Special guest presenter is Michael J. Baker, CFRE, a founder and partner of m3 Development, a full-service consulting firm for non-profits and foundations. His leadership of the firm and consulting efforts has led to a great deal of success for m3 Development clients. Prior to m3 Development Michael worked with the American Cancer Society, National Hemophilia Foundation and Boy Scouts of America in executive level development and management positions. He has over 18 years of experience, received the AFP Partnership in Philanthropy 2010 Award for Consulting Excellence and in 2011 graduated from the AFP Faculty Training Academy as a Master Trainer.

Michael is a frequent speaker, published writer and has produced multiple training videos. He is considered one of the foremost experts in the field of philanthropy. He serves as a Board of Director for the Marlboro Educational Foundation, is President for the Association of Fundraising Professionals – New Jersey Chapter and as Chair of the upcoming AFP TechKnow Conference in June 2012. Michael holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the State University of New York at Albany, and achieved the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE).

This program will be of interest to development officers; estate planners; attorneys; and financial planners. The cost is $25.00 for AFP, NCAC and WBLLA members, and $40 for non-members.  Reservations may be made at: http://afpfeb2012.eventbrite.com/.

PROSPECT RESEARCH ON A DIME

What you don’t know may hurt your bottom line!

Presenter

Margaret King, President of the InfoRich Group, Inc.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011 – 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

With an Optional Lunch w/ the Presenter from 12-1 for $12 extra

at The Woodlands Inn Wilkes-Barre

$25 for AFP Members | $40 for not-yet members

If you haven’t thoroughly researched prospective major donors before you meet with them, you might as well leave a wad of cash on the table when you walk out the door.  Don’t let what you don’t know hurt your bottom line – work smartly, understand your prospects, and increase the revenues needed to further your organization’s mission. In this half-day workshop we will present practical strategies along with free and inexpensive tools to help you better understand your prospects and their giving capacity through focused research. 

This workshop is designed to help attendees learn: 

•    Why research is important to fundraising

•    How to calculate giving capacity

•    How to build a simple donor profile

•    Free and inexpensive tools to get your donor research program started

•    Ways to focus your search and not get lost on the Internet Super Highway

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

Margaret King is president of InfoRich Group, Inc., a management-consulting firm, providing fundraising support in the areas of board development, prospect research, capital campaign, and general fundraising. She has extensive experience in the nonprofit sector and has been part of the executive management team for two internationally recognized nonprofit institutions. In addition to raising millions of dollars for her clients, she has broad experience developing and organizing nonprofit boards and advisory councils.  She also speaks and writes about contemporary fundraising and board development issues. A member of the adjunct faculty at Delaware County Community College and Eastern University, she teaches nonprofit management courses at graduate and undergraduate levels and is an instructor for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Greater Philadelphia Chapter.  Currently she is president of the Association of Independent Information Professionals (AIIP).

 REGISTER On-Line at: http://onadime.eventbrite.com/

Advancing Ethical and Effective Fundraising in Northeastern Pennsylvania…

www.afpnepa.org

Reports to: Executive Director of Development

Classification: Professional Staff

Job Purpose:

The Director is responsible for managing 7-9 development field officers; will direct field activities ensuring execution of fundraising strategies; will be responsible for the supervision, coordination and strategy development for the cultivation, stewardship and solicitation of individual donors, with a special focus on major donors, assigned to the development field officers. The Director will also carry a portfolio of prospects and meeting fundraising goals.

Primary Responsibilities:

Manage the development field officers. Assists in the recruitment, hiring, and training of development field officers.

Develop and implement fundraising strategies designed to meet goals across all funding sources, including major gifts, annual giving and deferred giving.

Assist the Executive Director with establishing specific metrics and goals for development field officers and for delivering timely feedback on assignments. Will be responsible for holding staff accountable to established goals. Will conduct semi-annual and annual performance evaluations with development field officers.

Supervise and mentor the individual development field officers, providing leadership, inspiration, accountability, and professional growth opportunities.

Meet with development field officers on a daily and weekly basis including accompanying them on visits in order to assess performance.

Review pipeline reports of development field officers to ensure accuracy of data.

Develop and implement strategies to cultivate and solicit prospects for annual, capital campaign, and deferred gifts for own prospects and prospects assigned to the development field officers.

Assist the Executive Director as required.

Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor’s degree required.

Experience: Five or more years of progressive development, marketing, client relationships or sales experience, with at least two years of management experience. Must have a demonstrated record of success in major gift fundraising or sales.

Required knowledge, skills and abilities:
Excellent oral and written communication skills. Extensive travel required. The successful applicant will be a self-starter with the relevant experience to provide effective leadership of a team as well as the various skills, imagination and boldness necessary for success. Candidates must demonstrate energy, enthusiasm and self-confidence in building relationships; a proven track in fundraising or revenue generation; ability to participate in a collaborative environment. Strong leadership and management skills, with a track record of leading teams and inspiring them to achieve new benchmarks of success.

An * indicates essential function as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Resumes should be sent to hr@scranton.edu and reference Req. # R000000869

I’m sorry I am not able to join you today, as I am representing our chapter and your interests in Nashville, Tennessee for the AFP International Leadership Academy.

Membership, Member Benefits, and Rates
Earlier this year, 40 of members of our chapter completed a survey through our website.  100% of respondents listed your membership in AFP as “Valuable.”  The reasons for this “value” that were listed included:
•    Chapter Networking Opportunities (85%)
•    Code of Ethics and Professional Standards (62%)
•    Increased Credibility (44%)
•    Access to Resources (44%)
•    Mentorship Opportunities (41%)

I’m happy to report that these programs will continue with our chapter with an even greater focus on member services.

AFP International announced in your recent Advancing Philanthropy magazine an 11% increase in dues.  There are many reasons for this, not the least of which is AFP has worked to keep dues at the same rate for several years now.   This dues rate will take effect in April 2009.

With the current economy, there is an increased demand on professional fundraisers to increase donations and cut expenses – but I hope you’ll agree with our chapter leadership when we say that membership in AFP is NOT something to consider on the chopping block – quite the opposite.  The resources AFP International and your chapter provide to make you a better, more effective fundraiser are worth the cost of membership and much more!

AFP membership provides you with a virtually unlimited amount of resources for increasing your productivity and success as a professional fundraiser through both (1) Educational programs on Innovative Fundraising and (2) an extensive network of professionals available to provide sage advice.

Mentoring Program
For our local chapter we are re-launching  our professional mentorship program that has been re-structured to promote growth of both the mentor and the protégé.   Carol Maculloch has researched fundraising mentoring programs from across the nation and will be heading up this program.  More on this from Carol and many thanks!  For more information – mentoring@afpnepa.org.

New Dues Structure for our Chapter
Starting in January, our local dues are increasing from $25 to $30.  When you join or renew your membership our local chapter will allocate the entire amount of your local dues to your chapter member account.  You’ll redeem the $30 at lunch and learn programs or for other chapter activities, so in essence you’ll directly benefit from your chapter dues.   So in essence, you can get  your $30 chapter dues back by participating in chapter events.

For those of you not-yet-members, we are offering a limited number of 50% scholarships on the AFP New Member rate ($100 for your first year)  for qualifying new members.  So, you’ll pay $80 instead of $130 – again, $30 of this you’ll get back by participating in chapter activities.

For information about membership, please contact Barbara Vitcosky at 602-3600 or membership@afpnepa.org.

Chapter Board Nominations for 2009
Today, at our business meeting Kathleen Matthews, our Immediate Past President and Chair of the Chapter Presidents Council will announce the roster of nominees for the 2009 AFP Chapter Board of Directors.   We have taken into consideration the things you asked for in the aforementioned survey.  They include:
•    More representation of our diverse organizations (especially small shops)
•    Inclusion of more executive directors who also serve a development role
•    Increasing the number of active board members in order to foster additional involvement
Kathleen will go into the nominations more.  Kathleen and her committee have done a phenomenal job.  Thank you Kathleen! For more information: kmatthews@janepa.org

New Library of Fundraising Materials
In order to increase the resources for professional fundraisers in NEPA, your chapter has purchased the 40-volume collection known as the “AFP Pierpont-Weld Library” that is available for review from the Luzerne County Community College library and via the PA Access Interlibrary Loan program to any participating library in the commonwealth.

The Pierpont-Weld Affiliate Library Collection includes 36-40 selected works on fundraising and philanthropy, representing the fundamental knowledge base of the profession. The collection is maintained in public libraries, university libraries, and nonprofit resource centers throughout the United States, Canada, and Brazil.

We will present that library to LCCC as part of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber’s Nonprofit Summit that will be held on November 6, 2008.

Nonprofit Summit – November 6th at LCCC in Nanticoke
AFP will have a table, and I encourage you to learn more and attend the summit.   More information was e-mailed earlier this week.  If you have not received information please e-mail john.dawe@afpnepa.org or visit WBNonprofitSummit.org.

Philanthropy Day – November 22nd at The Waterfront Banquet Center
The Greater Pocono Northeast Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals invites you to join us as we recognize National Philanthropy Day in November.  Our annual Awards Luncheon will be held on Friday, November 21, 2008 beginning 11:30 a.m. at the Waterfront Banquet and Convention Center in Plains, Pennsylvania.  Each year this day provides a time where we can honor those who have made a difference in our community.  Our chapter encompasses a region steeped in generosity and we are proud to acknowledge the following community leaders who have shown their commitment to philanthropic interests throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania and beyond.

Awardees include:
Outstanding Volunteer Fund Raisers – Theresa and Clayton Karambelas
Outstanding Corporation – Pennstar Bank
Outstanding Foundation – Maslow Family Foundation
Lifetime Achievement – Helen Bernstein Miller

For tickets e-mail mdolon@luzerne.edu and for information about getting involved: pday@afpnepa.org.

New Website Format
The AFPNEPA.org website has been retooled and redesigned in a blog format.  That means that we’re looking for writers to provide resources, articles, ideas, and content for the website!  If you’re interested let me know.   The new format also allows for a member-only discussion list and member-only resource session.   E-mail me if you’d like to be involved.  john.dawe@afpnepa.org.

Philanthropy Forum
Our chapter’s Philanthropy Forum will be held in the Spring in late April or early May.  The date is still under consideration pending the selection and availability of a keynote speaker.   If you are interested in being part of this bi-annual event focused on bringing a major conference on fundraising to YOU, and those in our profession unable to attend national and international conferences – please e-mail forum@afpnepa.org.  We are looking for speakers, planning committee members, etc.

Warm regards,

John Dawe
Chapter President

Member Profiles (fill out the form here) and Blog Posts, like this one.  We’re looking for a few bloggers to submit content on a sort-of regular basis about trends and observations in the fundraising world.  If you’re interested please let John Dawe know by e-mail.