AFP Supports

AFP’s Initiative to Raise Awareness Surrounding Mental Health and Wellness

AFP recognizes the importance of self-care and mental health and how they impact our careers, relationships with ourselves and others, and our everyday lives.

One in four people around the world will be affected by mental disorders, and roughly 450 million people currently suffer from such conditions—including those in the charitable sector.

We’re committed to ending the stigma surrounding mental health. That’s why we’re launching AFP Supports. Our goal is to raise awareness and provide you with the resources needed to learn about and address a critical subject that impacts so many.

There are many issues related to mental health and self-care, and we are just getting started with AFP Supports.

Email us your questions and comments about AFP Supports.

The Mental Load of Motherhood

Being a caregiver while maintaining a full-time job is extremely stressful and can take a toll on our mental health. In this series, AFP moms share their experiences balancing motherhood with their roles as fundraisers, providing valuable advice on balance, setting boundaries, and giving yourself the grace you deserve. 

Motherhood and the Mental Health Load: Ashley MacKeigan: Before having a child, the thought of applying for a second job in addition to my current full-time position, would never have crossed my mind. However, when returning to work from maternity leave, I came to the realization that this was exactly what happened. Read More

The Mental Load of Motherhood | An Interview with Lacey Kempinski, CFRE: Lacey Kempinski, CFRE, founder and owner of Balanced Good, shares her experiences being a working mother in the fundraising profession. She shares her advice on being transparent and unapologetic, and how showing your humanity can make you a better fundraiser. Watch the Video

More from this series:

• The Mental Load of Motherhood | An Interview with Vanessa Seltzer
• Motherhood and the Mental Health Load: Chris Evans
• Falling into Fundraising Part 2: Motherhood and the Mental Health Load

Mike's Monday Message

AFP president & CEO, Mike Geiger, shares a message with the membership every Monday covering a topic relevant to the fundraising profession. Many of his messages have covered mental health related topics. 

You Can Do It (and We Have Your Back): When you're feeling overwhelmed, take a step back. In this year-end message, Mike shares some tips for putting year-end giving into perspective, making sure that you don't get burnt out during the most stressful time of the year. Read More

More from this series:

• Leadership in Trying Times: Flipping Pessimistic Thinking
• Keeping Focused on Improving Yourself
• Mental Wellness and the Holidays
• It’s OK to Not Be OK
• Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental Health in the Workplace

The last few years have been tough for everyone - a global pandemic, economic uncertainty, etc. The circumstances we're dealing with impact our job performance, and the stress we face at work bleeds back into our personal lives. These resources address various aspects of workplace mental health.   

Pay Attention to Quiet Quitting: There is so much talk of employee culture these days and so much of it is needlessly divisive. Are employees quiet quitting? Are people setting healthier boundaries? Does a four-day work week work? Should people be back in the office to boost culture? (AFP Member Login Required) Read More

Complimentary Webinar: How to Process Job Loss, to Heal, and then to Grow: In today’s volatile job market, you may have been laid off, fired, been the casualty of a leadership change or seen signs that it’s time to move on.  Learn strategies to help you navigate job loss and change, so that you can ultimately make this a time of opportunity. Watch Now

More from this series:

• 5 Steps to End Impostor Syndrome Within Your Fundraising Team
• Prioritizing Mental Health in the Workplace—The Time is Now for Nonprofits
• 2022 AFP Compensation and Benefits Report
• Midlife ≠ Midlife Crisis

Additional Resources

• Alyson Stoffer: Mental Health Awareness Month
• Connecting the Dots on Sexual Misconduct in the Philanthropic Sector
  • Sexual misconduct, especially as it relates to mental wellbeing, is integral to address. For more information surrounding sexual harassment, issues women face in the nonprofit sector and how we’re addressing the matter, visit our Women’s Impact Initiative page.