AFP Honors Ohio Fundraiser, William F. Bartolini, PhD, ACFRE as a 2023 Distinguished Fellow

CONTACTS:
Natalie Paskoski, Manager of Content, (434) 236 – 5583, Natalie.Paskoski@afpglobal.org

(Arlington, Virginia) Bill Bartolini, PhD, ACFRE, of Columbus, OH, is recognized by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) as one of this year’s Distinguished Fellows. 

The Distinguished Fellows Program recognizes individuals who have made significant leadership contributions to the association and the fundraising profession. The designation represents the pinnacle of service to the tenets of giving, volunteerism, and philanthropy.

Bartolini has recently retired as senior philanthropic advisor, principal giving at Ohio State University, after 40+ years in the profession, and five years at Ohio State.  

Over the course of his extensive career, Bartolini has served in various development and leadership roles at universities including Ohio State, George Washington, Northeastern, and Kent State, as well as a number of other nonprofit organizations. 

While at Ohio State, he was responsible for building the Wexner Medical Center and the Health Sciences College’s capacity to raise gifts of $5 million or more. Bartolini also played an essential role in George Washington University’s first $1B campaign, and prior to that, Kent State’s first $100M campaign.  

Outside of his professional career, Bartolini is an active volunteer, serving on the AFP board for six years. He is also currently serving on the ACFRE board and the board of his local AFP chapter.  

“I am deeply honored to join the distinguished list of AFP Fellows who have contributed so much to this profession and raised countless millions of dollars to lift people to a better life,” said Bartolini. “To be recognized for my contribution to this profession is a highlight of my 40+ years as a fundraiser and 30+ years in service to AFP. As is often said, “We stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before.” That is certainly the case here as I would not have been successful nor enjoyed professional satisfaction without the wonderful mentors, colleagues, volunteers, and donors who I had the privilege to work with and learn from in this journey.”

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Since 1960, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) has been the standard-bearer for professionalism in fundraising. The association works to advance effective and ethical philanthropy by providing advocacy, research, education, mentoring, collaboration and technology opportunities for the world’s largest network of professional fundraisers. AFP’s more than 27,000 members in over 190 professional chapters raise over $100 billion annually for a wide variety of charitable organizations and causes across the globe. For more information, go to afpglobal.org.