AFP Greater Madison Mentorship Program
Photo Caption: Kelley and Creal were partnered through the mentorship program.
What a year for AFP Greater Madison’s mentorship program! Last year of mentorship included 11 mentee/mentor pairings.
This year, participants included individuals working in all areas of development – planned giving, annual giving/membership, corporate/business development, and mid-level/major giving; new Executive Directors looking for guidance as they adapt to their changing role; and even volunteer board members/fundraisers supporting organizations they love on their own time.
Mentorship can be beneficial for anyone, not just for folks who are new to fundraising. If you’re looking for some extra guidance from a seasoned fundraiser, or think you have some wisdom/knowledge to share from your years on the job, we’d love for you to get involved in an experience that’s rewarding for both mentees AND mentors!
From your application, the committee uses a variety of criteria to help make effective matches:
- Areas you’re seeking guidance in/are able to provide guidance about
- Annual Giving, Board Development, Marketing & Branding, Sponsorships, etc.
- Subsectors
- Arts & Culture, Education, Environmental/Conservation Causes, etc.
- Demographics
- A mentee who is a member of the LGBTQ+ community who would prefer a mentor who is also LGBTQ+
- Meeting time/setup preference
- Morning in-person meetings, after-work zoom meetings, etc.
The time commitment is very manageable, with the expectation that you’ll meet with your partner at least 1 hour/month. Some participants prefer virtual meetings or getting together over coffee or lunch. My mentee and I met once a month at Panera and stayed in touch a bit outside of those meetings – whatever works best for you!
Interested in being a part of the next mentorship cohort? 2025 application links will be live soon, and we encourage you to share with other fundraisers you think may be interested – as mentees or mentors! If you have any questions, please email Pete Schwieger, AFP Greater Madison Mentorship chair.
