship recipients representing organizations improving lives in different ways all around the world, I couldn’t help feeling an overwhelming sense of community.
UW-Madison Collegiate Chapter: Your Help is Needed
Our Greater Madison Chapter of AFP encourages young professionals to pursue careers in this rewarding and important field. One way that we’ve dedicated chapter resources is by nurturing the UW-Madison Collegiate AFP Chapter. We seek your help to revitalize the campus chapter.
